Straightedge Clamps

[Smudger]

I need a smallish (2 foot) straightedge clamp. I've got a big Trend one and a small Silverline. The Trend is great, the Silverline isn't...

Has anyone got any experience of this one?

 

[Slim]

Why don't you just get the 24inch Trend one? I think they're great as well.

 

[brianhabby]

I bought a Silverline one from my local hardware store, Then I bought a Progrip one from Axminster. I never use the Silverline one now because it always slips.

regards

Brian

 

[Smudger]

True. There isn't a great price difference, but I've had trouble finding a stockist on-line. This one is available at Screwfix, and I'm off there in the morning...

 

[Smudger]

That Progrip looks pretty good - does it work as well as they say? I will want it for routing housings, nothing very heavy duty.

 

[Rich]

I bought the H/D one from Axi, it's got a grip like my labs jaws on a shinbone :lol: and it does'nt flex, costly I suppose but I only had to buy it once and Iv'e used it countless times, although I think a shorter one will be next as I keep knocking things when I'm gluing up and turning the glueups around, most annoying.
Rich.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Another vote for the Trend. I have three in different sizes and find them excellent.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Karl]

I don't like the sound of the "swivel head" on the Screwfix one. IME things like that just go wrong/make a bad job.

I've got one of the Axminster H/D ones too - fantastic. Use it all the time for trimming boards/worktops with the router.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Smudger]

I'm sold!
Plus I can get a 24" and a 36" for the price of a Trend 24".

I tried to give my Silverline away, but the intended recipient refused to take it!

 

[brianhabby]

I tried to give my Silverline away, but the intended recipient refused to take it!

I'm not surprised :roll:

I just use it as a straight edge only now, it's no use at all for clamping.

The Progrip one is superb. I use it all the time and as a guide for routing, it's perfik. Mine is a 36" one but I'll get a shorter one next time.

regards

Brian

 

[George_N]

I have both Trend and Progrip and on balance I prefer the Progrip. It is a little bit heavier than the trend and I've never had a problem with it slipping, or the Trend either for that matter. You can also get accessories like feather boards and length stops, also back to back adaptors so you can clam panels to your bench top and still access the whole surface (you do need four clamps to do this though).

 

[gidon]

Dick - B&Q stock the Trend clamps - well mine does.
I have a perform one and a Trend one - prefer the Trend one. Not tried the Screwifx one - sure you could return it if no good?
Cheers
Gidon

 

[christoph clark]

I have the Dakota Clamp grip guide from Rutlands which is the same. Great because of the extras you can get.
There is a video of it here

 

[Richard S]

Dick
The screwfix one looks idendtical to one I bought from B&Q a while ago ( gator clamp I think! ), I've never been completely happy with it as it flexes if you apply too much lateral pressure. I also have one of the axminster Perform type, this is rigid but the clamp pads extend either side of the bar and can foul certain cuts. I'm looking to replace mine but don't want to spend more than I need to on something I only use occasionally. I'll watch this thread with interest. Hope this this helps.

Richard

 

[pooka]

I have a couple of the Dakota ones from Rutlands too. As mentioned above, they look the very same as the ones from Axminster, although the Axminster prices are cheaper. It seems like quite a bit of the stuff listed as "Dakota" brand in the Rutlands catalogue are same as items listed as other brands by other retailers, in fact, from what I can see.

I find the Rutlands guide clamps very good. Rutlands, and possibly others, also sell a set of wide jaws for them too, which I find can help set the clamp perpendicular to the reference edge (although a properly milled piece of wood would serve the very same purpose and would have the advantage that you could cut it to dimensions that suit you).

I also have a couple of others of different lengths, same idea but slightly different design - these ones in fact. These ones have an additional router plate available for them to guide the router, I considered one of these plates at one stage but decided against it as I didn't think it was worth the expense for something that keeps the router a fixed distance from the clamp - if it allowed you to adjust the router out from the guide edge, after the guide was clamped (like the Festool and EZ Guide ideas) that would be more useful.

 

[brianhabby]

I tried to give my Silverline away, but the intended recipient refused to take it!

I'm not surprised :roll:

I just use it as a straight edge only now, it's no use at all for clamping.

Anyone want to buy a Silverline straight edge clamp - thinks it's a budgie :wink:

regards

Brian

 

[ike]

I too have a Progrip clamp. It has 3 preset clamping pressures (haven't yet concluded that it's a 'must have' feature) but it does what it says on the tin.

cheers,

Ike

 

[Smudger]

Got a couple of ProGrip clamps from Axminster today, they seem very impressive and the end stop is neat. Good advice, thanks.

Has anyone used the router guide? (Available from Rutlands).