Has anyone tried those new Jet Parallel clamps yet? I just finished gluing up a set of drawers(fun) and I used 4 of the new Jet clamps. They are incredible (how excited can you get about clamps) they slide on the bar with ease, they have an adjustable foot to help keep them upright, and the handle is perfect size. I curse my K-bodies every time I have to glue up anything that takes a little finesse without another pair of hands (my wife loves to help me glue up projects HAHA). Those darn Chinese have improved another product that was an industry standard. The Germans at Bessey better get on the stick or Jet is going to eat their lunch. The prices are even starting to come down. Got mine from International Tool cheaper than a comparable Bessey. If I didn’t have a son who is a woodworker I would have 24 K-body clamps for sale. Check them out( I’m retired, I don’t work for any of the above)
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Replies
<I curse my K-bodies every time I have to glue up anything that takes a little finesse>
What is it about the K-Bodies that's giving your trouble, and what is so different about the Jets? They look pretty much alike. If there is a better clamp than the K-Body, it must be really great.
Mike,
Whenever I'm holding a K-body clamp in position with one hand, invariably it will either not grip the bar and I crank forever or it will not slide properly. I have even wire wheeled every speck of glue off the bar and it still sticks sometimes. I wont even use them for large glueups of table tops or side panels because they grip so inconsistently. I use my old jorgensen I-bars for big glueups. The Jets perform flawlessly, they have a trigger like mechanism that releases the crank and the bar is chrome plated and smooth finished. They even have numbers(inch marks) on them for easy setup. You don't have to rock the crank to get them to grab like the Besseys.
It can't be just my clamps because I have 24 K-body clamps bought over a couple years time. I thought the same thing you did about the Jet clamps being the same as the K-body, that is why I only ordered 4 the first time. I think I'll order 4 per month for a while until I build up my clamp rack supply again.
I bought three of the sets of four with the holders and I love them. Got a good deal on them for $99/set of four (2 24" and 2 48"). They also have an attachment that will fit in a round dog hole but have not tried that yet. Thinking about getting more.
Tracker,
That is a good price. Where did you order them and did that include shipping. I got the 24" for that price, but I paid a little more for the 40". I would be interested where you got them.
Terry
Trackersoft's deal sounds like the one they had a Rockler a couple months ago. A boxed set of 48" and 24" (2 each) plus the bag o' 90° holders. I bought one set, but haven't tried 'em yet. Got Bessey's and Cabinetmasters to compare them with when I do, though.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Has anyone looked at the Woodcraft clamps that appear to be clones of the K body clamps? They look identical in the flyer, but are much cheaper.
I tried them at the local Woodcraft store and I liked them. The price was great and I've used them only once - I think they are good so far. I'll buy more if they continue to perform as they have.
I bought 4 Woodcrafts for a Christmas present (for myself). I can't give them to myself till Christmas, so I have to wait to find out. I will just have to use the Bessey's on the cedar chest I am making. Compared to pipe clamps, "God Bless the Besseys!". There are a few tricks to getting the Besseys to grab consistently, pushing down on the handle helps a lot. The reason that I bought the Woodcrafts was the similarity to Bessey, and they are supposed to be made by Bessey for Woodcraft. I thought I would try them out since they are cheaper. It was not because I was displeased with the Bessey clamps, it was for the price and apparent quality (yet to be determined). If the Jet clamps are comparable quality to Bessey and easier to use, I am all for it. I really like the Bessey's because it is easy to clamp up dead-square. If the others will also clamp up dead-square, and I can save a few dollars apiece, I would buy them over Bessey.
Last I looked the Local Rockler Store had them for $89 for the set! That's 22.50/ea! I would get more but cannot walk in with another bag of tools!
Scott
'tis the season... the set is now $160 at Rockler
They do look like great clamps; I'll keep on the lookout for the next sale. I got the Beesey's last time they were giving them away - the one thing I like about the Beesey set is the long ones are 48", not 40" - and there have been times where that 8" was a big deal.
Jet makes a 50" clamp and that makes sense as 2" more than 48" is a nice length. Jet also makes 60", 82" and 98" clamps.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .
Yea, I agree about the 50" - just wish they'd put that in the bundle instead of the 40" shortie :-)
the K bodies will not grip the bar untill the handle is engaged. That is not untill the handle is pushed towards the bar.Pardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
Mike,
The K-body clamps seem to grip the bar when they feel like it. It has been my experience, that they tend not to grip when threads are not cranked all the way in, but that is not always consistent. I was just posting an observation that you don't have to put up with the quirks of the besseys any longer.
Terry
I looked at the Jet clamps in a store, and they do indeed seem to be an improvement over the K-Bodies. However, like you, I have a ton of them, and I am not ready to chuck them out in favor of the Jets -- mainly because I have figured out how to use them. And there is the matter of the investment.........Like mudman said, the trick is to snug them up, and then exert a little downward pressure on the handle (toward the bar) as you tighten them up. Also, I keep them stored wide open on my clamp rack, and sometimes the handle end will not slide down the bar. When that happens (and it does happen too frequently), I take hold of the handle, and give the other end a rap on the floor, which will free up the end with the handle.Klutzy??? for sure, but aside from these problems, they work fine. But if I were buying today, I would be choosing the Jet over the Bessy. ********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I have the same problem with my K-bodies and am looking for some new clamps. Jet's sound good to me. I've only tried the Jet's in the store and they worked flawlessly for me. Much better than the K-bodies. Also, the handles on the K-bodies are too smooth, so I have to use a large amount of gripping force with my hand to loosen them, especially when they are sitting with the handle just barely above the bench top and I have to grip just with my fingers.
Anyone tried the Jorgenson Cabinetmaker clamps - similar to the K-Bodies but slightly larger?
David,
I have 12 of them. 4 each of 24", 36" and 48"
Compared to pipe champs they are wonderful.
Except that they are heavier then s#%* I really like them
ASK
I have 5 jorgie cabinet masters and they are "just good" now that I've played with the Jets. The no sliding feature of the business end, unless you want to move it, puts it over the top for me. And you can bet when a get some Jet clamps that they will be topped by yet another clamp a year from that purchase. Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I started with Bessey, tried the cabinet master, said I'd never get a another Bessey. Tried the Jet ones and I'll never buy either Bessey or Cabinet Master again. Heck, I should sell the Bessey's and buy Jet with the money, I will if they offer that $99 Jet deal again. But now that word is out I don't think they'll have to offer that deal again. I only bought four sets at the $99 price, should have got 10 sets and be done for life. The only reason not to try the Jet clamp is that you will not like your old Bessey/Jorgenson ones any more. Jet really did a good job of improving the clamp.
Edward
Seatoe,
You brought up an excellent point that I forgot to mention. The handles are much easier to grip and crank with my stiffer than I like hands. They are made out of a high density plastic and they are much easier to twist because of the flutes and larger diameter. There is also an adjustable foot that slides on the bar to prevent them from falling over. Have'nt tried the bench dogs , but they look pretty slick too.
Terry
That's good information -- thanks. I'll have to check them out.
I also curse the K-bodies now that I have the new Jet clamps. I have used the K-bodies for years as they were the best. I will now be reaching for the Jet clamps as they are better than the Besseys. I picked up the $100 set at Rockler, I will be buying more. The set was $90 just after Thanksgiving.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .
"Those darn Chinese..."
What gives you the idea that Jet is a Chinese company?
Hal
This is interesting. I am going to have to try them.
Thanks for the info!
Hal
http://www.rivercitywoodworks.com
Technically, it is a Swiss company:http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/AboutUs/index.cfm?navPage=1&desc=AboutWMHAt least that's where the holding company for all those brands is located. It is interesting how complicated the "who owns what" question has become in recent years.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Hal,
It says right on the clamp Made in China. Like Nikki said all the holding companies make things a moving target. If WMH is making the Jet clamps in china they should be cheaper than ones made in Germany, right. Labor costs and all. I think most Jet products are made in China today. Heck my daughter has a Subaru made in Indiana that has a higher percentage of USA parts than my Chevy Suburban. Moving Target.
Edited 12/9/2006 8:46 am ET by terrylee86
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