You don't always need to use a spreader, but sometimes these are poor clamps to use, because their 'original design' very much makes them 2-handed.

I store some of mine with one "jaw" squeezed past the other one. The PVC develops a little bit of a memory in this position, and with the jaws offset by the thickness of the pipe, you can actually slip the clamp onto your wood one-handed.

: Some people make them a litle thicker than yours and then you can drill two
: holes about 2" apart. Then you can put two sticks in there - when you
: squeeze them together it acts as a spreader.