Clamp question

Hey Eric
I feel the best clamps for the money are pipe clamps and HF 3/4” to be specific. I usually buy 10-20 at a time.
I find that not all of the clamps I receive turn properly some just need a little vaseline on the threads and some are junk but you can return them for replacements. These clamps sell from $4.99 to $ 2.30 on sale. When you buy the brand name pipe clamps the are around $15 each so you get at least 3 times more clamps for the money. I don’t buy many tools from HF but I have always had good look with these clamps after the initial
opening and testing stage. I have other high end clamps like Bessy and others but the pipe clamps are cheap and strong and buy changing the size of the pipe you can use them for many projects .

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Thanks Jim for the suggestions. I’ve heard bad things about HF except for clamps. Is 3/4 necessary though? Does 1/2” not provide enough pressure?

I plan on buying Bessey clamps later, I just can’t afford them right now. However, Amazon is having a Cabinetmakers sale on Jet parallel which include 2-24” and 2-40” Jet parallel clamps plus 4 holders for $146.99, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F79022/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p60_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0VD7VR0112K24SNGPBSR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Also, they have Bessey REVO 2-24” and 2-50” clamps for $159.99, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HSO6VI/ref=s9_simz_gw_s0_p60_t4?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0VD7VR0112K24SNGPBSR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Too bad that is still too much for me right now. I’ll have to remember to look at Amazon sales at a later time. I think I’ll stick with the pipe clamps for now. Thanks.

Pipe clamps are always a good go to clamp. I don’t own any right now but I will soon.

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI

Eric
There are lots of bad things to say about HF products and these clamps are not all perfect ,but HF is good about returns as long as you do it in a timely manner . I like 3/4” clamps because there stronger and flex less when under load but 3/4 pipe does cost a little more. If you go this route I would suggest black pipe not galvanized.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Agreed, pipe clamps are definitely the biggest bang for the buck, especially for longer clamps. I’ve never tried the HF models, but I have nothing but good things to say about the Rockler ones (when they’re on sale, that is, mine were $5 each a few years back)

Downsides of pipe clamps vs parallel are mostly in the jaw size (they’re very short) and the fact that the jaws don’t stay parallel (although the amount they deviate is very small). But they do have the added flexibility of resizing at will with different sized pipes. Both styles can apply large amounts of clamping pressure.

You might check out the clamp episode of the wood whisperer, or some of the overview articles (ie the free ones) at finewoodworking.com

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio

Expanding on what Jim said a little bit, I had read somewhere that waxing the bars of your clamps is a great way to keep them safe from glue squeezeout, which can be particularly problematic it if bridges between your work and black pipe
So I waxed the black pipe
And it was great, nothing stuck to it at all
Including the movable end of the pipe clamp fixture
Oops

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio

One more question Jim. Would you go with the 3/4” ones with the base to stand on for $8.99(http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94053) versus the regular at $6.99 (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31255)?

It looks like th $6.99 ones should stand as well. Too bad they don’t have sales on them right now.

Jim, Why balck pipe?

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

Thanks sry for the recommendation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Rockler’s are on sale right now. Yes Jim, why Black pipe? Does that not leave marks? I’ve heard I cover the pipes in saran wrap to prevent marking.

I believe that black pipe is stronger than galvanized. I don’t remember if it’s just the surface or if the whole pipe is different, but at the very least the black pipe surface is stronger. Black is usually cheaper too

But you’re right, it can leave marks if you’re not careful
Saran wrap is a good solution. So is masking tape. Don’t wax like I did :)

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio

The reason I recommend black pipe is that in time the galvanized pipe gets scared up and slips.
Eric the ones with stands are easier to use so it the price difference doesn’t bother you I would go with those.
It seems I’ve seen both for almost half that price and someone was talking about a 20% off coupon at HF
That they found on line. So If your not in a rush you might ask for a catalog and wait for a sale. Many times they have the same item on page 3(as an example) for $5.99 and on page 22 for $3.99.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

All pipes can leave marks on your work that’s why it’s best to clamp so your pipe clamps don’t contack your wood.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

I used pipe clamps for years before coming to the shop I’m at now where they have Bessy’s. They are great, and a real advantage to pipe clames over any type of bar clamp is that if you need a real long one, just rund down to your local hardware store or home center and pick up a coupler and an extra length of pipe and you can make them as long as you need.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

You can cover the pipe with foam pipe insulators. They are cheap, used for insulating water pipes. You can also cut squares out of plywood or wood scraps, with a hole drilled in them you slide them on the pipe to keep your work off of the pipe. I keep a roll of wax paper handy to keep glue off of what I don’t want glue on.

-- I'm a lumberjock and I'm ok, I sleep all night and I work all day!

Thanks everyone for the help. I’ll keep a look out for a few weeks for the clamps jim, but I think I’ll buy the pipes now :)

Here’s a page that has 3/4 for $4.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=222

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

I agree with what has been said so far. I would however, recomend you consider other type clamps as well. I use C-Clamps a lot, from tiny ones up to 8” clamps. Rockler has these on sale now http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21399&filter=clamps

Also clamps Like Irwin Quick-Grip are very handy.

You hear this over and over, but it’s so true—-You can never have too many clamps (Whatever kind you choose)

Good luck, and have fun!

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

I agree with Kent
I have many types also and the all do different jobs and as the saying goes you can never have to many clamps.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Keep an eye out at all times for clamps, like Kent said you can’t have too many.
Last year around Christmas I went to HD and in their gift ideas section they had 12” Irwin quick grip clamps in a gift set…Buy two get two. So I got four clamps for $20.00, that’s half the regular price. Love the Irwin’s.

Lisa

-- I inherited the woodworking gene and it's gone into overdrive.......

Pony makes good bar clamps. The way you can tell a good clamp is how easy it is to use when you need 3 hands but only have two.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Kent, thank you for the suggestion. I actually have a bunch of Irwin quick grips which I really like (Dustbunny I got them at HD during holiday time too), but the reason I am looking for these specific kind of clams is for a few upcoming projects. The first is 2 nightstands measuring 20×20x24 inches, then a coffee table, bed frame, and then a sewing desk for my wife. All are too large for these small clamps so its time for me to get much larger ones…at a low price

Thanks Miles, I’ll remember that one ;)

Jim, I appreciate the link. The ones that don’t stand up aren’t any cheaper though….tough dillema.

Don’t forget, you can also make your own clamps and they don’t have to be fancy. There are plans out there for various types from simple wedge-type clamps to cam clamps to bar clamps.

When I was building the cradle I did for my son I need some strong, lightweight clamps with a 6” throat. I didn’t need a bar nor a lot of thickness capability (the sides of the cradle are only1/8” thick). I couldn’t find anything on the market so I took a couple of hours and made a dozen to my own design with stuff I had on hand.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

They can be so expensive, i have always wondered why more guys don’t make them??

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

i endied up needing clamps. purchased bessey uniklamps from lee valley tools. best price i have seen on them.WWW.leevalley.com. check them out

-- wiser1934, new york

I’m constantly amazed at what I learn from you guys! This site is addicting.

-- Father of two sons. Both Eagle Scouts.

I can’t imagine pipe clamps not standing up once you get the HF ones sorted out and the bad ones returned. How do they fail??

firecaster, you are absolutely right!! I’ve learned more about the subtlies of woodworking in a few months I’m amazed :-))

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

I have quite a few HF pipe clamps purchased years ago. Only one of them I have issues with. The little pin thing that holds the clamp to the thread rod fell off, so it’s just gets annoying sometimes when using that one clamp.
Definately get the kinds with stands if you can. I wish mine were like that.
Old

hit the “auctions”

clamps are a “dime a dozen” and often “used” clamps work better then “new”ones

regardless of whether new or used

they all serve the same purpose…....they all

clamp wood together….a very simple science

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Old , I have fixed that problem by using a nail as a pin. Just drve it through,
bend it over and cut the excess off.

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

For the money, as Jim as said, you can’t beat the 3/4 HF clamps. If you’re not yet on their mailing list, sign up. Those clamps seem to go on sale about once a month. I have lots of both the 3/4 and 1/2. The 3/4 are more often used than the 1/2, for reasons mentioned above.

Ditto on the black pipe, too. Here’s a tip to save some money on the pipe: Full service hardware stores or plumbing supply houses frequently sell the pipe in 20’ lengths. You can have them cut it to your desired length and thread one end of it. That’s how I buy mine, usually for less than half the price of the pre-cut lengths available at the BORGS and many lumber/hardware stores.

Yes, the expensive parallel clamps are nice. However, at the end of the day, a clamp has one purpose in glue ups: they hold two or more pieces of wood together while the glue dries. You don’t need to spend a small fortune on clamps to get started. In fact, I have some of the HF clamps that I’ve been using for 20 years or more.

HF is known to have a lot of junk. However, there are also some well known gems in their inventory. These WW forums are a great place to get information to help you know what’s a good value for your money at HF.

-- Build for the joy of it!