?s on Parallel clamps-K body style only/poll.

[Jim O'Dell]

I have both Besseys and Jorgensens, I have on order 2 Jets so I can tell you better when they get here.

At this point I like the Jorgensens better, they have bigger handles and are they slide up and down better. The Besseys lock up at times and you have to work at getting them to move and then when you want them to hold they won't at time.

So if you want to wait a little while you can come by and try all 3 of them.

Bill, where did you order your Jets from? Really good price? or current decent deals? Jim.

[Dewey Torres]

Having read all this (one day) I will buy the Jets and Jorgs but only on "super" sales. The deals and discounts portion of this forum never fails to strain my wallet but also save my wallet in the process. I have learned more than once the lesson about buying crap tools.

Thanks again for putting this together Jim.

[Bill Huber]

From Amazon though Sawmill, I got free shipping on them so I just ordered them.

I got the 31 inchers, there is a guy on ebay that has them for $79 but I don't buy from Ebay if I can keep from it.

They are shipped and should be in this week.

[Jim O'Dell]

No problem Dewey. Glad you could tag along for the experience of others. That's why I posted this.
Bill, I will do mine through SMC when and if they drop the price again. I need 4 of probably the 60" ones. I'd love to get 2 for the 66.30 or so that they were back in September. That was a killer deal. Wish I had been looking then. Jim.

[Paul Kinneberg]

Have Bessey and Jet like them both but prefer the handles and other features of the Jet so they would be my preference. However recently I noticed that Bessey has changed their grip and also added the other features of the Jet I have not looked at them but my guess is were at a toss up.

[Robyn Horton]

Any body have the Gross Stabil's , I just got some at a reasonable price and they seem pretty good . 40" @ $29.99 and 24" @ $24.99.

[Jim O'Dell]

Robyn, where did you find them? I didn't include them in the poll on purpose because Bessey bought them out and I thought they disappeared. I didn't think they were still available. So spill the beans, where and how long ago? Jim.

[glenn bradley]

I voted Bessy due to the weight but, the Jets are very well thought out. I noticed you left Gross Stabil off but they are all functional.

[Benjamin Dahl]

Jim, I have besseys and jets. I voted for the jet but like the bessey just about the same. I started buying besseys when they had a sale and bought the jets when they had a really good price. I would like a few more small ones and will make my decision based on what deal I find. I still use pipe clamps occasionally but do prefer the parallels in general.
Ben

[Bill Huber]

The Jets came in and now I have a better answer to the post about clamps.

K-Body
Cons. They are hard to get to move some times and some times they move to easy and won't lock in. The handles are smaller then the other 2 and I can't get as good of a grip on them. They will slide down when you pick them up. The little thing on the end that you remove to change the head to a spreading type clamp is not very good.

Pros. You can get a part to connect 2 clamps together and make a longer one. There are other things you can get for them I don't know if they would would on the other 2 clamps

Cabinet Masters
Cons. They will slide down the bar when you pick them up and some times its hard to get them to move back out. They do stick some times and you have to pop the handle to get them to move. If you take the end off to turn the head around there is a little part that falls out and you have to put it back in. When you lock them down they will live a little notch on the bar.

Pros
The handles are bigger and much better to get a good clamp with. The end thing you take off to turn the head around is much better then the other 2 clamps.

Jet
Cons
Well I really have not found any yet. I have only played with them for a little while. Just clamped up some scrap. When turning it around for a spreader type clamp its not very easy getting the head back on.

Pros
The handles are nice and large for a good grip, they clamped every time I went to clamp them. They have a lever to lift to pull the clamp head back, you just push the head forward to clamp.
The head does not move when you pick it up, you can get it to move if you hit them on the floor.
The bar has a ruler on it so you can set the clamps up before you start. The little part you take off to turn the head around can be set as a stop, really nice. There are threaded holes on the head and the end that can be use for bench dogs.

So now I have to find someone to sell my old clamps to and start replacing them with the Jets, no question there. Clamping force I just can not see will be something to even thing about, they are all made just about the same.

[Dwain Lambrigger]

Sorry, it took me a while to find it. From Tod Evans over at FWW. Wilton I Bar clamp. Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LE9JZM?...0&linkCode=asn 6000 lbs of clamping pressure!!! 78+ bucks and doesn't even say what length it is. Guess another of those items that if you have to ask, you can't afford it.

As an update, I found the Woodcraft link. Indeed 4 40" old style Bessey's for 109.99, free shipping, and the code 1351 in the coupon box gets you 10.00 off a 100.00 purchase. Good enough for me. I've got 4 of them coming. Wish I had some more money and I'd get 4 more. Also wish they had a similar deal on the 50" and/or 60" units. Then my Christmas shopping would be complete...oops, I'm supposed to be buying other people presents. Hmmmm. The also have 4-24" for 89.99. Get something to go with it cheap and get the 10.00 off that. Or get 5.00 off as it is with code 1350. Jim.

Anyone know what the 3/4 inch pipe clamping pressure is?

[Eric Gustafson]

I lucked and bought 12 used from a guy for $75 total. A steal, no doubt. They are my go-to clamp, as I like them best.

Any body have the Gross Stabil's , I just got some at a reasonable price and they seem pretty good . 40" @ $29.99 and 24" @ $24.99.

[Jim O'Dell]

ood information guys!!! I got my (4) 40"ers today that I ordered Sunday afternoon, delivered today at 9:00 am, according to my wife. Came in great shape. These have the Revo style handles, but not the new black clamping pads. When I bought mine, there was also a 10.00 off code, so I got all 4 shipped for 99.99!! They didn't even charge tax, which I thought was odd since I have a Woodcraft about 8 miles down the road from me.
I've thought about getting 8 more with some extenders and forgo the 60" I'm looking for. Here's the picture to prove it. dscn2168.jpg Jim.

[Paul Johnstone]

IAnyone mix the Besseys and Jets using the blocks made for either one of them? .

Jets will fit in Bessey blocks. I don't know if the reverse is true.

[Paul Johnstone]

No problem Dewey. Glad you could tag along for the experience of others. That's why I posted this.
Bill, I will do mine through SMC when and if they drop the price again. I need 4 of probably the 60" ones. I'd love to get 2 for the 66.30 or so that they were back in September. That was a killer deal. Wish I had been looking then. Jim.

Jim, also consider getting the Bessey clamp extenders along with the 40" deal. Combining two 40" gives you six feet. I am not sure what a 40" + 24" gives you, but it is probably close to 60" of clamping length. I have 8 Bessey extenders and they work really well. I don't use long clamps that often. I know someone here posted about enlarging the hole on the Jet clamps, so that Jet Clamps could use the Bessey extender too.