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Use these instructions for:

Clamp Plate 

Item# KBK-IP

Bench Clamp System with Automaxx™ 

Item# KBC3-SYS

Heavy Duty Bench Clamp System with Automaxx™ 

Item# KBC3-HDSYS

English

Rout the plate recess

Position the template where you wish to install the Clamp Plate and clamp it in 

place. Make sure the clamps do not interfere with the router. Where clamping is 

not possible, secure the template with double-faced tape. Install a top-bearing 

pattern bit in your router and adjust it to a depth equal to the thickness of the 

template plus the thickness of the Clamp Plate. When recessing the Large 

Clamp Plate, replace the sub-base on your router with an oversize base large 

enough to span the opening framed by the routing guides. Rout the recess and 

square the corners with a chisel. Remove the template and test the fit of the 

plate in the recess. If the recess is too shallow, carefully realign the template, 

clamp it in place, adjust the routing depth, re-rout, and chisel. Shim a recess 

that is too-deep with masking tape.

Kreg Bench Clamp/

Clamp Plate

Instructions 

Instrucciones

To increase clamp pressure, turn the 

knurled-head screw to the left (viewed 

form the handle-end of the clamp); for 

less pressure, turn the screw to the 

right.

Adjust Clamp Pressure

www.kregtool.com • 800.447.8638

NK8818

Version 2  - 2/2017

Less Pressure

More 

Pressure

5

16

"

(8 mm)

Prepare the Bench Clamp

Remove the clamp from the plastic hanger card and the plastic tie from the 

clamp handle.

Adjust the anchor screw to leave 

5

16

[8mm] between the screw head and 

the glide pad adhered to the clamp 

base. Test the fit of the Bench Clamp 

in the Clamp Plate keyhole. Adjust the 

screw as necessary until the clamp is 

snug to the plate but still moves freely 

in and out of the keyhole. The patch 

of thread-locking compound on the 

screw keeps it in position.

Make a routing template

Cut four routing guides from pieces of ¾" [19mm] stock wide enough to 

accommodate two pocket screws and long enough to clamp to the surface 

being routed without interfering with the router. For a smooth-bottom recess, 

make sure the four guides are the same thickness. Drill pocket holes in one 

end of each guide. Position the guides around the Clamp Plate as shown, 

making a snug fit. Drive the pocket screws.

Form the screw-head recess

To provide clearance below the 

Clamp Plate for the anchor screw 

head, place the plate in the recess 

and trace the outline of the key hole 

onto the bottom of the recess with 

a pencil. Drill a ¾" [19mm] hole ¼" 

[6mm] deep at each end of the traced 

outline. Remove the material between 

the holes with a chisel. Place the 

plate in the recess and make sure the 

Bench Clamp anchor screw moves 

freely in the keyhole.

Install the plate

Place the Clamp Plate in the recess. 

When mounting into solid wood or 

plywood surfaces at least 1½" [38mm] 

thick, use the countersunk holes in 

the plate as guides, drill pilot holes, 

and drive the flathead woodscrews 

provided. When mounting into 

plywood and solid wood surfaces less 

than 1½" [38mm] thick or particleboard 

and MDF surfaces up to 1½" [38mm] 

thick, drill clearance holes and fasten 

the plate with the flathead bolts, 

washers, and lock nuts provided.

Install the bumpers (KBC3-HDSYS)

To use the Large Clamp Plate without 

recessing it into the work surface, 

you need to provide clearance for the 

anchor screw head by applying the 

self-adhesive rubber bumpers included 

with the plate to the bottom surface. 

Clean the corner areas of the bottom of 

the plate to make sure they are free of 

dirt and oil. Mark points at each corner 

1" [25mm] in from each edge. Remove 

the protective sheet from each bumper 

and adhere one at each mark. Allow 

the adhesive to cure for ten minutes 

before using the plate.

Bumpers

Drill Holes

Remove 

Waste

The following four steps are for recessing the Clamp Plate

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