Reddit mentions of TEKTON Mini 6-Inch x 1-1/2-Inch Ratchet Bar Clamp and 9-Inch Spreader | 39180

$45 on Amazon, definitely worth it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068P48O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RQFxCbAMKZEKR


If you don't have a workbench you can bolt the workstation down on, I would advise getting some of these clamps (not these exact ones, but this style) to keep the base from moving around. You can put them on the backside and it usually won't interfere with the project.

Two clamps from a hardware store should be about $4 -- total. Cheapie metal clamps are about $2 a pop. If you have 8$, you could even get two of these ones from Amazon

If you really can't afford clamps, simple warping on a backstrap loom requires 2 pegs. Have a chair with two arms? That just became your warping board. Have two pencils? Use those to preserve your cross. It's a short warp, sure, because it's the span of your chair arms, but it's a warp. Or use two chairs side by side -- the arms that are closest together are for your cross, and the arms farthest apart just hold your yarn. Stick pencils to preserve the cross right before you remove the yarn from the chairs. Have a walkway railing? Same thing - use the railing arms as your end pegs and use your dowels/pencils/tree twigs to keep your cross. You don't need a lot of tension on the warp, you just need to make sure it's even. Heck, if it was warmer out, you could probably even stick two spikes in the ground (metal spikes, wooden dowels, tree sticks even) the distance you want your warp to be and create your warp on that (again, using pencils/dowels/twigs for your cross)

We've been weaving for thousands of years. You don't need fancy equipment to create a warp - especially for a backstrap loom. Get creative, go slowly, BREATHE, and you'll get there. :)

to expand on this.

you'll want to buy a cheap powered router, a straight bit, a couple of clamps and HEARING and EYE PROTECTION.
i can't stress those last two enough.

once you've done that,

1. you'll want to install a wide-ish straight bit into your router.
   
   
2. mark off the area you want to route (make the marks on the waste side, where you're cutting away, or the other side, but be consistent).
   
3. set the router so the bit won't cut, but you can see it in the flat shoe on the bottom. you want to line the edge of the bit to your line, then mark where the edge of the router is.
   
4. you want to clamp your metal brackets to that line as a straight edge and guide.
   
5. don your eye and ear protection. it's going to get loud.
   
6. take a ruler or use the built in guides to set the bit to the depth you want (1/8")
   
7. double check your clamps are tight and the edge guide is straight. measure both sides of it, don't eyeball.
   
8. place the router on the work with the bit hanging off the edge. then turn it on while steadying it with your hands.
   
9. cut along the guide and any remaining bits from the edge until you have a nice level area for your bracket.
   
   i recommend practicing on a bit of extra wood. get the idea down and then do it on your final piece.

https://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-39180-1-5-Inch-Ratchet-Spreader/dp/B000NY4UDQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1497567741&sr=1-7&keywords=c+clamp

something like this

Yeah, it worked well enough to do four or five simple case bindings. Then I bought a couple of these ratchet clamps at Walmart to press books between a board (you could use a sturdy clipboard for starters) and my desk. It doesn't have to be super heavy, so don't worry about not having equipment to start.

Clamp

They make clamps that are reversible so they can also be spreaders, like this Tekton one. Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but its something close.