Two Straigh Edge Clamps for price of one!

[Stormbringer]

These just got even better.

[Andrew Benedetto]

"but better quality than the TruGrip by Griset"

Not better than the TruGrip Pro. I have a 4' and 8' and the are extremely well made and I use them as a "panel saw" ,router plate for dado, clamps , even as a rip guide with the TS clamped to the edge of a board you can cut wide panel accurately by running the track edge ag. the rip fence b/c they are flat and square. Very straight and rigid. Here is a pic w. a router. The clamps on sale are good but not in the same league as the Pro tru grip in terms of strength and resistance to flexing.

[JimK]

Greg,

You know, I saw that picture on the site but I didn't pick up on the functionality of it. That definitely makes things easier. I really could have used this setup last summer when I built a walk-in closet system out of melamine. Many cuts with a circular saw and measuring back from the cut line to allow for the distance to the blade.

Jim K.

[Stormbringer]

"but better quality than the TruGrip by Griset" Not better than the TruGrip Pro. The clamps on sale are good but not in the same league as the Pro tru grip in terms of strength and resistance to flexing.

Your right Andrew, the one's on sale are not better than the Tru Grip Pro but I didn't say they were and nor should they be. They're half the price.

What I should have said was that IMHO the All-In-One's (regular version like the one on sale here) are a better design than the Tru Grip regular version (called the "Clamp N Guide") and that the All-In-One Ultra (the wide version) is a better design the the Tru Grip Pro.

Since they are the same in functionality, I rate the All-In-One superior for their cosmetics.
I.e.:
Firstly, the AIO's have an extremely accurate rule on both sides of the guide, the Tru Grips don't. If you don't have it on yours you don't know how handy this feature is.

Secondly, I found the handle on the Tru Grip's to be small and cumbersome to push down. The short length allowed the handle to "snap" loose when releasing the pressure. The AIO's are longer. You will notice the difference in the pictures above.

Thirdly, and the reason I returned the TruGrip's, you have to buy the more expensive version of the TruGrip (the Pro) to use a saw base plate, router base plate, or stop block. I did not feel I should have to spend the extra $$$ on a "Pro" version of a 12" or 24" or 36" or even the 48" guide. These lengths DO NOT FLEX. All versions of the All-In-One's, regular or Ultra, come with the channels to accept their guide plates (as seen in the picture I posted above).

Fourth, the circular saw base plate for the Tru Grip requires you to plunge the blade through when mounting, preventing the guard from springing down to cover the blade. (http://www.amazon.com/Tru-Grip-FT-SB...3?ie=UTF8&s=hi) Unless your saw has an electric brake you have to wait for the saw to stop spinning before you can put it down. I guess you could build a jig rest to sit it in so the blade can spin freely to a stop. As you'll notice in the picture I posted above, the All-In-One's saw plate comes with the blade opening wide enough to allow the saw guard to safely spring back over the blade.

Fifth, the only accessories I had found for the TruGrips were the saw plate, the router plate, and a stop block. The All-In-One's have these as well as a micro adjustable stop block, a featherboard (used it just yesterday cutting some narrow stock on my table saw since my regular feather boards didn't "have the reach" mounted in the miter slot), a wide jaw kit, a deep jaw kit, a doweling drilling jig, and a pocket hole drilling jig.

Having owned both brands, l am comfortable making these comparisons. I am providing the above advice and these comparisons to those that may be on the fence, as I once was, about spending hard earned dough on these guides or even to those who are committed to buying one of the brands but just didn't know the differences.

If you enjoy using yours and your happy with them, then that's all that really matters.

Regards,
Greg

[Andrew Benedetto]

Greg, I think this is a good price and good quality unlike the trugrip copys I bought from WWS about 10 y.a.. They shift even when locked. I use them back to back as clamps never as an edge guide.
The saw plate acts like a ZCTP on a TS for reduced tearout(you can easily cut out for the guard if you want to). I have the depth lever loose(spring lock washer holds it in position) so the guard is covering the blade, plunge down, make the cut and lift at the end and the blade guard is now down then I lock it. I use an older PC w. a dust vac connection but no brake. On the page showing their saw plate, it looks the same as the trugrip soild one,see image below.


I prefer a CS w. a brake and have been looking for a deal but have not found one yet.
I may buy these 2 since I do not have a 36" one. I agree that the Trugrip access. are very basic and the CS from the company is almost non- existent. I really like the ability to say trim an entry door's length with the 8' track. Your idea of the wood blocks on the pads is great and I will try that w. my clamps. Thanks for the idea.
I would now buy the Eurakazone as a cutoff system but that was not available when I bought these clamps.

[Stormbringer]

On the page showing their saw plate, it looks the same as the trugrip soild one, see image below.

Yeah, I saw that too. That's the old picture that they provided their affiliated vendors years ago. Notice the circa 1985 Skill saw. It was changed to the flatter black plate with the larger cut out to address the safety issue (per an e-mail response from the company). Here's some of the line up http://www.eemersontool.com/id22.html

I would now buy the Eurakazone as a cutoff system but that was not
available when I bought these clamps.

I looked long and hard at that one too. I came to the conclusion not to get it for the following reasons (this is my rationale only - please come to your own conclusions after researching these types of products...their are other out there too).

I didn't like the idea of having to screw two 50" sections together to make a section long enough to rip an 8' sheet. Then, if I wanted to crosscut it I would have to undo it. You could buy the next larger kit that comes with three 50" sections so you could make dedicated 8' and 4' cutters but now your up to $270. ( http://www.eurekazone.com/products/detail/sgs.html )

The router add on is another $125! Almost up to $400. Ouch.

Then I thought about having to clamp down the 50" section to say, crosscut a two foot wide piece. That's a lot of extra guide in the way - IMHO of course. With the All-In-One and the TruGrip you just slap the two footer on and push down on the lever. Done. No having to futz around with the two rail clamps that mount underneath the Eurekazone.

I think the package listed here for $175 is a great deal http://www.eemersontool.com/id14.html You get the regular 24", the Ultra 54", the Ultra 99", the circular saw plate, the router plate, and a stop block. Buy it at an upcoming woodworking show and get it for $165 with the $10 off coupon. I bought these exact models seperately from Amazon before I found their site and it set me back about $250 .

With the All-In-Ones (and Tru Grips fro that matter) you can also use any tool without the guide plate, but, you have to account for blade backspace (you can make spacer blocks as I have or use the technique mentioned above which I'm going to switch too). Just press it against the edge of the rail as you cut. Circular saws, routers, jig saws, trim router, dremel, etc... can be used with these clamp guides. The base plate guides just guarentee that extra accuracy. This alone, to me, made these clamp guides more valuable than the Eurekazone system since I don't believe you can do this with theirs (the guiderails have the plastic cutoff edge that prevents you from pushing a tool up against the rail).

Although I'm starting to feel like a salesman for these clamps, I have no affiliation with them. Just a satisfied customer. Now if they wanted to give me some freebies to demo...just call me Ray .

If I already had the Eurekazone, I'd probably making just as strong an arguement for that system instead.

Best,
Greg

[liftoff621@hotmail.com]

The Peachtree deal sounded great. The 36" length was the holdup. I've had the Rockler 50" for awhile and it works great for cutting down plywood. I have experienced no flex or clamp slipping. Great deal on sale. I will probably buy the circular saw plate for it.

[BigguyZ]

I think the package listed here for $175 is a great deal http://www.eemersontool.com/id14.html You get the regular 24", the Ultra 54", the Ultra 99", the circular saw plate, the router plate, and a stop block. Buy it at an upcoming woodworking show and get it for $165 with the $10 off coupon. I bought these exact models seperately from Amazon before I found their site and it set me back about $250 .

Well it's a good thing they aren't coming to the Twin Cities until March. That'll give me some time to recouperate from my recent spending spree and save up!

[Andrew Benedetto]

I have been waiting to get a 2' ProTrugrip Rail but they are ~$50 which is what I paid for the 4' section.
I am thinking this 36" with a new saw plate for my cordless Milwaulkee 18v might be the way to go. Amazon's saw plate is cheaper but I may be the older model.

[supper shaun]

Received mine today. Not sure if these are an older model or a knock-off as they are without the measuring guide stamped on. No stamping of E Emerson co or "All-in-One-Clamp". Maybe this is why the price was so low. Gotta say I'm a little disappointed. They look like the ones to all the links, just no guide--so if this is vital it may not be as great a deal for you. I guess if you really compare the photos at Amazon and Rockler, with the ones on Peachtree, they are different. I thought they were just bad photos. I plan to email Peachtree to find out.

http://www.ptreeusa.com/allinoneclamp.htm
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?O...Select=Details
http://www.amazon.com/All-Clamp-Grip...0?ie=UTF8&s=hi
http://www.eemersontool.com/id19.html

[Stormbringer]

Received mine today. Not sure if these are an older model or a knock-off as they are without the measuring guide stamped on.

Shaun,

How do they lock down? Is it a three stage lock with the handle being in the horizontal position being the first lock position. This spot is usually tight enough. You can then "force" it down, say 45 degrees to the workpiece which would be position #2. To get it into position #3 almost feels like your going to break it because of the amount of force needed.

I *think* (from reading all the Amazon reviews) that the original version did not come with the rule scale on the side (which is why they sell it sperately for a few dollars...like it was an add-on. Perhaps Peachtree sells off their old product line (as Andrew had pointed out the "old style" saw plate is for sale on their site as well)

Let us know what the response is and your opinion of how they "lock down"...that's what's really important. The rule scale is available through Amazon if you really want it. Here's the ones they currently have.

http://www.amazon.com/Clamp-M-24-24-...3?ie=UTF8&s=hi

or

http://www.amazon.com/Clamp-I-24-24-...3?ie=UTF8&s=hi

or

http://www.amazon.com/Clamp-M-50-50-...3?ie=UTF8&s=hi


regards,
Greg

EDIT:
Shaun I just viewed the page you linked to first (Peachtree). Every clamp and accessory is referred to as "All-In-One" or "fits the All-in-One" etc... i wouldn't be concerned. They're clearly the same clamps. A knockoff would not be able to infringe on their name and these are not new to the Peachtree site since I remember seeing them when I was looking for them at least a year ago. Must be old stock. They even call the wide one the "All-In-One Ultra". I don't think Peachtree would jeapordize getting sued.

[supper shaun]

Just tried on scrap of plywood and WOW -- clamps like a champ. It was tough to get to the final position and it felt like it was locked in great. Doubtful they are knockoffs. I emailed PeachTree and will see what they say. I also email E Emerson to see if PeachTree was an authorized dealer. I'd be shocked if PeachTree wasn't.

Just really surprised that the scale was not on there.

[Stormbringer]

Just tried on scrap of plywood and WOW -- clamps like a champ. It was tough to get to the final position and it felt like it was locked in great. .

Glad to hear it shaun, I figured as much

Just be careful, you don't have to lock it in position #3. I never do. usually #1 or #2 is enough depending on how tight you slide the "sliding lock end". They clamp so tight you have to be careful about "compressing" the work piece. I guess they were worth the $14...

Greg

[skamath]

where are these clamps made? not that it really matters, but just curious.

[Stormbringer]

Ok.

Just got off the phone with ________ (D*amn I forgot the fella's name) but he confirmed that the Peachtrees are his products, just NOS. He did give me the particulars of how this is an inferior product to the new line-up but it is their's none-the-less.

Just a little tidbit I did not know: All the plastic is covered under a lifetime warrenty. So if you drop it and the handle breaks or an end cap cracks just call em up. I just worked out something with them regarding a replacement and the customer service is along the lines of Holbrens.

He did warn me that Peachtree will not and cannot honor the warentey for replacement parts because they don't have any nor will E. Emerson give them any. Relationship problems going back a while.

This is clearly a deal that is hard to pass up but, after getting the inside scoop, I would strongly advise purchasing any other sizes that aren't on sale or accessories from their affiliated retailors (Rockler, Amazon, Woodcraft or their booth at the woodworking shows).

Greg