HF 24" K-bar Knockoffs $19.99

[phrog]

Just returned from Harbor Freight. They had the 24' Bessey K-bar knockoffs on clearance for $19.99. I believe I have this right. The big bulky Bessey's like Norm uses - I think they're called K-bars. Isn't K-bar also the name of the company that made the WWII Marine knives? Anyway, they appear to be nice clamps although from India.
Richard

[Jeffrey Schronce]

IMHO that is not a real great price. Bessey K-Body clamps can often be bought in sets of 4 with set up blocks for around $20 per clamp. This includes shipping and no sales tax.

The HF units reportedly have a small amount of deflection and the jaws arent as parallel as Bessey, WC and other parallel jaw clamps.

Might want to rethink this purchase phrog.

[phrog]

Thanks Jeffrey

Thanks Jeffrey,
I have no need for more clamps myself and was merely posting this for those who might have a need. At one time I saw interest on this board for these clamps and I noticed at that time that they were selling for close to $30.00. Therefore, I posted this for those who might still be interested. I hadn't heard there was a deflection and it's hard to believe as beefy as they appear that they would deflect but, having been made in India, it's certainly possible. Thanks for myself and all those who might be interested for your info.
Richard

[sweensdv]

In the test done by WOOD Magazine, the 24" Harbor Freight clamp deflected 1/16" as did the Jorgensen Cabinet Master clamp. When clamping force was compared, the Harbor Freight clamp had the 2nd highest rating with 806 maximum pounds of force compared to the 579 pounds of force generated by the wood handled Bessey's.

The article basically came to the conclusion that any of the parallel clamps out there will do the job and that there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the brands. Of course many will disagree with that conclusion but according to WOOD Magazine anyways, buy by price because there isn't that much difference in performance.

For those interested in such things, Bessey and Jorensen are made in the US, Gross Stabil in Germany, Harbor Freight and Woodcraft in India and Jet and Stanley are make in China. Interestingly, the made in China Jet clamp came out the overall winner.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

In the test done by WOOD Magazine, the 24" Harbor Freight clamp deflected 1/16" as did the Jorgensen Cabinet Master clamp. When clamping force was compared, the Harbor Freight clamp had the 2nd highest rating with 806 maximum pounds of force compared to the 579 pounds of force generated by the wood handled Bessey's.

The article basically came to the conclusion that any of the parallel clamps out there will do the job and that there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the brands. Of course many will disagree with that conclusion but according to WOOD Magazine anyways, buy by price because there isn't that much difference in performance.

For those interested in such things, Bessey and Jorensen are made in the US, Gross Stabil in Germany, Harbor Freight and Woodcraft in India and Jet and Stanley are make in China. Interestingly, the made in China Jet clamp came out the overall winner.

The problem I see with the HF is that I can get the higher rated Bessey for less. Don't get me wrong, when they get 12" HF parallel jaw clamps in the stores, put them on sale for $14 then I can find a coupon for another 20% off . . . .well there will be a lot of black clamps hanging out with my red clamps!

Note : I am 99% sure Bessey K-Bods are made in Germany.

[BigguyZ]

Eh, if you ask me the Jet's are better than either. And with the cabinet maker's set available for fairly cheap, I agree with Jeffrey that the price is so-so.

[LCHIEN]

well anyway its good to see some competition in this class of clamp - the recent addition of woodcraft and Jet and HF increased the suppliers by three; too bad Bessey just swallowed G.S. and decreased it by one.

Is stanley making these clamps, too?

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Is stanley making these clamps, too?

Yes, but I am not sure the product has hit the stores.

[wassaw998]

I think these are the clamps, fyi :

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93875

[messmaker]

well anyway its good to see some competition in this class of clamp - the recent addition of woodcraft and Jet and HF increased the suppliers by three; too bad Bessey just swallowed G.S. and decreased it by one.

Is stanley making these clamps, too?

I think WOOD found that the Stanley clamps were the strongest but they left some black stains on glue-ups.

[phrog]

Yep, those are the ones

I think these are the clamps, fyi :

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93875

Yep, wassaw998, those are the ones I saw for $19.99. Didn't mean to stir up so much controversy. I was just reporting what I saw for those interested. Thanks for the link.
Richard

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Yep, wassaw998, those are the ones I saw for $19.99. Didn't mean to stir up so much controversy. I was just reporting what I saw for those interested. Thanks for the link.
Richard

Dude, there is no controversy! I think everyone is just pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each brand of parallel jaw clamp. All posts are appreciated!

[meika123]

Thanks Jeffrey,
I have no need for more clamps myself Richard

WHAT!! THAT IS BLASPHEMY!! You don't need any more clamps? Everyone always needs more clamps.

Dave in NC

[sweensdv]

well anyway its good to see some competition in this class of clamp - the recent addition of woodcraft and Jet and HF increased the suppliers by three; too bad Bessey just swallowed G.S. and decreased it by one.

Bessey may have acquired G.S. but that didn't decrease the choices out there at all. At the end of the WOOD article they pointed out that Irwin just introduced a line of parallel clamps. They were unable to include the Irwin clamps in their article as they were just introduced about the time that WOOD was finishing up their comparison. The prices on the Irwin's were inline with the other manufacturers.

Jeffrey,.......... I may have misspoken when I said where those clamps were made. After looking at the article again, it didn't state that the clamps were made in the countries I listed but instead it said they were assembled in those countries.

[phrog]

Need More Clamps

WHAT!! THAT IS BLASPHEMY!! You don't need any more clamps? Everyone always needs more clamps.

Dave in NC

Like everyone else, I NEED more clamps. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to enlarge the garage to house them if I buy any more. Thanks for your concern, though. Also, I'm glad there is no controversy here - I was beginning to think you guys were getting upset and I didn't want to cause that. :-)
Richard