Controlled Workholding For Machining, Drilling & Toolroom Setup

A workpiece that shifts halfway through drilling, tapping or setup can undo careful measuring in seconds. Starrett clamps give Australian machinists, toolmakers, fitters, maintenance teams & engineering workshops compact workholding options for securing small, tapered, round or awkward components. From Starrett 161 toolmakers' parallel clamps to specialist steel clamps, V-block clamping arrangements & alignment hardware, the range is built around controlled positioning where access, rigidity & repeatability matter.

For the setup equipment commonly used around precision clamping, explore Starrett | Machinists Tools. When workholding becomes part of an inspection or alignment setup, Starrett | Indicators & Gauges provides the related Starrett measurement pathway.

What Are Starrett Clamps?

Starrett clamps are precision shop workholding tools designed to keep components in a controlled position during operations such as drilling, tapping, layout, inspection, machine setup & light assembly.

They are not simply smaller versions of fabrication clamps.

Many Starrett clamps are designed specifically around machinist requirements where:

► Available space is limited
► Jaw access matters
► The component is relatively small
► A shoulder or recess obstructs conventional jaws
► Work needs to remain aligned during drilling or tapping
► Cylindrical components require controlled support
► An indicator or alignment system needs secure mounting

The correct clamp depends on workpiece geometry, opening capacity, throat depth, clamping direction & clearance around the operation.

Which Starrett Clamp Fits The Work?

Start with what needs to stay still.

Capacity is only the beginning.

A clamp can open wide enough for a component yet still be unsuitable because its throat cannot reach the required point or its body obstructs the tool path.

Starrett 161 Toolmakers' Parallel Clamps

The Starrett 161 Series is one of the core families in this collection.

These toolmakers' parallel clamps use hardened steel jaws controlled by two threaded screws. Their compact format suits workshop jobs where a larger F-clamp or bar clamp would take up too much space around the work.

The tapered jaw ends are especially useful because they can reach beneath shoulders or into restricted areas.

Current sizes include:

This makes the family useful for buyers comparing requirements such as:

► Starrett 161 parallel clamp
► Starrett 161A clamp
► Starrett 161B toolmakers clamp
► Starrett 161C machinist clamp
► Small parallel clamp for drilling
► Parallel clamp for tapping
► Toolmakers clamp for recessed work

Choose the smallest model that provides enough capacity plus reach for the actual component.

Why Use A Parallel Clamp?

Need both hands available without surrounding the workpiece with a large clamp frame?

That is where the parallel-clamp format earns its place.

Two screws let the jaws be adjusted around the work while controlled pressure is applied across the component.

Typical uses include:

► Holding parts together before drilling
► Keeping components aligned during tapping
► Temporary machine setups
► Small assembly work
► Holding tapered components
► Reaching beneath shoulders
► Fixture preparation
► Toolroom bench work

For larger or more general workshop workholding, Clamps & Vises provides broader options beyond precision machinist clamps.

Capacity Vs Throat Depth – Why Both Matter

Two clamps may accept the same workpiece thickness but behave very differently once the required clamping point moves away from the edge.

Consider the difference:

A 161A may have enough opening for a small component but insufficient reach for a recessed clamping point.

A 161B increases both opening plus throat depth.

A 161C extends the working envelope further for larger components or deeper engagement.

Before ordering, check:

► Maximum workpiece thickness
► Distance from the workpiece edge to the clamping point
► Jaw access around shoulders
► Clearance for the drill, tap or cutter
► Component shape
► Surface condition
► Whether clamping pressure could distort the work

The best clamp is the one that reaches the correct point without becoming an obstacle to the operation.

Drilling – Hold The Work Where The Hole Was Laid Out

A perfectly marked hole position becomes irrelevant if the component moves when the drill makes contact.

Starrett identifies drilling as one of the uses for its toolmakers' clamps.

Before starting:

► Check that the workpiece is properly supported
► Position the clamp outside the drill path
► Confirm the jaws are seated securely
► Make sure the component has not shifted during tightening
► Check clearance beneath the work as the drill breaks through
► Avoid excessive pressure on thin material

For marking plus establishing the position before clamping, Measuring & Layout Tools provides complementary workshop equipment.

Tapping – Control The Work Before Applying Torque

Hand tapping can put considerable rotational load into a relatively small component.

A parallel clamp can help keep parts aligned while the thread is being produced, particularly where two components need to remain together during the operation.

Clamp placement still matters.

The screws plus jaws should remain clear of the tap wrench, operator's hands plus any movement required to back the tap out periodically.

Use sufficient pressure to prevent movement without crushing or distorting the part.

Starrett 160 Toolmakers' Steel Clamp

Not every Starrett clamp uses parallel jaws.

The Starrett 160 Toolmakers' Steel Clamp is designed for layout work plus holding components during drilling & similar workshop operations.

Its screw ends use take-up blocks with slight swivel action, helping the contact faces accommodate the shape of the workpiece.

A mounting hole in the base also allows the clamp to be fixed to a bench for use as a compact vise.

That gives the 160 a different role from the 161 family:

161 Series → compact opposing-jaw clamping around small or awkward components.

160 Steel Clamp → adaptable contact plus optional bench mounting.

Choose according to how the component needs to be supported rather than treating them as interchangeable sizes.

Round Work Needs Purpose-Built Support

A shaft does not naturally sit securely between arbitrary flat surfaces.

V-blocks create a controlled reference around cylindrical work while a compatible clamp applies holding pressure from above.

This can suit operations such as:

► Shaft layout
► Inspection
► Light drilling
► Light milling
► Grinding setup
► Round-stock measurement
► Component positioning

For related checking equipment around round components, Testing & Measurement Tools supports the broader inspection workflow.

V-Block & Clamp Or Parallel Clamp?

The workpiece shape usually answers the question.

A parallel clamp holds between jaws.

A V-block system supports the geometry first then clamps the component into that reference.

That distinction becomes important where repeatable round-stock positioning matters.

Shaft Alignment Clamps – When The Clamp Holds The Measuring Setup

Some Starrett clamping equipment is used to position the measuring instrument rather than restrain the workpiece itself.

Shaft-alignment arrangements can hold indicators around rotating equipment so comparative readings can be taken during alignment work.

In that situation:

shaft → alignment clamp → indicator → measurement

This is a different buying requirement from a toolmakers' clamp used for drilling or tapping.

Buyers searching for a Starrett shaft alignment clamp should therefore focus on indicator mounting plus equipment compatibility rather than conventional jaw capacity.

From Workholding To Cutting

Clamping is usually an intermediate step.

The typical sequence is:

measure → mark → position → clamp → cut/drill/tap → inspect

Once the work is held securely, the operation can move into machining or material preparation.

Metal Cutting & Grinding Tools provides a more specific supporting range for workshops moving from setup into cutting, grinding or fabrication.

This relationship is more useful than treating clamping as an isolated task: the clamp exists to preserve the position established during the setup stage.

How Much Pressure Should You Apply?

Enough to prevent movement. No more than the job needs.

Excessive clamping can:

► Bow thin components
► Mark finished surfaces
► Pull assemblies out of alignment
► Damage threads
► Distort delicate work
► Introduce stress into inspection setups

Tighten progressively.

Watch the contact points plus workpiece position as pressure increases.

Where alignment is important, recheck the setup after tightening rather than assuming the component remained exactly where it started.

Practical Clamp Selection Checklist

Before choosing a clamp, ask:

What is being held?
Flat, cylindrical, tapered plus irregular workpieces behave differently.

What happens next?
Drilling, tapping, inspection plus alignment create different clearance requirements.

How large is the workpiece?
Stay within the stated capacity.

How far must the jaws reach?
Throat depth matters.

Are there shoulders or recesses?
Tapered jaw ends may help.

Can the component distort?
Thin materials need controlled pressure.

Will the clamp obstruct the operation?
Check the entire drill, cutter or tap path.

Expert Tips

Use the smallest clamp that comfortably fits. Extra bulk can make a compact machining setup harder to access.

Adjust parallel-clamp screws evenly. Uneven setup can affect how the jaws engage the workpiece.

Support the component before applying force. A clamp should hold work against a reference rather than force unsupported material into position.

Clean the screw threads. Swarf plus grit make smooth adjustment more difficult.

Keep clamps outside the tool path. Check clearance from every direction before machining begins.

Protect finished surfaces. Hardened jaws can mark softer or cosmetic components if pressure is concentrated.

Recheck location after tightening. A workpiece that moves 0.5 mm during clamping has already changed the job.

Store precision clamps away from abrasive equipment. Compact workholding tools last longer when threads plus contact surfaces stay clean.

For workshop equipment that needs periodic checking before heavy use, Spring Jobsite Prep Getting Your Gear Ready provides practical preparation ideas.

Keep Small Workholding Tools Accounted For

Parallel clamps are compact enough to disappear into the wrong drawer easily.

A consistent storage location makes matched pairs, V-block hardware plus related setup components easier to find before the next job.

For dedicated protection around precision equipment, Starrett | Tool Storage & Cases provides the third direct Starrett pathway on this page.

Drawer Organisers can also help keep smaller clamps plus threaded setup components separated from loose drills, abrasives plus general hardware.

A tool is not just a tool. It’s a promise. looks more broadly at why dependable workshop equipment earns its place through repeated use.

For businesses weighing the whole cost of specialist equipment rather than the initial price alone, The Hidden Cost of 'I Can Get It Cheaper Online provides a useful purchasing perspective.