Subject: clamps

From: Kevin <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 22:29:05 -0700

..looking to get some clamps for:
- glueing up panels
- assembling

"Shop Notes" did a review on the one-handed, quick gripping types and
all 3 reviewers liked the Jorgensen EZ-Hold.  It's closest competitor
was the Quick-Grip.  I've looked at both.  I like the "action" of the
Quick-Grip, but the EZ is cheaper and also reversible (can act as a
spreader). 

But neither of these seems to be a solution for glueing up panels. 
That's where I guess I need a "bar-clamp".  I looked at the Tool Crib
catalog and the Jorgensen aluminum bar clamp seeems like a good buy at
$29 for a 6-footer.  Any thoughts on an aluminum, square bar clamp.  I
could go for the "Pony" fixtures and some black pipe, but the cost is
not much less, and having a flat surface seems to be a big advantage for
panel glue-up.

Anyone have any good/bad experiences with clamps.  Right now, I'm
leaning towards getting four 6 foot EZ Holds and three Jorgensen alum 6
footers.

Any thoughts on how many clamps to get -- and how long they should be? 
I plan to get the longest ones possible.  I can always make them
smaller.  Sometimes it may be inconvenient, but versatility in my small
shop is key.

Thanks!
Kevin

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From: [email-masked] (Stev)
Date: 10 Feb 1997 06:19:15 GMT

>..looking to get some clamps for:

Get some Bessey K Body Clamps, faces stay parallel under pressure
and they sit easy in the Bessey k-blocks or home made blocks.
They are not cheap, but they are very good clamps.

I wonder if those 4-way clamps are any good? Been eyeballing those
a long time, just never got around to buying any.

stev

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From: "P.H.Groepper" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 10:32:26 -0800

choose clamps, you really can rely on. smooth and low friction spindle 
operation is important. and they should keep their quality even after 20 
years use and longer. I had some cheap clamps until I bought my first 
Bessey 25 years ago, being on a student's budget. I threw the others 
away, even didn't keep them as a backup. I've now some 60 Bessey and Lust 
clamps ranging from 8" to 50" in steps. And they *are* expensive. 

"The bitterness of poor quality lasts longer than the sweetness of low 
price"

Peter

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From: [email-masked] (Brian Bennett)
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 97 16:54:35 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, Kevin <[email-masked]> wrote:
>...looking to get some clamps for:
>- glueing up panels
>- assembling
>
The perfect number of clamps is always one more than I have.

Brian B.

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From: [email-masked] (David N. Levy)
Date: 10 Feb 1997 15:49:39 GMT

> They are not cheap, but they are very good clamps.

I got a couple of Gross Stabil K clamps from Wm. Alden and they are
really excellent, and somewhat less expensive than Bessey clamps from
other companies.  Check them out too.

David N. Levy
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-0007

[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Explodey2)
Date: 10 Feb 1997 17:14:27 GMT

Well, I have to agree with previous post about Bessey. They are such a
pleasure to use and are very strong, accurate, and true. The jaws do not
cock when tightnened so panels glue ups stay flat. Jaws project to sides
so clamps can be used laying on side for wider jaw contact. And once
clamped, panels with clamps can be stood on end of clamps out of your way
until dry. They also have k-blocks a simplebut effective support block set
to hold 4 k-clamps for frame glue ups. This all comes at a price however-
they aren't cheap. (They did have a $2/clamp rebate recently). I got some
on sale at Woodworker's Warehouse at about $8-$10 off plus the rebate
which makes them a little more reasonable. I have also used the simple
pony clamps on iron pipe. These can be had for about $8 per set plus pipe.

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From: r s herman <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 12:46:58 -0600

Kevin- for versatility/budget, pipe clamps with couplers is a pretty
good way to go. In pairs, 2 3ft lentgths, 2 couplers, and 2 2 footers,
+ 2 1 footers, gives you 3 to 6 ft variables. If you then purchase 
another pair of "ends" you have 4 clamps of varying length as your needs
dictate, and this type of system is easily expandable by adding 
additional 2 footers, etc.
Pipe clamps are not as elegant as the bar clamps others mention, but the
cost per foot of clamping power is probably the lowest.

Roger H.
-- 
Life is too important to take seriously.

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From: [email-masked] (Al Taylor)
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 23:29:49 GMT

>>smaller.  Sometimes it may be inconvenient, but versatility in my small

Kevin,

In my opinion you can't beat the old orange Jorgensen 3/4" pipe
clamps. They're relatively cheap, you can buy different lengths of
pipe and alternate them as needed for different lengths. I buy a new
set every once in a while (you always need more) they make easy gifts
for Christmas. The black pipe stain problem you may have read about is
really easily solved by any number of methods, (I rarely have any
problems)

The Besseys are very nice and very expensive.

The EZ Holds that you mentioned (the part I cut out) are nice to have
around but not good for panel clamping.

Those new black spring clamps with the swivel tips are better than the
others (unrelated to panel clamping but what the hey)

My two cents,

Al

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From: Michael Peele <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 15:34:00 -0500

> >smaller.  Sometimes it may be inconvenient, but versatility in my small

I have 16 3/4" Pony pipe clamps and for panel/case/table glue up. For 
panels I place one every foot. For case work 2 to 3 per side plus a 
couple for diagonals. For each clamp I have 2 pieces of pipe, 31.5" 
and 42" and a coupling. The 31.5" and 42" pipes were cut from 5 21' 
lengths of black iron pipe with 2 extra 42" pipes. These have provided 
any length clamp I have ever needed. 

For post or billet glue ups I have 9 5" and 9 8" C clamps.

A couple of years ago at an auction I bought a box of about 100 2.5" C 
clamps which I use for everything.

I have never felt the need to have any of the fancy bar clamps. If you stock
is jointed correctly and you don't use to much glue or preasure the pipe 
clamps work just fine. Clamps cost about $8-$10 and a 21' length of black
pipe is $18. 

Michael Peele

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From: Paul Worth <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 14:45:09 -0500

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From: [email-masked] (John K. Warsaw)
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 14:17:31 GMT

I like the Jorgensen series 72 heavyweight bar I-beam clamps for
serious useon larger projects.  I do have some 3/4" pipe clamps which
are threaded on both ends.  I sometimes connect the pipes to make very
long (7-9') clamps for gluing up large case pieces.  Also, on pipe
clamps I can turn the two heads to different angles, which helps in
some uses.  I find the pipe clamps are much more flexible than the
I-beam style, and are more likely to slip when tightened.  I haven't
used the aluminum, but the catalogs say the steel I-beam style is much
heavier duty.

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