Bessey Clamps
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oddsocks
Established Member
I have bought 10 over the past few years, always at woodworking shows (such as stoneleigh this weekend, DM tools annual show etc). They typically have show prices and do bundles.
I have the other cheaper brands but always by choice use the bessey K.
Are they worth it? I'd say yes to avoid the frustration I had with other clamps!
Don't get caught out by having to buy the larger ones (as they are only a few pound dearer). I find the 600mm the most useful, followed by the 800 and then 1m. Using the bigger ones on smaller items just gets in the way.
For 450mm i use irvin speed clamps (these I think are better than the bessey equivalent, which tries to do too much).
for larger needs I still have the record cramp heads that fit to a piece of 2x1 timber
Dave
I have the other cheaper brands but always by choice use the bessey K.
Are they worth it? I'd say yes to avoid the frustration I had with other clamps!
Don't get caught out by having to buy the larger ones (as they are only a few pound dearer). I find the 600mm the most useful, followed by the 800 and then 1m. Using the bigger ones on smaller items just gets in the way.
For 450mm i use irvin speed clamps (these I think are better than the bessey equivalent, which tries to do too much).
for larger needs I still have the record cramp heads that fit to a piece of 2x1 timber
Dave
Grinding One
Established Member
I wait for a sale and the cheapest place to buy them is America 
just bought 8 more because not having enough to clamp up a bookcase.
just bought 8 more because not having enough to clamp up a bookcase.Cheers for the advise Dave. Makes sense using the record's for bigger stuff.
Unfortunately there are not many woodworking shows up this way
I see DM tools have all the Bessey clamps on promotion on there website just now. I might just invest :lol:
Do you have the uni clamp or K-body Dave?
I've had a look around on sites in the US, but not yet found any that are much cheaper
Unfortunately there are not many woodworking shows up this way
I see DM tools have all the Bessey clamps on promotion on there website just now. I might just invest :lol:
Do you have the uni clamp or K-body Dave?
I've had a look around on sites in the US, but not yet found any that are much cheaper
Lord Nibbo
Established Member
oddsocks
Established Member
I've got 2 each K clamp in 800 and 1000mm and 4 of the unicamp in 600mm. The K body lets you exert more pressure but the uniclamps are a lot lighter and are what I use most. The uniclamp can be reversed to apply pressure to force a joint apart as well, which has been useful on occasion - one example was working on a car and I needed to move the engine block forward a few inches to allow the ratchet to access a bolt, the uniclamp in expand mode did it.
The K bars are very sturdy and they work equally well using the side of the head as well as the 'throat'. I see on the bessey webpage that they have improved the K clamp (i've no issues with my version!)
Both the K and uniclamp stand on a flat surface so useful if clamping boards to get a wider piece - the reference of the benchtop is transitted through the clamps.
I've also got some duoclamps that have a lever to control whether the squeeze action opens or closes the jaws. They were virtually free when I bought some K clamps but are rarely used. I've got some basic bessey F clamps as well (again free in the original bundle) and these are far better than the £1 a time blue painted F cramps that most people buy first.
I've just looked in the latest axminster catalogue and they have an own branded parallel jaw clamp range that is cheaper (e.g 620mm =£20.12 compared to bessey 600mm for £35.53 - no idea how well they compare, but an idea for bulk - get some besseys for normal use and for the big jobs use the cheaper ones....i do sometimes use my K clamps to get the boards joined and then swap out for cheaper older ones to maintain it, moving the bessey to use again elsewhere in the item
Remember you cannot have too many clamps and having the quality of bessey makes a fretful task easier - you remember and appreciate the quality every time you use them, far longer than you remember the cost
The K bars are very sturdy and they work equally well using the side of the head as well as the 'throat'. I see on the bessey webpage that they have improved the K clamp (i've no issues with my version!)
Both the K and uniclamp stand on a flat surface so useful if clamping boards to get a wider piece - the reference of the benchtop is transitted through the clamps.
I've also got some duoclamps that have a lever to control whether the squeeze action opens or closes the jaws. They were virtually free when I bought some K clamps but are rarely used. I've got some basic bessey F clamps as well (again free in the original bundle) and these are far better than the £1 a time blue painted F cramps that most people buy first.
I've just looked in the latest axminster catalogue and they have an own branded parallel jaw clamp range that is cheaper (e.g 620mm =£20.12 compared to bessey 600mm for £35.53 - no idea how well they compare, but an idea for bulk - get some besseys for normal use and for the big jobs use the cheaper ones....i do sometimes use my K clamps to get the boards joined and then swap out for cheaper older ones to maintain it, moving the bessey to use again elsewhere in the item
Remember you cannot have too many clamps and having the quality of bessey makes a fretful task easier - you remember and appreciate the quality every time you use them, far longer than you remember the cost
woof
Established Member
Lord Nibbo":3col78sz said:
I bought the K100 pack from them last year, again because they were the best deal I could find. Absolutely no problems - funny was thinking just now about getting the K60s too. DOn't buy 'em all.
woof
Established Member
Looks like the DM tools offer is even better ... just!
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section/4907/sn/BESK60Just under $26 a clamp - get 4 though to avoid postage
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section/4907/sn/BESK60Just under $26 a clamp - get 4 though to avoid postage
Thanks for the great reply Dave.
Think I'll go for 4 x 80 uni to begin with.
I'll think D&M are the cheapest so far.
Just need to convince the wife we dont need that 1000 litres of home heating oil this month, then I can order them :lol:
G
Think I'll go for 4 x 80 uni to begin with.
I'll think D&M are the cheapest so far.
Just need to convince the wife we dont need that 1000 litres of home heating oil this month, then I can order them :lol:
G
Does anybody remember that boob Axminster made on their pricing of Bessey clamps a whileback?
I bought eight then and wish I had bought some more. They were almost half price I think.
I hope they slip up again.
Tony.
I bought eight then and wish I had bought some more. They were almost half price I think.
I hope they slip up again.
Tony.
christoph clark
Established Member
What about the Axminster F clamps. Slightly cheaper Bessey copy.
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Parallel-Jaw-Clamps-377585.htm
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Parallel-Jaw-Clamps-377585.htm
busy builder
Established Member
Whats the difference between the Klicklamp 10" price at around £19 each and the lever clamp priced at around £55 ?
I'm looking for something to replace my old and rather bent one handed quick clamps.
I'm looking for something to replace my old and rather bent
one handed quick clamps.The KliKlamps are very lightweight, moulded reinforced plastic lever, magnesium heads, lightweight bar - they are excellent lightweight cramps which have amazing cramping ability considering how featherweight they are, a bit fiddly one-handed but do-able, and the way they lock down instantly with a squeeze on the racheting lever makes it really quick to cramp something up.
If you want something more beefy and really one-handed, have a look at EHZ ones, which are really, really, impressive. Really strong, and truly one-handed. They have a conventional thread for adding more pressure once the one-handed bit has nipped whatever it is up enough not to move.
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... n/BESEHZ30
I have a few of each, and use both all the time.
If you want something more beefy and really one-handed, have a look at EHZ ones, which are really, really, impressive. Really strong, and truly one-handed. They have a conventional thread for adding more pressure once the one-handed bit has nipped whatever it is up enough not to move.
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... n/BESEHZ30
I have a few of each, and use both all the time.
andypo
Established Member
I have 8 brand new 1000mm k-body clamps never been used. Wife bought me them but never use them might be tempted to sell if price was right.
busy builder
Established Member
Thanks Jake, they look the biz for me.
Lord Nibbo
Established Member
Just found out https://www.tooled-up.com/ are doing 10% off this weekend using a voucher code making bessey 60k body £24.25 each
Voucher code I got was SOXU9TK68M anyone else had an email with this code? if you did then anyone can use it. :lol:
Voucher code I got was SOXU9TK68M anyone else had an email with this code? if you did then anyone can use it. :lol:
Shadowfax
Established Member
Please don't put too much store by the Axminster or Rutlands look-alikes.They are not anywhere near the same quality!
I had several of the Axminster ones in two sizes. They have all broken in use!
It is a real case of getting what you pay for, I'm afraid. I have got quite a lot of Bessey K body clamps and they are "bomb-proof"!
I also have some UniClamps and I hate them. They are difficult to use because they do not slide properly but even so they do not break under pressure like the Axminster ones.
Bessey seem to have quality and reliability issues well sorted.
I rest my case (if, indeed, I actually have a case!).
Cheers
SF
I had several of the Axminster ones in two sizes. They have all broken in use!
It is a real case of getting what you pay for, I'm afraid. I have got quite a lot of Bessey K body clamps and they are "bomb-proof"!
I also have some UniClamps and I hate them. They are difficult to use because they do not slide properly but even so they do not break under pressure like the Axminster ones.
Bessey seem to have quality and reliability issues well sorted.
I rest my case (if, indeed, I actually have a case!).
Cheers
SF
TheTiddles
Established Member
I'm ordering this deal later to be delivered to my hotel Monday morning...
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=315
Well if I've got to Texas I may as well!
AIdan
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=315
Well if I've got to Texas I may as well!
AIdan
woof
Established Member
TheTiddles":29acuhn8 said:
Such a shame they are in inches and not metric, so no use in the EU :wink:
