Clamp Suggestions?

[bluthart]

I need to start collecting some clamps for future projects. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are the clamps on the Harbor Freight webpage any good? (Pittsburgh or Central Forge?) Any help would be appreciated.

[ScottM]

You get what you pay for. A lot depends on what you will be building. Small items like bandsaw boxes and laminating for pens almost anything will do. If you plan to make large pieces (cabinets, tables,etc) then I think you need better clamps. BTW I have some of each.

Check the Rockler web site. They normally have good deals on clamps.

[FredP]

I have some of those. they work OK. first I reach for the bessy's F-clamps then the jorgansons and when I'm out of those I grab the HF's. I use pony pipe clamps for panels and cabinet cases.

[Tarhead]

Brian,

I have some of the newer blue handled clamps from HF and they're a great deal for medium/light clamping. Just wait for the size you want to go on sale.

Also...Check out the Stanley bar clamps at Big Lots. The heavy ones with the 5 1/2" clamp faces are the best deal out there right now for heavy duty bar clamps (30" for $10). Check them out in the store and make sure both faces line up.

[WoodWrangler]

Usually you get what you pay for ... a couple examples, one as recent as about an hour ago ...

A couple years ago I purchased a bunch of "value" clamps on eBay. You know the kind ... black with orange handles. Well, they stink. No clamping pressure, and if you try ... they break. I broke two this morning!

Then you have the mid-price ones. WC sells a good many of these every now and them (under the brand name Columbian, I think). They are fairly cheap ($6-$15ea) and work pretty good. I've been pleasantly suprised with them and would buy again.

Then you have the parallel k-body style clamps. Most notably, and most expensive, are the Bessey. They are top-notch, but still not perfect. That is what I own the majority of, but I have also purchased the copy-clone's from Woodline -- where they added a little innovation, but some of it actually makes things worse (still good, but Bessey wins that comparison in my book). Then you have the copy-clone from Jet -- now, those seem to be top of the heap. I haven't purchased any yet, but have used them a couple times in the stores and at the shows. More innovation, but in the right direction with a finger-trigger to release the clamp. Irwin has also now introduced a copy-clone -- but I don't have any information on those yet. They look decent though.

Clamps ... oh, clamps. If I could do it all again, I would avoid the cheapos ... more frustration than they are worth. I'd go for mid-line and top-line clamps ... and definately would have more Bessey-style clamps of ALL lengths.

Another thing I've been happy with are the Bow Caul Clamps. They allow you to need LESS clamps to accomplish the same thing. Very useful (and I'd like more of these too!) http://www.bowclamp.com/

[JimmyC]

Definitely get some good clamps( f- type, pipe,k-body, whatever) they make initial set up easy, then you can fill in with some less expensive ones later. There are bargains to be found, the ones at Big Lots are a bargain, but the ones at the Selma Big Lots were all off kilter (they didn't line up well), so you have to give a good look over at the cheaper ones. But for initial set ups, especially case work, the cheaper ones can drive you crazy. I have both, cheap and expensive, and all different types: C-clamps (HF definitely good), F-type, pipe, spring, etc.. I definitely have enough cheaper ones, now I look for good deals to replace them.

One style does not do everything well, but the parallel body K- styes are the closest ( and will cost you your first born for a good set of them)

Good Luck,
Jimmy

[Bas]

The Harbor Freight bar clamps up to 18" ones are great value. They clamp as well if not better as the more expensive Bessey bar clamps. The longer ones tend to bow too much - but that goes for both the HF and Bessey ones.

For glue-ups and cabinet work, you can't beat parallel clamps. I have 8 JETs and want 8 more. For major clamping pressure, F-clamps and pipe clamps are best. There was a discussion on pipe clamps not too long ago.

Gotta have a handful of C-clamps and quick-grip clamps as well.

So, buy a little of everything. That way, you can grow your expensive clamp collection over time without being handicapped. And it's not like you're wasting anything - you can NEVER have enough clamps.