DeWalt 24 in. (600 mm) Large Trigger Clamp

Why this 24-inch trigger clamp earns a spot in my kit

I reach for a 24-inch trigger clamp more than any other size in the shop. It’s long enough to corral cabinet parts and wide glue-ups, but not so long it gets unwieldy. DeWalt’s 24-inch trigger clamp hits that sweet spot for everyday workholding, and after months of use across plywood assemblies, benchtop jigs, and on-site installs, I have a clear sense of where it excels—and where it doesn’t.

Build and design

The clamp uses a reinforced nylon body riding on a black-oxide, steel I-beam bar. That I-beam profile matters: it’s noticeably more torsion-resistant than the flat bars you see on bargain clamps, so the moving jaw tracks true rather than yawing under load. At 0.8 kg (about 1.8 lb), the clamp feels sturdy without being fatiguing, and the balance point sits right where your trigger hand wants it.

Key hardware details:

• Rated clamping force: 300 lb
• Throat depth: 3-1/4 in (80 mm)
• Max jaw opening: roughly 24.5 in (625 mm)
• Spreading capacity: up to about 31 in (790 mm)
• Quick-release and quick-change mechanisms
• Non-marring jaw pads (removable)

The quick-change button to convert from clamping to spreading is intuitive and positive. Press, slide the head off, reverse it, and you’re set. There’s also a safety stop at the end of the bar so you don’t launch the jaw onto the floor when you run it off the end.

Ergonomics and one-handed operation

One-handed clamping is the whole point of this style, and this model does it well. The trigger has a smooth, progressive action; each squeeze advances the jaw predictably, so you can creep up on final pressure without the herky-jerky feel some cheaper clamps have. The release lever is large enough to hit with a gloved thumb, and it doesn’t fight you under load.

Grip size will suit most hands. If you’ve got very small hands, the reach from trigger to handle might feel a touch long during repeated squeezes, but it’s better than average for a 24-inch class. After long sessions (say, clamping a run of edge banding), hand fatigue is reasonable and on par with other mid-duty trigger clamps.

Clamping performance

For alignment, light-to-medium glue-ups, and jobsite holding, the 300 lb rating is plenty. I’ve used this clamp to:

• Pin sheet goods to sawhorses while cutting or routing
• Pull face frames flush during cabinet installation
• Hold a straightedge guide while ripping down plywood
• Clamp jigs and fences to a benchtop
• Organize panels during dry-fit before switching to heavier parallel clamps

Two performance notes stood out:

1. Minimal bar flex within its working range. Near maximum opening, there’s a trace of deflection if you go to full squeeze, but it didn’t affect alignment on case parts or drawer fronts in my use.
2. Mild “toe-in” on the jaws, which is common on trigger clamps. The moving jaw slightly favors contact at the leading edge as you tighten. That helps bite and prevents slip, but it can concentrate pressure on thin stock. A scrap caul fixes this and spreads the load.

In sustained clamping—overnight glue-ups—the clamp held steady without creep. The quick-release doesn’t bleed pressure if you bump it, and the mechanism didn’t bind even with glue squeeze-out near the rail (a quick wipe matters here).

Spreader function

The spreader mode is genuinely useful, not an afterthought. The conversion is fast, and the 31-inch spread range covers a lot of carcass assembly and light frame work. I’ve used it to gently press out inset doors for hinge fitting and to nudge cabinet boxes apart to square them before fastening. Pressure builds smoothly, and the pads don’t skate on melamine or prefinished surfaces when you apply force gradually.

Pads and surface protection

The removable, non-marring pads are grippy enough to hold finished surfaces without leaving witness marks. They shrug off most glue; once cured, squeeze-out pops off cleanly. A few practical notes from day-to-day use:

• Keep the pad faces clean. Dust and finish residue make them slick. A wipe with mineral spirits restores bite.
• If you’re clamping softer woods or prefinished panels at higher pressure, slip in a scrap caul or painter’s tape as a sacrificial buffer to guarantee zero marring.
• The pads are removable, but sourcing replacement pads can be tricky. Plan on treating these with care—don’t pry off dried glue with a chisel, and store the clamp away from strong solvents that can harden elastomers over time.

If a pad gets damaged, I’ve had success cutting temporary slip-on covers from 3/16-in foam sheet or leather offcuts.

Capacity and throat depth

With a 3-1/4-inch throat, you’re covering most edge and face-frame scenarios, clamping over a benchtop lip, and reaching into shallow assemblies. For deep case clamping or wide panel glue-ups where uniform pressure is critical, I still prefer F-style or parallel-jaw clamps. That’s not a knock—this size and format are all about speed and access. Think positioning, tacking, and medium-pressure joins rather than high-pressure laminations.

The effective clamping travel is right on the money for 24-inch work. I particularly like this length for:

• Securing a 24-inch crosscut sled fence during calibration
• Holding a 2-foot straightedge on sheet goods
• Building small to mid-size boxes and drawer assemblies

Durability and maintenance

The reinforced nylon housing handles drops and the occasional “oops” with a mallet. The black-oxide finish on the bar resists rust better than plain steel, though it’s still a wise move to wipe down the rail and add a touch of paste wax so the jaw glides smoothly. After a few months of use, the trigger and release still feel tight, with no slop or racking in the mechanism.

Simple upkeep extends its life:

• Keep glue off the bar; a waxed rail sheds squeeze-out.
• Don’t lubricate the pad faces; if they get oily, they’ll slip.
• Check the safety stop screw at the end of the rail periodically to ensure it hasn’t loosened after lots of rapid sliding.

What could be better

• Replacement pads: The pads are removable, but finding official replacements isn’t straightforward. Given pads are wear items on any trigger clamp, easier replacement availability would be welcome.
• Pressure ceiling: At 300 lb, this sits in the “mid-duty” class. For heavy laminations or clamping thick hardwoods under serious pressure, you’ll want F-clamps, pipe clamps, or higher-torque trigger clamps in the 450–600 lb range.
• Jaw toe-in: The slight toe-in helps bite, but for delicate veneer or thin stock, use cauls to keep pressure uniform.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they define where the clamp fits best in a broader kit.

Where it shines

• Fast, one-handed setup for alignment and temporary holding
• On-site work where speed and surface protection matter
• Cabinet installs, jig clamping, and panel handling up to 24 inches
• Spreader tasks during assembly and squaring

The bottom line

This 24-inch DeWalt trigger clamp is a dependable mid-duty workhorse with thoughtful ergonomics, a rigid bar, and a genuinely useful spreader mode. It’s quick to deploy, easy to control one-handed, and provides enough force for the majority of day-to-day shop and jobsite tasks without chewing up your work. The throat depth and capacity hit the sweet spot for cabinet-sized projects, and durability is on point for a clamp that will see constant use.

Recommendation: I recommend it as a primary 24-inch trigger clamp for anyone who values speed, one-handed operation, and reliable mid-range pressure. It won’t replace high-pressure F-clamps or parallel clamps for demanding glue-ups, and I’d love clearer access to replacement pads, but as an all-around, grab-it-first clamp, it earns its place—and then some.