Replies

1. 
   loucarabasi | Feb 08, 2007 04:11am | #1

   Treetalk, Man I have the same problem with mine. You have to pull back on the clamp side and stand the clamp mechanism up then it clamps. I thought they were much better than they are but they have some problems dont they. try to wipe glue off the bar asap becouse the glue hols the clamp up.

   Hope this helps,  Lou

2. 
   forestgirl | Feb 08, 2007 04:24am | #2

   I'm very disappointed in the Bessey K's.  I have 4 of them, 8 of the Jorgenson Cabinetmasters and 4 of the new Jet clamps.  The Jorgensons are somewhat easier to handle than the Bessey K's, but as far as I'm concerned, Jet has outdone both of them by a mile.  Much easier to handle, quick-release trigger, measurements on the steel shaft, and ability to use them with bench dogs (something I can only dream about at this time).

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   mapleman | Feb 08, 2007 04:39am | #3

   Hey FG,

   I have 4 Jet clamps (2-31" and 2-50") and can't stand them. Want to make a trade? I'll ship you the jets and you can ship me the besseys. If you're interested, let me know what sizes you have and your ship to address. You can email me offline if you would prefer.

   [email protected]

   Lee

1. 
   forestgirl | Feb 08, 2007 07:03pm | #6

   Hi, Lee.  A tempting offer, but of course I must ask -- what things bug you about the Jet clamps??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   mapleman | Feb 09, 2007 02:51am | #8

   FG,

   I'll tell you after we trade. Ha Ha!

   Seriously, I think thay are a bit cumbersome and heavier than the besseys, and the besseys just seem to work better for me. I guess I'm just hardheaded and resistant to change. The clamps I have are brand new, used to glue up a couple of face frames on 1 job.

   Lee

1. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 09, 2007 04:35am | #9

   Don't pick on the lady because she is right on money about those Jet clamps.  I have two dozen K-bodies and they are going to my cottage workshop in northern MI and I am in the process of building up my inventory of Jets here at home.  I have picked them up at Rockler specials and at International Tool and I think I have my local supplier talked into dropping Besseys and taking on Jets.  I think they are twice the clamp.

2. 
   mapleman | Feb 09, 2007 09:01am | #11

   Don't pick on the lady because she is right on money about those Jet clamps

   Pardon me, but where in the heck did that statement come from? Nobody is "picking" on anybody, personally I don't like them and she does, so if it's alright with you, I'll just make a trade with the young lady.

   Have a great day

   Lee

   Edited 2/9/2007 10:23 am by mapleman

3. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 09, 2007 04:14pm | #13

   Glad to see this forum is working the way it is suppose to work.  No need to curse.

   Terry

4. 
   mapleman | Feb 09, 2007 06:25pm | #14

   Point well taken. I edited the post. Sorry if I seemed to jump down your throat. Guess I just had a bad day. My apologies.

   Lee

5. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 10, 2007 12:28am | #16

   No problem, I think everybody has a right to their own opinion.  I went to my tool supplier today to pick up a Steel City oscillating spindle sander and saw that he is selling the Jet clamps and he says they are getting good feedback from from customers, but some have complained that they are too heavy.  So I guess we are both right.  I hope your deal with forestgirl goes through.

   Terry 

6. 
   forestgirl | Feb 11, 2007 09:06pm | #17

   The Jets sure are much heavier than they Bessies.  Good for me though -- makes up for the days I don't go to the gym, LOL!

   The main complaint I have about the Bessies is that the heads won't stay up on their own.  The grooves on the back of the bar are too shallow I guess.  Not a biggie to most people, maybe, but I think Jorgensen and Jet both saw that as something that could be improved.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

7. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 12, 2007 12:19am | #18

   I agree.  The main complaint I have always had with the K-body style clamp is that it would engage when it felt like it and not engage at the most inconvenient time.  Usually when I was clamping an intricate glue up with limited open time and always by myself.  When my wife would be helping me it worked every time.  I have gone back to using my old I-bars for flat panel gluing and the Jets for every thing else.  I really like them for gluing drawer boxes because the jaws are higher and the handle is a better grip. I was a lineman in college and coached for 25 years so their weight is not an issue and I agree I enjoy the workout.

   Terry

8. 
   Patto | Feb 12, 2007 03:44am | #19

   Somewhere at home on film I have a picture of a local blacksmth in Pnom Penh. He didnt have any immediate work and was sitting on a rock doing bicep curls with a light sledge - now that's keen

   dave

9. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 12, 2007 04:55am | #21

   My brother saw the same guy in Bangkok in '67.

10. 
    tinkerer2 | Feb 12, 2007 05:09am | #22

    From a newbie, what is the advantage of these fancy clamps?  Are they to replace the old pipe clamps?  I wound up with about eight Jorgensen (sp) clamps that are yet almost unused.  Are they in competition?  I noticed a friend had Bessey so I got Jorgensen for comparison and then wondered if I'd made a mistake.  Some day I hope to get organized enough to use that stuff.  I have about twelve of the old pipe clamps that always seemed to work.

11. 
    mapleman | Feb 12, 2007 06:19am | #23

    Tink,

    I can't shed any light on your question because I don't have any of the jorgensens. I'm sure someone else will chime in.

    Lee

12. 
    forestgirl | Feb 12, 2007 06:49am | #24

    The advantage of the "K-body" clamps is that they will stay at 90° when they are tightened, something the other clamps (F-clamps, pipe clamps, light aluminum bar clamps) may or may not do.  And, they have quite a bit of clamping force (as seen here, in an unusual application).  The bars are heavy-duty and won't flex, and the beefyness and size of the heads are an advantage in clamping cabinets.

    As is obvious from this thread, everyone has their preference.  The Jorgensen's hold their own against the Bessies.  They did have a little problem with something early in production (wouldn't release sometimes? can't remember), but they fixed that and if you have a set that have that problem I think the company will make them right.

    You should be fine with the Jorgies.

    forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

    Edited 2/11/2007 10:56 pm by forestgirl

13. 
    forestgirl | Feb 09, 2007 08:21am | #10

    Well, Lee, I haven't used any one style enough to get stuck on it, so maybe we should persue this trade idea.  The Bessey's I have:  4 of the 31" long ones (24" clamping capacity, I guess).  I bought 'em I think 1.5-2 years ago, whenever they had that big sale.

    How good are you at wrapping/packing for long-distance shipping?  I'm pretty good!  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

14. 
    mapleman | Feb 09, 2007 09:06am | #12

    Hey FG,

    I'll have to find the right box, but I will make sure they are packed up nice. You can wait until you get the jets in hand to ship the besseys, that way you can be sure they arrive safely. No pressure from me on this end, it's up to you if you want to go ahead with the deal.

    Thanks,

    Lee

15. 
    forestgirl | Feb 09, 2007 07:08pm | #15

    Sounds good, Lee.  Shoot me an email with your address and I'll do the same, we can get 'er done!  Hopefully, shipping won't be too outrageous!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   tufenhundel | Feb 08, 2007 05:13am | #4

   There is a trick to engaging the bar so that it doesn't slip. As you grab the handle to tighten the clamp, cant the handle so that the end of the handle (far side from the jaw) tilts toward the bar. In essense, you are forcing the jaw to engage the bar notches. This is the normal position when you find it working properly. As you cant the handle, turn to engage clamping pressure.

1. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 08, 2007 07:09am | #5

   What tuff said.........I.E. push handle down (toward the bar) as you tighten it. Also, I store mine hanging on a rack, fully open. Sometimes the handle will stick when I go to use it. The fix: holding it by the handle, bump the other end on the floor. Good clamps otherwise.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

4. 
   cscwem | Feb 08, 2007 07:57pm | #7

   I own about 12 of each size K-body...i've had the majority of them for around 10 years...you get used to the way they work over time, I don't even think about it anymore...

   you just push the handscrew towards the bar to engage the threads and away from the bar to disengage the threads...you notice this more on new clamps and it seems to lessen as the clamps "break in"

   the clamps hold up perfectly, glue cleans right off of them, i've never broken one, the jaws have sayed exactly parrellel, they work perfectly every time...

   some of the new clamps of this variety might work as well, but i have a hard time believing that they work any better.... 

5. 
   Dave45 | Feb 12, 2007 04:51am | #20

   I don't have those K-Bodies, but I once made the mistake of "cleaning" some of the 3/4" pipes I use with my Pony's.  They sure looked pretty, but the locks wouldn't hold when I tightened the clamps.  I just brought them back into the shop after a year outside.  They're all ugly again, but they hold now. - lol