I have some small clips that I use to hold some pieces together while I pin them. Roughly, they gradually melt. I remove them quickly enough, but over time they suffer. Clamps are light and I can drop them, so finding replacement pads is a bonus. These spacers are the same thickness and quality as the clamps. I like to have a few extra spares and only need to swap out spares every few months. If you liked my review or found it helpful, please click the 'Useful' button below. Many Thanks.