I picked up 4 Bessy 3/4 inch pipe clamps at Woodcraft. They have them on sale from about 17.99 to 12.99. Sounded like a good buy. Stopped at big box and bought a few lengths of pipe. Tried to install and I can barely get two threads on. Tried a second set. Same thing except worse. The handle wouldn’t turn because the slider (the clamp face) was bound. Completely out of alignment.
Anyone else had this experience? Woodcraft will accept them back so I am not worried about that, but seeing the Bessy name I expected a great product. Probably going back to Pony.
Thoughts?
Alan – planesaw
Replies
Alan,
How do the threads look, both on the inside of the clamp and outside of the pipe? I don't own any pipe clamps, so I don't know if there are different thread counts for the pipe. It sounds like it's cross threading. I haven't heard about this before.
I have some Bessey pipe clamps that I bought on sale. Have similar problems. they are not in line with the quality of their other products.
When it comes to pipe clamps, I buy Poneys now.
Great, now even Bessey has gone cheap on us. Hopefully Lie-Nielsen will take note, start making clamps, and put Bessey to bed. Seems like LN is the only woodworking tool manufacture that cares anymore. I have never been dissatisfied with any of their products.
I bet this will spark a few comments :)
I'll keep my comments to myself.
If you buy English wooden pipe, does it come with Whittlesworth threads? ;-)
I haven't seen the Bessy's yet but I have bought a number of pipe clamps, other than Pony. I've always regretted it.
Thanks everyone for your replys.
To answer a few of the questions or suggestions
1. I bought a long section of pipe, had it cut and threaded (no charge). Threads are perfect. My old (and now new) Pony clamps go on as they are supposed to. So, the pipe threads certainly are not a problem. (This afternoon I bought 4 new Pony pipe clamps in place of the Besseys. The Ponys all work as one would expect them to.)
2. Mel, I agree with your observations. I have been guilty of buying things simply because they are on sale and I think I might use it some day. BUT, that is not the case here. I have a couple projects that need some addtional pipe clamps. The sale just happened to be at the right time.
3. Also, Mel, as to your observation about things being on sale, that appeared to be the case with these Bessey H series pipe clamps. Also, some Jet clamps I bought recently that were on sale. They didn't say Jet on them, and were a bit rough when I first started using them. Rough in the sense of uneven turning. But, in short order, they smoothed out. So, they turned out to be a good buy.
4. I am also returning some Bessey C clamps that are out of alignment. I noticed they were made in China. I wonder if all of Bessey products are now made in China? These certainly don't fit the Bessey reputation.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Alan - planesaw
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