I just bought one of those Adel clamp pliers from Spruce (also available from Wicks).  Roughly $35 and worth much more.  It's basically a small vice grips with a duck bill welded onto the end.  Comes with an awl, which you use to line up the Adel clamps.  Then you grab it with the vise grips and squeeze.  There is a slot in the duck bill allowing you to withdraw the awl and drop in a bolt.

 

Stupendous!

 

Hard to believe it took so long for one of us homebuilders to invent them...

 

Here's the link for details:

 

 

- Rob Wolf