Toggle Clamps

[Bill in Buena Park]

I may be the only member here not aware that HF carries these clamps (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96233) - and at roughly 1/3 the price of Woodcraft! They're not on sale at the moment, but hopefully this post will help others in the market avoid my costly mistake.

Here's the Woodcraft link for comparison shoppers: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=4419

[billfrommich]

There was a posting about a week ago that had a HF coupon for one style of these clamps for $2.99. Unfortunately the HF I frequent was all out and I didn't get a rain check - but even at their regular price of $4.99 they are a good deal, assuming the quality is there. In the earlier post I believe they were given a good rating.

[sweensdv]

I just purchased 4 of the $2.99 clamps the other day which are the vertical version of the above clamp. They seem to be of very good quality and could very well be another Harbor Freight gem.

[kramer katt]

HF toggle clamp

I also got four of the 96238 clamps with the $2.99 coupon Friday. Expired 6/7
HF website shows the 96233-3vga for $3.99 as regular price. B/M store will match even if tagged higher.

These two are described as 500 LB as opposed to some of the others at 200 LB
Fit, finish and metal thickness closely duplicated DeStaco and others but I think the most important feature as far as useability is the geometry of the pivot points to provide clamping force and some adjustability.
I have not studied all the different models available at Rockler but matching similar clamps makes me think the HF clamps are short on leverage to reach the same clamping force
All that said, given the price, it is easy to make accomodation for this and get good results.

[John Hunter]

There was a posting about a week ago that had a HF coupon for one style of these clamps for $2.99. Unfortunately the HF I frequent was all out and I didn't get a rain check - but even at their regular price of $4.99 they are a good deal, assuming the quality is there. In the earlier post I believe they were given a good rating.

They were out when I got there but I did get a rain check for 5.

[just started]

They were out when I got there but I did get a rain check for 5.

Same here.

[Pappy]

I will have to mark one of my unused clamps and take it in for comparison. Think I paid around $12 each thru a local supplier.

[Stytooner]

I bought about 8 of them. Some of the ones on sale and the smaller ones at full price. I pay at least double for some that aren't half the size of the smaller ones I use on my cnc router. They make quick work of part changing and positioning.

Until that sale flyer arrived in my inbox, I wasn't even aware HF sold these. I have plenty of good clamps for everything I do thus far, so I typically avoid the HF clamp isle. That won't happen anymore. One never really has enough clamps, you know.
I am pleased with them so far. They seem to be decent quality and should last if not abused.
There are tons of uses for these things.

[wassaw998]

The HF ones I have are a bit tough to open and close without an "assist" - meaning I have to grab the red handle and the other end (the end with the rubber doo dad) and pull /push to get the lever opened / closed. Besides that they seem fine.

[LCHIEN]

The HF ones I have are a bit tough to open and close without an "assist" - meaning I have to grab the red handle and the other end (the end with the rubber doo dad) and pull /push to get the lever opened / closed. Besides that they seem fine.

If they are too hard to close/open, that measn you need to adjust the hold down foot for less compression - e.g. raise it up. It is usually on a threaded stud and a couple of nuts holding it to the clamp beam to allow this adjustment.

They're kind of designed so that the maximum hold down force is achieved when you can comfortably close the lever by hand. If you are having to push extra hard them you may be overloading the clamp anyway.

[wassaw998]

Understand, 'cept I am saying they are hard to open / close with nothing being held down cept good ole air !

[pelligrini]

I noticed there were a few that had a really stiff movement when I was looking at them a couple weeks ago at HF. I couldn't remember what I already had so I didn't pick any up.

So I got a couple of 36" F type bar clamps. I really shold have inspected them closer. Both are totally unuasble, bent, warped & broken.

[Ed62]

So I got a couple of 36" F type bar clamps. I really shold have inspected them closer. Both are totally unuasble, bent, warped & broken.

Take 'em back. They have a generous return policy.

Ed

[dbhost]

Take the bent bar clamps back. I drove the staff at the Pasadena HF crazy yesterday by inspecting every single 36" F bar clamp they had in stock. I ended up with 8 good ones, and they had about 3 that were left that were good that I passed on (I wanted a dozen of each of my sizes, I needed 8 to make that last dozen). The rest were bent, (looked like they fell out of the truck and got ran over), and one had the bar with chunks missing out of it like someone had taken a steel chisel to it...

Pretty much with everything HF, you need to double check your purchase. They have been really good about exchanging duds though.

[pelligrini]

Yea, I've just been too lazy to go over and bother with it.