Which clamps....

[Wood_workur]

...should I get for $100?

I currently have the following:

2x: 40" k-bodies
2x: 24" k-bodies
5x: 4" bessy tradesmen
4x: 1" spring clamp
4x: 2" spring clamp
2x: 3" spring clamp

I was thinking of getting the following:

8x: Sure foot pipe clamps from rockler. (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10277)
2x: 10' black pipe from HD (and cut it into 8x: 2.5' pieces)

But are those clamps any good? Should I be getting different ones? I would prefer not to get one from HF (don't have one near me.)

[AlanJ]

I have the Pony brand pipe clamps and they're pretty good. I think the Rockler ones are more pricey - and the only difference is the foot part - which you don't always need.
I would NOT buy 10' pipes. You should be able to buy black pipe in shorter lengths (2',3', 4' etc),threaded on both ends. You need at least one end threaded for the clamp head (they screw on). The clamp kit also usually comes with a little spring like piece, which screws on to the other thread and keeps the sliding piece from falling off.
The nice thing about pipe clamps is you can have an assortment of pipe lengths and make up the clamp length you need for each job.

[LCHIEN]

I personally don't like pipe clamps. They are cheap but for the strength too heavy, bend too much, and somewhat largeish.

If you buy them the 3/4" are stiffer, they have a bad habit on the longer lengths for the pipe to flex and the jaws to become non parallel as a result.

Given what you have,
the spring clamps are to me not worth much, the K-bodies OK but heavy, good in some critical glueups

I would get (for $100):

4 Irwin mini quick grips for $20 on promotion sale at HD or Lowes
2 Irwin 12" quick grips for $20
10-15 F-type clamps from HF ranging 12", 18", 24", 36", 48" ( 2 or 3 of each) for an average of $5 each when on (frequent) sale.

[Crash2510]

Are the HF clamps any good or would you be better off not wasting your money

[LCHIEN]

Are the HF clamps any good or would you be better off not wasting your money

The HF "F" clamps like this one
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=5976


are OK if you buy them on sale. By OK, I mean they provide lots of clamping for the buck. My critique of them would be
that the circular pad dents the wood (I use a piece of small scrap between it and the workpiece), and the bar flexes a little when tightened, but in general they all work and the clutches allow the clamp to be easily adjusted and they hold tight and don't slip and they are not overly heavy.
So I use these where I need a lot of clamps.

when they are on sale you can get them for 3, 4, 5, 6 bucks for the various sizes, about half the list price. They go on sale by sizes so not always all are on sale at the same time so you have to pick them up piecemeal, also the stores usually sell out of the sale ones (of course).


I would NOT buy the HF quick grip imitations.

[Wood_workur]

I have the Pony brand pipe clamps and they're pretty good. I think the Rockler ones are more pricey - and the only difference is the foot part - which you don't always need.
I would NOT buy 10' pipes. You should be able to buy black pipe in shorter lengths (2',3', 4' etc),threaded on both ends. You need at least one end threaded for the clamp head (they screw on). The clamp kit also usually comes with a little spring like piece, which screws on to the other thread and keeps the sliding piece from falling off.
The nice thing about pipe clamps is you can have an assortment of pipe lengths and make up the clamp length you need for each job.

yeah, but I was thinking of having it cut and threaded.

[LCHIEN]

yeah, but I was thinking of having it cut and threaded.

I think Alan's point was you can buy precut AND threaded pieces of
pipe in the stores cheaper than you can have it custom threaded.
And longer is not better.
You'd do better with 2, 4 and 6 foot pieces of precut pipe and some F-F nipples to connect them together.
Having 8 foot of excess pipe hanging off the end when you need a 2 ft clamp is a real pain!

[Wood_workur]

Yeah, but I read in another post that most HD employees are more than willing to cut and thread it for free. Pre cut might be the way to go, though.

I'll have to take a look at those clamps at HF.

[Pappy]

The HF 'F' clamps are good clamps. If you need more pressure on a joint than they will provide, recut the joint. As far as them denting the wood, they are about the same as the Jorgies 'F' bodies I have. I keep a bunch of wood blocks in my glue box to use with them.

My favorite of the HF clamps are the aluminum bar clamps. Unless I need the extra depth at the jaws, those are the ones I reach for.

There are 2 types of pipe clamps. The sliding jaw will either have a lever to lock it in place or a set of spring loaded plates. Get the ones with the plates.

[vaking]

My favorites are aluminum bar clamps. I have 2 - 48" and 2 - 36". All on clearance from Sears. They work very well. I also have a couple of 24" from HF. They are not terribly bad but the ones from Sears are far superior.
I got one 48" cabinetmaster when I wanted to try it - I prefer aluminum bars.
I have 4 Irwin 6" quick grips and 5 - 12" F-clamps from Garrett Wade. I strongly recommend those F-Clamps - German made clamps, 5 pieces for $20 can't be beat. Add an assortment of C-clamps ranging from 2" to 8" and you got my arsenal.

[thrytis]

I agree with Loring on picking up some quick grips if you don't have any. I picked up one of the four pack of minis at Lowes for $20 several months ago, and they're now the most used clamps in the shop. I don't use them for glue-ups, but they're great when i need to clamp a board to my bench for cutting or routing or to hold my fence on the router table. They have large rubber pads so there is no need to find scrap wood to use to protect the wood, and i can hold the wood in place with one hand and tighten the clamp with the other.

[mater]

Yeah, but I read in another post that most HD employees are more than willing to cut and thread it for free. Pre cut might be the way to go, though.

I'll have to take a look at those clamps at HF.

HD will cut and thread it free. I bought 2 10' pipes and they cut them into 6 pieces for me and then threaded both ends of each.

[Wood_workur]

Okay, here are the three choices I have narrowed it down to. Which are the best?

12x of these, and 8x of the second one (both will be bought on sale):
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38184
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38183

12 of these (with 8x 36 in, and 4x 48 in pipes):
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=31255

I like the first choice, because the aluminum is light, won't leaved lines on my wood, and I can get more clamps for my money.

[LarryG]

12 of these (with 8x 36 in, and 4x 48 in pipes):
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=31255

I have some of those HF 3/4" pipe clamps. They're an excellent deal at $3.49 each.

If you do go with the pipe clamps, don't forget that you will lose 5"-6" of pipe length to the fittings. Pipe cut into 36" and 48" lengths will net you ~30" and ~42" clamps, respectively.

The HD here will also cut and thread pipe for free. Also, the 10' sticks are considerably cheaper per foot than the precut pieces.