Does anyone know when Jet Clamps go on sale on Amazon or at Woodcraft? I’m saving up to buy some this year. Thanks. Tom
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Rockler had a deal on the F-style clamps. I got a set, and was very disappointed with the quality. I thought I had heard great things about Jet clamps (probably K-style), but these machinings were very poor.
What is a man to believe these days?? I have read on other thread(s) about how great the Jet K is compared to Blessy. Mixed into the same thread(s) are users who are disappointed. I also read where Rockler has a good 4-pack sale. Yet I have never seen a Jet clamp in Roclker. I get a new catalogue every month and I have been looking.
I have Blessy K clamps and have to say that they are generally pretty good. There are times when nothing but a good K will do. The only gripe I have is that they are kind of clumsy. When you need a third hand is when they are a little fussy about catching up while turning the screw.
I would like to find the perfect clamp, but alas, what is a man to believe??
EDIT NOTE: I'm talking parallel clamps
Edited 3/25/2007 11:00 pm ET by coolbreeze
I have Bessey's, Jegenson Cabinetmasters and Jets. The Bessey's are my least favorite. Mainly, I hate the fact that the head won't sit still unless it's clamped against something. I've used the Cabinetmasters the most, and have gotten used to them, just starting to use the Jets. I like the trigger, and the inch-marks. Would like the bench-dog things if I had a bench I guess <grin>; they are heavier than either of the other clamps, so you have to be ready for that.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I don't know whose are better, but I was just the lucky recipient of (8) new 40" Besseys for $29 each on Amazon.com. When you don't have either Jet or Besseys, no matter which you will get will be the best clamps you own. I suppose I would love them both if I had Jets too.
Jeff
That's a good deal, and getting some good clamps is a real treat! I got both the Bessey's and the Jorgensen's (...son's?) on sale when each was having some kind of an anniversary shebang. Jorgie's were half-price, and they sold out on the internet in less than an hour, if memory serves. I was fit and in good shape from plenty of eBay bidding, so I just got in under the flag (except for one size, which ran out faster). Hid them from hubby for almost a year, LOL. He bought me the Bessey's as an early birthday present a couple years ago. I bought the Jets as part of a celebration for selling my business and not being chained to a retail store 6 days a week! Other toys included a Steel City Mortiser, LOL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Jamie,
You know, @ $29 each for 40" Besseys I don't get it. How can Amazon make money on this deal???? I ordered 8 clamps and received 5 different boxes that were shipped by UPS. Also, they had free shipping. What gives? How in the world could they possibly make money???
Installed a Penn State Overarm guard last night and seem to like it so far. If I had my choice, I wouldn't use any guard, but thats not safe. Have you made the transition to an overarm guard yet?
Jeff
Yep, I have the PSI guard also. I've worked without a guard, on a benchtop saw. Can't stand it. I understand, though -- the wide hood can get in the way of narrow rips. Just has to be worked around. I do like how easy it is to adjust the height and left/right of the PSI. What are you using as a splitter?
Amazon doesn't always try to make money. Not sure how all that works. One thing that may be going on is Jet giving discounts to get their clamps "out there" and create some buzz. It feels like it's starting to happen, as once people try them, many or most are quite pleased.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I have a biesemeyer snap in splitter on my 5HP Shop Fox. What I want to do is take the pawls off the splitter and just have a "riving knife" so it will slide through the kerf on my crosscut sled. That way, I don't have to take it on and off when I want to use the crosscut sled. What do you think? I don't think I could get kickback as long as I have the riving knife in there could I?
<<That way, I don't have to take it on and off when I want to use the crosscut sled.>>Not trying to respond for forestgirl -- I'm sure she'll reply with her thoughts, but I thought I'd give you my 2 cents. The beauty of some of these after-market splitters is that you can easily pop them in and out as necessary. As John White responded in a different thread, "The splitter, with or without the pawls, serves little to improve safety when crosscutting unless the piece being crosscut is especially large." You can leave the pawls on for maximum safety when ripping if you like, and just take the whole splitter out when using your cross cut sled.Mike
Mike,
I agree with you. The part of the process I'm trying to improve on is taking the biesemeyer snap in splitter on and off. To take the splitter out, I must remove the insert, reach down into the saw and pull the knob and lift the splitter out. I am not really big on sticking my hand down there when the TS is still plugged in. If I go to unplug the machine, I have to walk 12', come back and take the insert out, take the splitter out, replace the insert walk back and plug the saw in and then walk back to the saw. UUUGGGHHHH!
I wonder if there is a way to rig something up where I don't have to take the insert out to release the snap in splitter.......?
<<I wonder if there is a way to rig something up where I don't have to take the insert out to release the snap in splitter.......?>>From what I know of the Biesemeyer splitter, there is no way to remove it without lifting the throat plate. I believe the Merlin splitter is designed to release without removing the throat plate. But, you've already invested in the Biesemeyer ($100 + ???), so the Merlin is probably not an option for you. I just bite the bullet and remove the throat plate, loosen the nuts and take out my stock splitter as necessary -- you get used to it.Mike
"I don't think I could get kickback as long as I have the riving knife in there could I?" Ohhhhh, you most certainly can! The riving knife helps (helps) prevent the stock from closing on the blade, but it doesn't prevent stock from riding up on the blade (cutting a thin piece of plywood, for example). Nothing is a guarantee against kickback (other than leaving the saw in the off position), but the AKB pawls certainly add a layer of safety.
Glad to hear you unplug the saw whenr eaching inside the guts. I have to walk about the same distance as you to unplug and re-plug the saw. That's life, IMHO. What could be done to cut down on the time consumed would be to put an outlet box right at the tablesaw. Since my saw has a plug inbetween the motor and the switch anyway, it wouldn't be that big a deal to hardwire an outlet and have the motor plug into it, mount it right on the saw frame. Or, could just make the motor cord longer, and hang the junction of the two right below the fence for easy disconnect.
I use the Merlin splitter, and though I have to remove the insert, I don't have to "reach inside", but simply push down a button that's just below table level. Not sure that makes it better than the Biesemeyer, though. Bies just doesn't make a splitter for my old saw. :-(forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I understand what you are saying. It's kind of funny how I went from what tools to buy and what to build to how to work extremely safe. This tablesaw (5HP) scares me to death. Maybe since I am getting a little older I am getting wiser..................no, I don't think so!
Jeff
"This tablesaw (5HP) scares me to death." Oh, man! That'd give me nightmares for sure!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
<<I use the Merlin splitter, and though I have to remove the insert,>>I read somewhere that you can drill a hole in your insert and release the Merlin with the push of a pencil through the hole. Not sure how it would work, but maybe worth a try.
It might work, now that I've finally got the splitter installed just right. I had to monkey with it to get it to fit my old saw, and it was quite cranky until a few weeks ago when I uninstalled it, filed a little place on the inside of the saw throat, and reinstalled it (only took me a few hours, LOL). Much easier to click in and out now. Probably less trouble to pull up the insert than to find the right stick to push down in there though.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 3/29/2007 10:54 am by forestgirl
If you put a plug between the motor and the switch, you negate any advantage of the magnetic switch. If for some reason the switch was on when you pulled the plug, the motor will start up the instant the motor is plugged back in. (At least, I think). Better to put the plug between the switch and the breaker.
What magnetic switch? Not on my saw. Also, I have a solidly ingrained habit of checking the switch before plugging in the saw. Good point, though.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 3/29/2007 10:58 am by forestgirl
Jamie,
I don't have to unplug my saw anymore!!! I did a "slight" mod. to my saw last night. This is really out there but it works. On the biesemeyer snap in splitter, to take the splitter out, you remove the throat plate and reach down and pull a knob. Well, what I did in the name of safety is to tie a string on that knob, run the string out the side of the cabinet to a small pulley that turn toward the front of the saw, and secured the rope on a small hook that is drilled into my rail. When I need to remove the splitter, I pull the rope and remove it! No more plugging and unplugging for me anymore. This is very primative, but heck it works!
Jeff
Hey, cool! But what're you going to do for exercise now, LOL??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
So, put a magnetic switch on the thing so my point will be valid. Ha. I recently got a MM16 bandsaw. It had a stub cord about one foot long. I chose to plug it and got a matching receptacle with the extension cord. That should be easy. There are so many safety switches on the thing, I should be safe from there. I should do that with the table saw.
Paul
Edited 3/29/2007 5:32 pm ET by tinkerer2
Hey Jeff,
When you said "When you don't have either Jet or Besseys, no matter which you will get will be the best clamps you own", I said, Oh, yeah, that's very true.
My new Besseys are so much better than my old pipe clamps, that I've kicked the pipe clamps off to a very dusty corner. 'Corse I'll never get rid of those old clamps, cause I might just need them.Mike
I thought about you when I posted "What's a MAN to do". I knew you had an opinion on the clamps and I always read and appreciate your input.
I have decided that I am going to buy a set of 4 Jets when I see a deal on them.
Jamie,
one day we are going to have to take a tour of your shop. No mallet, no bench, what else don't you have?
dave :)
I just came back from Rockler in NE Ohio with some Jet 31" clamps that were on sale for $22 each. That is about half the price of the Bessey's and the Jet clamps are twice as good IMHO. The also had the 50" clamps for $50 for a set of two. The 4 clamp package was also available for $99.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .
Edited 3/26/2007 3:38 pm ET by JerryPacMan
A 50" clamp for $25? Wow. Especially if they are "better than the Blessy parallel.
I live in Mississippi and there are no Rockler,Woodcraft or sech in these hear parts:<)
I have been watching Rockler catalogue for a deal on the Jet. So far, nothing. When I do get a c-log with a deal on them, I am going to take advantage.
I have 4 of the Jet K-style clamps (parallel clamps, like Bessey's but better, IMHO). The 50" clamps are on sale at Rockler, local dates may vary (I don't think it's a web site thing, but you could check).
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I went over to the Seattle, WA Rockler store (on Stone Way) today (Tuesday 3/27/07) to score some of the 50" Jet Clamps priced at two for $50. Rockler had a pretty good stack of them packed nicely two to a box. They also had Bessey 4" VarioClippix at 2 for $7. They had about a half dozen remaining Clippix.
You can never have too many clamps, but you can have not enough tools.
J, I called cust svc. as there is no $50 Jet deal on line and they know nothing. They checked and didn't admit where but it was a store only deal, so I asked which I could go to - Buffalo on the other end of the state or Boston? There are zero stores in Tn. She said someone would call me.
60 min. later they did and took my order for six shipping to Tn. for next week, Hooray!!!
All the best, Paddy
That's really great Paddy, they've got the right attitude, eh? You must have been nice to 'em too.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I guess I would have to agree with the lady on this one. I have all three style parallel clamps and I don't use the Besseys at all anymore. I grab the Jets first and use the Jorgensens when I run out. Which will not happen with my next order. Woodcraft carries a Bessey made green clamp of their own label that has gotten beat up on this forum. Rockler runs sales regionally around the country on Jets (usually in the flyer) and you can get your best deals through them, but if you need them now international tool.com has the best prices I have found so far. The other post talking about the machining on the Jets is talking about the F-style clamps. They look like some guy made them in his garage compared to the Besseys. It looks like Jet was going after Bessey K-body with this new clamp and they did their homework.
Woodcraft does not sell K-Body Jet clamps in my hometown store or have them listed on their web site. The Jet clamps are almost always on sale at Rockler. See http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=35279.8 for prices. I do not think Amazon will ever beat Rockler's prices on Jet clamps.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .
Edited 3/26/2007 3:45 pm ET by JerryPacMan
Woodcraft do carry jet clamps. (at least in my store) I drool ever time I go there.
Thanks. I'm off to Rockler, much to my wife's chagrin. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
call midwest woodworkers in Omaha, Ne. @888-330-5444 and Please ask for Jeff. We have some of the best prices around!
FYI for SE Michigan. The Roclker store in Royal Oak put the 50" Jets on sale 2-$50 on Monday until 4/22 they have about 50 sets left after I got three sets.
Terry
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