Replies

1. 
   BG | Nov 28, 2005 10:40pm | #1

   Rick,
   For my money..on sale is good. I prefer the Jorgenson because they are larger than the Bessy..and the old Bessy's have no foot like the others have. But, that preference can be eliminated by price differentials

2. 
   Steve50 | Nov 29, 2005 02:03am | #2

   Rick,

   I have the Bessey and the older and newer style Gross-Stabil clamps.  I can't tell any difference in clamping performance but I really like the handles on the Gross-Stabil better than the Bessey.  I like the replaceable pads on the GS jaws.  As far as action goes, I prefer the Bessey.  I have no experience with the other brands you mention (other than the Jorgenson bar and pipe clamps which are a totally different class) so have no basis for comparison of those.  I generally buy these type clamps 4 or more at a time when they are on sale.  After all, you can never have enough clamps.

   Steve

3. 
   mudman | Nov 29, 2005 06:22pm | #3

   I have found the Bessies to be stiffer than the Jorgies. I have not used one yet but the new Jet clamps look very well thought out.

   Mike

4. 
   forestgirl | Nov 30, 2005 07:43pm | #4

   If you're saving significant money the sale item is great.  Gotta say, though, I really like the looks of the new Jet clamps.  Have you looked at the new features they have?  The quick-release trigger, accomodation of bench dogs, sliding rail stand and ruler etched into the bar?  Assuming they stay square and they're about the same price, these features would make them even cooler than Besseys in my book.

   Question:  Do the Besseys and Cabinetmasters reverse for spreading?  I've never wanted to do this, so haven't even checked.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   Ricks503 | Nov 30, 2005 09:54pm | #5

   I own jorgensen and Gros-Stabil and they both will reverse for spreading.

   The Jets are a real new item, I have not heard of any issues with them YET, it will be interesting to see how they perform over a few years of use.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1

2. 
   Michael | Dec 03, 2005 03:40am | #6

   The Bessey's do now (in the last few years), I think due to competitive pressures from the Jorgensen line?  (I'm don't know exactly when it occured).

   I agree with you that the new Jet's do look awful good and I've had a chance to get my hands on a number of them in a store and played w/ them and they are built very solidly.

   As far as I'm concerned, more competition helps the products improve and increases our choice :)

   michael

1. 
   John_D | Dec 03, 2005 10:06am | #7

   All the Bessey K-clamps I bought during the recent sale do in fact reverse and function as spreaders.  Just pop off that little black retainer at the end, and flip the sliding head around.

   I didn't realize it until your posts, so THANK YOU Michael and ForestGirl!!!  That is VERY handy!  I wish I'd realized it when I was trying to get my router enclosure attached to the bottom of my TS extension!

2. 
   KMac | Dec 04, 2005 03:46am | #8

   Forestgirl -  Several years ago I needed a spreader and all of my clamps were the old style Bessies.  I just ground the indents off on the handle end of the bar, and then the handle can be reversed.  Still works as normal also.  Only down side is that handle can slide off if clamp is hung by bar end only.

   Ken

1. 
   John_D | Dec 04, 2005 10:54pm | #9

   You just gave me another interesting idea.  I have some pretty long clamps, and it seems to me once in a while I might put two clamps on the same bar, for example gluing up a top and one shelf to a bottom.

1. 
   KMac | Dec 05, 2005 01:49am | #10

   Never thought of that.......great idea!!!