WTB: Clamps

I have a pretty extensve collection of Pony pipe clamps in both 1/2” and 3/4”. I’ve had some of them for 25+ years and they’re still going strong.

I also use Pony spring clamps – both 3” and 2”.

-- Adversity doesn't build character...................it reveals it.

Andy, I have 10 light duty 36” bar clamps I’ll let go. 4 are Besseys and the rest are ?. $8 each plus actual shipping cost.

-- Tim-- http://www.tmuli.com

If you’re on a budget, I’d recommend the Harbor Freight quick release bar clamps—I’ve used and abused them and they have never given me trouble. Get the ones that look like this:

Their pipe clamps are decent too, though I did get one with a cheap casting that broke on me. You defintely want to stay away from their orange and black ratchet clamps though:

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

Ditto on Brandon W’s advice. I also like the HF aluminum bar clamps. They seem to work very well. Their C clamps are also pretty good. The pipe clamps aren’t quite as good as the Pony, but they are good enough.

However, parallel clamps are the thing you really want in my opinion. I have Bessey Revos, and they are the first clamp I reach for on most glue ups, and I use all of mine up before I go to my other clamps. Wouldn’t you know they are the most expensive :( I keep looking for deals, I check CL, etc. You can find them on sale every once in a while.

+1 on Brandon’s post about the blue HF clamps.
Not only are they the most awesomest color in the whole world (blue), they’re cheap and actually perform better than jorgensen 3700 clamps, which seem to bend and deflect if you pass gas aggressively near them.

I bought 8 a while back and will be buying another 8 very soon.
A couple of the rubber handles came off from over tightening, but a little epoxy after cleaning the bar and handle with acetone and they’re perfect again. Even if I had to do that for all of them they’d still be better than the 3700’s.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.