Clamps advice and supply

[angelboy]

Does anyone know who's doing some good deals on clamps?

I have some large sash clamps and a couple of dodgy f-clamps.

Which are the must have clamps for your workshop?

 

[adidat]

these cut the mustard and they last for ever. dont no if its the best price but they are expensive in general

adidat

 

[Lons]

Which are the must have clamps for your workshop?

Blimey - that's a question :? Depends what you make and can't have enough would be my reply

I must have at least 40 clamps of various types and sizes and that's not counting the 20 or so "market trader" type clip on things which are very useful. I use most of them at times depending on the circumstances but I guess it's the 300mm F clamps I reach for most often.

I'll have a look but from memory I have:

A pair of sash which I fit to long timber to suit the job / 3 long sash on metal bars / 4 long F type / various sizes F / quick type like (silicone gun) / similar but F type / at least a dozen G clamps and I can't remember what else.
They vary from good quality and expensive to very cheap but all are useable within their limits IMO

cheers

Bob

 

[dance]

I'd love me some bowclamps.

 

[Paul Chapman]

these cut the mustard and they last for ever.

I'd recommend Record sash cramps as well. Sometimes the ones made by Record Power (virtually identical to the Irwin Record ones) are a bit cheaper http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/browse.php/se ... 36/level/4

One of the good things about Record sash cramps is that they are so easy to join together for the odd time that you need really long sash cramps.

I also find Record G- cramps indespensable

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

I have 100's of different brands and quality.

What you buy would depend on what you make. I was browsing Rutlands the other day and way very impressed with some of there clamp prices (sale I think).

I have quite a few of the old Record (before irwin taken over) clamps and there probably the best you can every have, however you will be looking hard for a while to find enough as there only available second hand now.

Bessey make some cracking clamps and even Stanleys parallel bar clamps are good. I have a few silverline ali sash clamps which are not that great but still used weekly. The one that surprised me the most was silverlines 300mm F Clamps, they are 2 of the most powerful I own, along side the record and bessey F clamps the silverlines are also used daily.

You will not be able to by the record F-clamps now but Irwin record will do them, the quality isn't the same but there still good clamps. Like most they don't make it how they used to.

The silverline F-clamps you can get from Toolstation.

Bessey you can get direct for from axminster.

Rutlands do Dakota brands which I have never used. I have used other Dakota stuff and its decent but I have never tried there clamps although there said to be good.

If its quick ratchet clamps your after then Irwin do some really good ones but also head to B&Q and look for a brand Magnusson. I originally picked some up from Bricó Depót in France. There great quick ratchet clamps. As bricó and B&Q are under by the same umbrella you can now find Magnusson products in B&Q.

 

[Mike Wingate]

Tilgear have a deal on Record sash clamps. Look at Rutlands with their 15% discount and free postage.

 

[angelboy]

Thanks for your input.

The Record and Besseys are just to much for my price range I think.

I've been monitoring ebay for ages to try and get some good deals but they're never around where I live and shipping then knocks the saving on the head!

Having looked at Toolstation, Axminster and Rutlands I think Rutlands seem to have some pretty good deals.

I'm just about to press the order button for the Dakota clamps:
6 x 300mm F Clamps
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/brand/dakota/ ... n-f-clamps

4 x 100m Power ratchet clamps
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/hand-tools/cl ... het-clamps

4 x 450mm I beam pressure clamps
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/hand-tools/cl ... bar-clamps

Do you think the sizes are OK?

I'm just looking for some general all rounders to start with and when I then get onto making up cabinets and doors I'll have to look again I think.

 

[knappers]

4 x 100m Power ratchet clamps
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/hand-tools/cl ... het-clamps

Do you think the sizes are OK?

I think you might find those a bit long...

Si.

 

[angelboy]

Or how about these instead of the 450mm I beam clamps?

http://www.toolsandtimber.co.uk/Product ... -0-21.html

 

[petermillard]

Or how about these instead of the 450mm I beam clamps?

http://www.toolsandtimber.co.uk/Product ... -0-21.html

They're a decent price - probably the 65mm throat ones, mind; I have a few of them myself and like them a lot. Bear in mind though that they're 300mm and 150mm clamps - they won't equate to a 450mm clamp, no matter how hard you try...

Cheers, Pete

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

If your looking for the 450mm's for gluing up panels or joints then I wouldn't bother. The bars bow and there not as powerful as a sash cramp and will cause you more heart ache then aid. If not then go for it, I have a few of them but more to hold things in place when your marking out or dry assembling.

The small ratchet clamps I wouldn't bother with either, look for a spring clamp instead. Although some ratchet clamps are powerful, for gluing up there not that great.

If your not after them for gluing up then ignore me.

If you want to have play with some different types before you buy, your about a hour away from me. Pop down and have a play. I still have most the clamps I started out with.

 

[angelboy]

If you want to have play with some different types before you buy, your about a hour away from me. Pop down and have a play. I still have most the clamps I started out with.

Thanks for the offer.

It was just holding as opposed to gluing up I was looking at. I think when I'm ready to be making up some cabinets then I'll have to invest in some other sash clamps. The ones I have are quite old and solid but range from 3ft up to 6ft.

I've ordered the smaller Besseys and the Dakota F and ratchet clamps. We'll see how I get on!

Thanks for everyones advice!

 

[tomatwark]

These are the ones I have bought recently and I am happy with them.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod836668/

Almost as good as the current record ones, and far better than the silverline and rutlands similar ones.

I keep adding the odd one when I am short of a carriage paid order.

Tom

 

[angelboy]

The clamps arrived today.

First impressions out of the box - The besseys are pretty good for the money and seem nice and grippy and easy to use one handed. I always wonder how strong the plastic parts will hold up long term so I hold out that the quality name will add a decent life to them

Same with the F-clamps. Pretty weighty and very firm but a little rough around the edges.

Bit disappointed with the ratchet clamps. One handed they fail to grip tight enough so you have to really give them a squeeze or use both hands. It takes two of these clamps to hold down the weight that just on of the besseys seem to hold, but again, I wonder how far I can push both of them before the plastic gives way.

Might be a while before I get to use them all in practice so with real world use I might change my mind.

 

[goldeneyedmonkey]

I know it's a bit late in the day (seeing as you have already bought them!) but I was going to say that the ratchet clamps you linked to do look a bit weak IMHO. But I think you've made the right choice with the Bessey's. If you do need to get some bar clamps for holding stuff then I've had good experience with the 12" Irwin Quick Grips. They now do 'expert' versions and they are supposed to be trés strong compared to the old ones -but I can't seem to link to them since my daughter put some cheese in my laptop! -don't ask!

Cheers _Dan

 

[Jacob]

Record sash cramps are pricey but best IMHO. Particularly if you can find the older ones with the spring loaded peg, or 2nd best the tapered peg - both will stay in place nicely.

 

[condeesteso]

Good thread, very interesting. My clamp collection is quite modest but I manage. I got a couple of sets of the cheap aluminium bar clamps from Rutlands a while ago when they had a deal. I find them very good (for the price). BUT I have a view for debate - I don't believe you normally need a lot of pressure - if the surfaces are true, joints close etc, then enough pressure to let the surfaces and adhesive do the work ought to be enough. In fact on occasions I believe it's easy to overclamp (I don't mean too many as even pressure is good, I mean applying excessive pressure) causing distortion and maybe squeezing too much adhesive out. Sometimes I think we use big steel clamps to 'persuade' joints or frames to fit.
Any views please?

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Good thread, very interesting. My clamp collection is quite modest but I manage. I got a couple of sets of the cheap aluminium bar clamps from Rutlands a while ago when they had a deal. I find them very good (for the price). BUT I have a view for debate - I don't believe you normally need a lot of pressure - if the surfaces are true, joints close etc, then enough pressure to let the surfaces and adhesive do the work ought to be enough. In fact on occasions I believe it's easy to overclamp (I don't mean too many as even pressure is good, I mean applying excessive pressure) causing distortion and maybe squeezing too much adhesive out. Sometimes I think we use big steel clamps to 'persuade' joints or frames to fit.
Any views please?

These ali cheap cramps do the job just fine when its not heavy, tight joints. There problem is they bow to easy, again not a major issue as if you're clamping correctly you will be alternating which will counter react the bowing. Another issue with the ali cramps is the slot the cramp head sits in place gets stretched. I still use mine often though.

Half agree. The glue is often stronger then the wood in a very thin layer but, if bulked up its very week. Under pressure is just as bad as over pressure if you ask me. These Cheap ali cramps, I have had loosen while the glues going off before due to the issue mentioned above. Stronger bar clamps don't have this issue. I agree that you don't need the best of the best. As long as a clamp or cramp does what is needed and is built well enough then thats that. In fact ill 100% agree that you don't need the best when it comes to clamps, but its nice

Its not always possible to get a perfect join without presure. I have often seen the wood move while its being cut and even a few times wrap around the back of the blade, gripping it to where it can't move.

Yes I have used heavy clamps to persuade many of joints that not quite right or a bit to tight.

Cramps and clamps have there limits and uses, pros and cons. The con to the heavy bar clamp is its weight and bulk but when you are say clamping a 1.8m garden bench and you try and use an ali sash cramp, the span between heads lets the bar bend to much to where the cramp isn't putting the correct direction of pressure on the joints. With a heavy T bar clamp you will not get this. Its the same with many clamps, a cheap F clamp may keep material still on the bench but its bow in the bar or un perfect centred jaws could cause a lap joint for example to become un seated at the shoulders.

 

[goldeneyedmonkey]

The first clamps I got where the aforementioned Ali sash ones, I don't really use them much any more. As has been said above, they bow, the slot gets pulled open more, and I don't think IMHO that they are fit for some clamping operations. Like when you need to pull together a joint that is already tight, it might work fine when doing a dry run, but the Titebond I use makes it harder to pull the joint together. Some glues make it easier, I think epoxy? But I don't use it.

My main contenders are the Bessey UniKlamps, long steel sash cramps, one handed Irwin bar clamps and and Axi F-clamps. I think I may go down the route of clamp heads that you mount onto hardwood next, as they won't mark Oak and are infinitely adaptable. Incidentally, what do people do in regards to sash-cramps marking stuff? Do you cover them with anything, or do you just make sure they are not touching?

Cheers _Dan