Thread: THE BEST CLAMPS - Your view

Bessey clamps are good but you still can't beat the strength of sash clamps like the Records. Another type is the Frontline panel clamps, incredibly strong and useful for table top clamping.

Another vote for Bessey's especially the K-Body model. If your joinery is spot on you do not need supper strength clamps to hold everything together while the glue dries . . . one day I'll get my joinery right

Dawn, the Australian clamp/vice manufacturer is another respected name, get Australian made versions.

Hi
I bought the Bessey clamps for the Gifkins dove tail jig but found they are light and strong. Definately got my vote.

Originally Posted by pwjupp

Hi
I bought the Bessey clamps for the Gifkins dove tail jig but found they are light and strong. Definately got my vote.

Actually I bought a set of 2 aluminium F clamps from Bunnings for $ 1.50 and they fit the Gifkin adapter and work just as well.

I use bar clamps instead of sash and they work just as well.


Peter.

Good tips guys thanks - keep 'em coming.
True about the spot on joinery - I just like the idea of a good set of clamps all being the same so your work rests at the same height on the benchtop. Naturally you accumulate great tools over time but I reckon it's easy to overlook basic tools like this and opt for cheap (and not always very good - perhaps the bunnings ones are an exception to this).
If my dad taught me anything it was buy cheap buy twice. Sometimes he is wrong but most times I reckon that's spot on. You buy cheap for your one off project and then 10 years later that thing still annoys you when you end up using it.

http://www.frontlineengineering.com....lineclamps.htm
found these as I looked through the suggestions so far - they look great for joining block board type work....

Originally Posted by erikus

http://www.frontlineengineering.com....lineclamps.htm
found these as I looked through the suggestions so far - they look great for joining block board type work....

...nice clamping method, but rooly 'spensive.

Glenn

Originally Posted by wolften

...nice clamping method, but rooly 'spensive.

Glenn

Y'know Glenn, I reckon it isn't as bad as it looks. To glue up panels that size would take nearly $1000 worth of clamps anyway. How many Bessey's would be used for a 2000x800x50 table or bench - about 8 minimum? plus a bunch of others used to hold it flat with cauls, say another 8. When it comes down to it I think they are on about par, but much simpler and faster to use three of them as opposed to 16 plus others.

Disclaimer: I admit to drooling over the Frontlines at the WWWShows and may be subconsciously trying to justify them to myself.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Y'know Glenn, I reckon it isn't as bad as it looks. To glue up panels that size would take nearly $1000 worth of clamps anyway. How many Bessey's would be used for a 2000x800x50 table or bench - about 8 minimum? plus a bunch of others used to hold it flat with cauls, say another 8. When it comes down to it I think they are on about par, but much simpler and faster to use three of them as opposed to 16 plus others.

Disclaimer: I admit to drooling over the Frontlines at the WWWShows and may be subconsciously trying to justify them to myself.

Terry (Lignum) gave me a personal demo of these Frontline clamps and he swears by them. high upfront cost but pay for themselves many times over due to the economy of setup and the the fact thwat the joined boards come out nearly good enough for a finishing sand. I hope to have some one day.

The Jet equivalent of the K bodies is miles in front in my eyes, quick action lever and a much larger head than the besseys. I love mine, only downfall is you can't buy them is Aust and you have to buy ex US, I was lucky to get in while the Aussie dollar was good. See the woodwhisperer clamps video for a comparison.

I have four 50 inch ones that I bought after I got these 24 inch ones because I liked them so much.

Not to discount the frontlines, would love a couple to complement these but dollars are a bit high for my usage.

I did myself a favour a couple of years ago and purchased 6 Plano 1250mm clamps and 2 x 1 metre rails and have not looked back. They take up next to no room against the wall. I can glue up 2 or three, sometimes 4 or six panels at a time and can continue using my bench for other purposes, like resting my cold drink on. I have been known to glue up 12 cabinet panels in a day. For assembly I still use my records and besseys but they tend to stay neatly stacked away most of the time. Machine correctly, glue up, light scrape, a run through the drum sander, trim, assemble. Doesn't get any easier than that.

Bessey K bodies . Worth their weight in gold and get used every day.

Looking forward to the current Big Bessey Buy. https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...bessey+big+buy

So whats the difference between the besseys and the red ones at Supercheap Auto?

A good test of a clamp is to see if it tightens past wit's head - if it does and keeps on turning, then if it does it's a dud and you don't get that with Bessey clamps.

I don't know the S/Auto clamps, but many Bunnies ones do and so might S/Auto ones.