Replies

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 23, 2004 08:12am | #1

   ASK

      Are you referring to the Bessey's? I just ordered Jorgy Cabinet-Masters this morning from Lee-Valley. When you refer to K's, it's usually the Bessey.

   Regards...

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   ASK | Mar 23, 2004 03:50pm | #2

   Sarge,

   Bessey calls them K body, Jorgensen calls them Cabinet Master bar clamps.

   Lee Valley doesn't identify them in the catalogue as Jorgensen's but that's the name on the box.

   Woodworkers Supply has the 48" for $37.99 for 4 or more. Lee Valley is $31.50, about a 17% discount.

   ASK

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 23, 2004 04:39pm | #3

   ASK

      Look at the top of the listing for the Jorgy's. It doesnt say Jorgenson, just Cabinet Master Clamps. That's a Jorgy. The orange and the take-off feet at the end is a give-away. I got 6 of the 30" and two 36". Just ordered two more 36".

      The price is good. No offense to WoodCrafters, but I find thier prices a bit high. Guess it's the over-head. I tried to get some of the Cabinet-Masters when they had their anniversary sale through WoodCrafters. Sitting on the computer at quarter of twelve mid-nite when the sale started. Got the order in by 12:10 AM. E-mail from them next morning that they were sold out and I was too late. I have never bought anything from them and probably won't from my first attempt.

      What you will find with the Jorgy's is you got a clamp that has some features the Bessey K-bodies don't. It's also heavier, moe clamping power and several dollars less expensive. Once you've used your new Jorgy's, you will detect the difference imediately if you have ever used the K-bodies also. I wouldn't even think of starting a work-bench without the Jorgy's being within my sight. ha.. ha....

   Enjoy your new Jorgy's...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   ASK | Mar 23, 2004 05:24pm | #4

   Sarge,

   This was my first purchase of this type of clamp. I've been using pipe clamps for years and finally decided to bite the bullet. Planning on making a dining room table and buffet this summer and they will come handy.

   Thanks

   ASK

1. 
   lynnroy | Mar 23, 2004 06:06pm | #5

   ASK,

   I purchased some Bessy early on in my woodworking. They are great!! I am not sure which brand is best but the design makes it possible for a one man shop to glue up some difficult pieces.

   Lynn

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 23, 2004 07:01pm | #6

   ASK

      What you're going to really like is the foot at the rear of the clamp. You can sit it on an assmebly table and slide the rear jaw to the stock with one hand. You don't have to execute lifting the clamp up to make the rear jaw slide.

      They come in handy with teen-agers also. If you tell them not to do something and they do, ou insert thier head between the jaws and turn that handle that closes those powerful jaws. They won't do it again. "Just klddin" ..... of course.  he.. he...

   You'll love them...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   RoyinMD | Mar 23, 2004 08:15pm | #7

   Sarge,

   I have (4) 31" Besseys and from your comments I gotta try the Jorgys sometime. I'm just drooling for a good price war. :o)

   I have not used them yet but I really like the Rockler Sure Foots. Scored (8) of them.

   Enjoy, Roy

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 24, 2004 05:23am | #10

   Roy

      I wouldn't throw away the Bessey's at any point, but if you do get a Jorgy you will see immediately is has a heavier bar. It also has the little foot which is an in-genious aid. With that foot you can sit the Jorgy on a table and move the jaw with one hand. The other hand is not committed to lifting the bar for the jaw to clear. You will also find that more pressure can be exerted from the Jorgy if needed. The Jorgy from day one can be used as a spreader by removing the foot (pull a pin and it slips right off). Reverse the jaw and your set.

      The Bessey is an excellent clamp in the K-body. I'd take all you can give me, but it's priced more than the Jorgy which has more features and a more versatile clamp. Go figure!

      A great point of both are the square jaws and the depth. When I do a work-bench top, legs or stretchers 3 1/2" to 4" thick with them, the deep jaws put pressure on the entire depth without having to rotate clamps over-and -under.

      The Rockler pipe clamps with the tall feet are excellent. I noticed in the new Tool-Crib catalog that Irwin has come out with a similar design. The selling point is the crank can be turned without having to hang it over the table or lift the bar up for clearance.

   Regards...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   Ole | Mar 24, 2004 04:25pm | #12

   Hi !

   Bessey K-body clamps now a days come with a foot at the end of the bar. The first Bessey's I got didn't have the little foot, but I think they have been sold (Europe) with the little foot for a year or so, and should also be available in the US !??!

   View Image              View Image

   IMO the best clamps are the German made Gross Stabil PC2 also available in the US (Bessey are also German). They got a larger clamping area (5 1/2" x 1 3/4") than Bessey and Jorgensen. Comes with a foot at the end of the heavy rail (29 X 9 mm.) When standing the jaw slides freely without touching the bench.

   http://www.grossstabil.com/wood_clamps.htm

   http://www.grossstabil.de/ (german, english)

   Ole.... I Love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

6. 
   RandMCapozzi | Mar 24, 2004 07:15pm | #13

   The Bessey K-body clamps are available with the little foot now. The foot can be removed and the rear jaw reversed so the clamp acts like a spreader. I picked up a couple at the MD WW show in Jan. They were also at the Chantily, VA WW show last week. I haven't found them online yet though.

   --Rob

7. 
   ASK | Mar 23, 2004 08:28pm | #8

   Sarge,

   Unfortunately, the kids are already in their 20's. But there are some young ones in the neighborhood who will be teenagers soon. I'll keep you posted.

   ASK

2. 
   Michmesquite | Mar 24, 2004 03:58am | #9

   I think if I ordered K-body's and they shipped Cabinet Masters I would be pissed, oops, that should be p****d.

   I have seen the Jorgy's and they look like excellent clamps, but I have over 30 K-bodies and ....

   __________________________________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   Freedom from mental disturbance is the very most for which one can hope.

    Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

1. 
   ASK | Mar 24, 2004 04:00pm | #11

   Michaelp,

   My mistake on calling them k body in the original post. I had been looking for that type of clamp to upgrade from pipe clamps and didn't look at anything except price. When I found them at a substantially lower price than I had seen in all the catalogues previously I ordered them. Lee Valley wouldn't tell me who made them but I now realize that the "cabinet master" name is a giveaway.

   I haven't used them yet but I can't imagine that they won't be better than pipe clamps.

   ASK