Parallel-Jaw Clamps-Tested by Wood Mag

[ragswl4]

Latest issue of Wood magazine tested six different clamps. They were: Bessey, Gross Stabil, Harbor Freight (a first I think for HF), Jet, Jorgensen CabinetMaster, Stanley and Woodcraft.

Top Tool (clamp): Jet
Top Value: Woodcraft

Interesting that the HF clamps were second in the "Maximum Clamping Force".

[MilDoc]

Love my JETS!

And I wonder why they care about maximum clamping force, since that would starve a glue joint.

[ragswl4]

In fact they did say that clamping force was not really a big issue, they just did it to test the clamps. Lowest was the Jet at 496 lbs. As the article stated, "100 lbs of pressure is adequate for a well machined glue joint." In addition, the Jet clamps had some features that others did not. Probably worth the extra $7 over the Woodcraft IMO.

[cgallery]

Timely discussion because I need to buy some F-type clamps. I currently have no F-type clamps, just a hodge-podge of those quick-type clamps (The Irwin ones).

I was thinking Harbor Freight due to price. Is that a mistake? Do the HF stores carry them?

[MilDoc]

Bought my Jets on sale at Amazon. With more and more competitors, they go on sale often, at prices below Woodcraft's.

[docrowan]

Okay, I confess my ignorance. What are parallel jaw clamps? I'm sure I've seen them, but didn't know the name for them.

[Stormbringer]

Okay, I confess my ignorance. What are parallel jaw clamps? I'm sure I've seen them, but didn't know the name for them.

Please read jeff's award winning tutorial
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=27489

regards,
Greg

[Stormbringer]

Timely discussion because I need to buy some F-type clamps. I currently have no F-type clamps, just a hodge-podge of those quick-type clamps (The Irwin ones).

I was thinking Harbor Freight due to price. Is that a mistake? Do the HF stores carry them?

cg,

Did you mean to say parallel jaw clamp like these or F type bar clamps like these? if it's the latter, by all means Harbor Freight....you just can't beat them at 1/2 price ($1.99 to $6.99) I think Pappy has like a gazillion of them

If you really meant the big boys (which look more like the letter "F" to me) like the Bessey and Jorgy's then, without a doubt, the Jets if you can score them on sale. I had previosly picked up two Bessey cabinet kits for about $90 from Amazon on sale (I think even cheaper now that I think about it. Regardless, this was before the jets came out. Don't get me wrong, I don't think anybody will say they're bad clamps.

Then this hype started surrounding the pending arrival of the Jets and when Rockler offerred the Jet version of the cabinet makers set for $88, I had to grab two of those as well. The Jets are superior IMHO (and in many other's).

Best,
Greg

[docrowan]

Greg,

Thanks for pointing me toward the tutorial! I had a lot to learn about clamps, and now have some great direction for future purchases.

I don't agree with Jeff's assessment of the HF quick clamps, though. I've bought a couple of Irwin's before I started buying the HF's. I broke one of the Irwin's within a year, but never broke a HF, even though I use about a half dozen regularly and have owned them for 5 years. I also prefer the "backwards" handle on the HF to the Irwin.

[Pappy]

Looking at the prices shown the HF is only a few $$$ ceaper than the Bessey's or Jets. Now if they go on a 1/2 off sale....

In the back of the mag was a short write up on the Merle band clamp. They talked about the benifits if the nylon web band. The last time I looked at mine, which was last night, the Merle had a steel band.

[ragswl4]

cg,

Then this hype started surrounding the pending arrival of the Jets and when Rockler offerred the Jet version of the cabinet makers set for $88, I had to grab two of those as well. The Jets are superior IMHO (and in many other's).

Best,
Greg

Wood Magazine article would agree that the Jets are the best due to additional features that the others did not have. What I took away from the article was that all the clamps are good, just some are better and others are superior.

I have some Bessey's which are really good and doing large, flat glue ups (such as cabinet doors) are sooooo easy with these types of clamps.

[Stormbringer]

I don't agree with Jeff's assessment of the HF quick clamps, though. I've bought a couple of Irwin's before I started buying the HF's. I broke one of the Irwin's within a year, but never broke a HF, even though I use about a half dozen regularly and have owned them for 5 years. I also prefer the "backwards" handle on the HF to the Irwin.

Agreed. Some people despise them and have posted that they break if you drop them. I have pushed my HF "quick grips" to the limit (from pulling bowed studs together for framing and using them in spreader mode to push some flooring together and they have all held up fine. I would shy away from using anything above the 24's with too much pressure though, they tend to buckle a little as the lengths go up.

I especially like the 6" for $1.99 as a third hand. Really handy in as pinch.

Greg

[Stormbringer]

I have some Bessey's which are really good and doing large, flat glue ups (such as cabinet doors) are sooooo easy with these types of clamps.

Agreed. My personal favorite about the Jets is that the clamp heads can't slide down the bar freely when positioned vertically. If you've ever had the head slip loose on one of the large Bessey's and pinch your hand or fingers you know what a plus the design feature is. The Jet is slightly more substantial, I believe they have a larger throat capacity, a ruler etched onto the bar itself and of course, the previously mentioned clamp release lever.

Greg

[cgallery]

cg,

If you really meant the big boys (which look more like the letter "F" to me) like the Bessey and Jorgy's then, without a doubt, the Jets if you can score them on sale.

Thanks for the rundown, Greg (and Mildoc, too). I'll keep my eyes open for some Jet's. Do I just wait for them to go on sale at Amazon? Or does Rockler ever have good deals on them?

[ryan.s]

Do the HF stores carry them?

I've seen them at my local HF in Pasadena, CA. They were on sale for $14.99 for the 24's about a month ago IIRC.