: I think it’s a good concept for strip building if you prefer not
: to use staples. In its present form it may pop off as the force
: on the side of the strip tends to lift the lip. If the block is
: a bit wider and the dowel is kept close to the lip then it
: should be more secure.

: A high-friction tip on the dowel end should help; you can get
: rubber molded tips for placing under the tops of glass-topped
: tables.

: Handling a clamp and block may require three hands! You can replace
: the dowel with a wing knob (below) running through some kind of
: nut fixed to the block - that might be easier to use.

Yes, that was the original idea, but I need to make about 30 of these and I don't want to have to route a slot for the nut on 30 tiny little clamps, so I came up with the idea of the dowel. I have about 50 of the miniature Irwin Quick-Grip clamps and that's what I am going to use to put pressure on the dowel. The original idea was just cut the cheeks of the block thin enough that they flex under clamping pressure, but I figured they would break that way.

However, you did give me another idea- embed a nail into the end of the dowel so when you clamp it the nail digs in and holds. That's the ticket! I also have considered that I may need a dowel on each end, offset, to keep it from racking, but I will try one dowel first. Less holes to drill, less dowels to cut.