General use clamps

[LewisB]

Hello,

I’m looking for some advice on clamps. Does anyone recommend a good general purpose clamp that you use more than any other? With so many types and sizes it’s become a bit of a challenge finding the right one.

Thanks

 

[Spectric]

What are you clamping ? Is it on a bench or during some construction ?

I would say a good all round clamp is the one handed clamp from Bessey, the duoklamp

https://www.besseytools.co.uk/besse...OUTgFng1XcM3SOka5YDVWKyKpMKBQKS6kM5WH6k9iBWyR

 

[TheUnicorn]

It is horses for courses,

I grab a heavy duty irwin quick clamp (squeeze clamp) when I need something to hold wood to saw, anything weaker and the vibrations of the saw, whatever sort you are using, will shake the clamp loose in seconds, even so, I still give an occasional squeeze to keep things tight.

I use the lighter duty squeeze clamp when putting together a glue up, because they are one handed, I'll then tend to swap them out for f clamps, which are cheap and strong

I find the cheap unbranded (black with orange pads normally) squeeze clamps fall apart with next to no pressure, Irwin, bessey etc cost significantly more but are worth the extra money.

also have clothes peg style clips, sash clamps, long f clamps.

I think a better question is I make 'X', have a budget of 'Y', what should I buy

 

[Ozi]

I like these by Irwin

 

[Sideways]

Those Irwin quick grip clamps are widely available and come on sale regularly.
They are light and very easy to use.
Bessey make equivalent type and sizes of clamps that are nicer/better but cost more.
For me, that type in 300, through 600mm lengths are the goto clamp.
Two here, four there, ... you'll end up wanting a mix unless you only ever make things that are square.
At some point you'll get heavy duty more powerful ones of the same thing.
Just start with a couple of 450mm and add more if you grow to like them.

And if you have a mate, the best deals tend to be when you can buy packs of 4, 8, 10, 12 whatever of the Bessey ones. If you can split a pack with someone, this might be a good idea.

 

[--Tom--]

As above - depends

In workshop if holding small parts together for gluing Kant twists are great as grip with less slip sliding. They’re expensive though.

a pair of wooden hand screws is handy in the workshop - can grip tapers and can also be clamped to the bench themselves so very flexible for holding pieces in a way you get good access. Often they’ve given me the ability to clamp something that I wouldn’t have been able to do without them.

One handed trigger clamps are great for being able to offer something up with one hand and clamp with the other. So useful during assembly to get everything in place before adding stronger clamps or putting in screws. When I built my shed they were the only clamps I used.

Bessey k body clamps are great for furniture making, but need both hands to get into position and tighten. More clamping force than trigger clamps and more manoeuvrable than sash clamps. That said the aluminium sash clamps do have a big fan following.

 

[Spectric]

Something to add that I found is that for ages I thought a lever clamp could apply more pressure until I used a Bessey screw type clamp to get something to align and was impressed by how much force it exerted compared to the lever clamp.

 

[Orraloon]

I have a mixture of quick clamps ranging from Aldi, no name, Irwin and those Bessey duo ones. They are all useful but the bessey are the best of the bunch. I use them for small glue ups as they hold things square better than the average quick clamp will. But as Spectric has pointed out if you need real big clamping pressure then grab a screw clamp.
Regards
John