I’m curious to know if anyone has any experience with the 3/4″ Sure Foot pipe clamps from Rockler. I’ve always bought Bessey clamps, which run about $14 apiece, but Rockler has their clamps on sale for $9.99. There’s always a better and best but for these clamps, there may not be any noticeable difference that justifies the difference.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Brett
Replies
I threw one across my shop last night trying to do a glue up of a cherry panel if that is any indication.
I trust you work alone.Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Yes, yes I do...
Lookout! What was the problem?
They have a mind of there own. I own a bunch of Jorgenson pipe clamps and never have any trouble out of them. Sometimes these rockler clamps work great and sometimes they won't hold when I need them to. I have four of them each connected to 24" galvanized pipe. I set them up like any other clamp and start turning the screw to tighten them up. The back end won't grab on the pipe hard enough and keeps slipping backward. I try to push the back of the teeth so that they will grab the bottom of the pipe but it doesn't do anything. They still slip backwards. I have them set up correctly I just don't understand why they won't grab. Hence the throwing of them across the room and reaching for my trusty Jorgensons.
They remind me of those cheap Chinese made imitation Jorgenson 12" bar clamps you'll find at the flea market for $4.00 each. When you look at them, they seem they would work great but once you start using them they won't grab like they use to so you end up throwing them away.
There's your slippage problem...you're using galvanized pipe. Try using "black" pipe, the kind used for natural gas.
I had the same problem with galvanized, and taught myself many new words until I switched to black pipe.
The black pipe is softer than the galvanized, and lets the clamp's moveable end "dig in" and not slip when you tighten the screw.
Hint: thread the pipe at both ends and screw a coupling over the end opposite the handscrew; the coupling protects the pipe threads from damage and allows you to add pipe to make a longer clamp.
If you have access to a pipe threader, buy your pipe in 21-foot lengths from a plumbing supply, and cut and thread lengths to suit your specific needs.
I thought the problem would be the galv pipe as my Jorgensen's are on black pipe but a couple of my Sure Foots work great with no problems at all. I took one apart last night and examined the metal spring that pushes the teeth forward. Something tells me that it may have more to do with the quality of this spring than the pipe.
I do like using them since they sit higher on the bench than Jorgensens. I'll probably play switcharoo tonight and see how they perform on black pipe.
Mike
I would bet the problem is the galvanized. I was taught long ago to use black iron pipe for pipe clamps. There are two issues with galvanized.The first problem is that they clamp will outright slip on a galvanized surface. The second is the even if the clamps "dig into" the galvanizing, the galvanizing will allow a sort of long term slip as the galvanizing fails under pressure.On another forum, someone tested black iron and galvanized for long term maintaining of pressure. He put a pressure meter between the jaws, clamped to about a 1000 psi and left them overnight. With the black iron, the pressure was maintained. With the galvanized pipe, the pressure was reduced by a significant amount--I don't remember the details.Howie.........
Years ago, without knowing better, I used some galvinized pipe for my Jorgensen pipe clamps. The clamps exhibited occassional slipping. I changed to black iron and the slipping completely stopped.
T.Z.
Thanks I'll try black pipe tonight...
From experience I don't think it the galvanize my Dad has used galvanize pipe for years & no problems with slipping I now I am using galvanize & no problems here. I use Pony's 3/4" & Harbor Freight 3/4" Pony style knock offs Dad used Sears 3/4" pipe clamps. The pipe Dad used is at least 40 year old & my pipe is old because I purchased it used for $2 for around 20'.I think its the diameter of the pipe. Because I had 1 piece of pipe that was brand new & it slipped. The pipe didn't measure the same as the old pipe. I also have all of Dad's pipe clamps.If it is the galvanizing it must be because it isn't as thick as the older galvanizing.Grizzly also sell 3/4" pony pipe clamps like the Rockler clamps.
See below.http://grizzly.com/products/Bessey-H-Series-3-4-Pipe-Clamp/T20481Good, better, best never let it rest until your good is better & your better best.
I didn't even think of the diameter of the pipe. That may be a cause of it too. I haven't messed around with them lately because i'm applying the finish on my bufett but I'll work with them one day to figure out what's causing the slippage.
Thanks mike
I have 6, I also have the quick release that rockler has. They work great for me. I did get the zinc coated pipes, no stains.
I also have some 8 Rockler clamps as well as a whole pile of older Jorgensens. The Jorgensens are definitely a better product, but not by a large margin. The "sure foot" feature of the Rockler is nice sometimes, but doesn't make up for the somewhat inferior grab of those clamps. A hint to anyone whose clamps are old and slipping - take off the tail piece and reverse the direction of the grab plates in the housing. Let 'em work with fresh edges for a few more years.David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Ah Thanks David. I will try that.
Mvflaim -
If you clean the pipes on your pipe clamps, you may be creating that problem.
A couple of years ago, I went a little nuts and cleaned up two of the 3/4" pipes I use with my Pony clamps. I scraped off some gobs of old glue and scrubbed them down with some Simple Green and sandpaper. They cleaned up real nice, but the locks quit locking and started sliding just like you describe.
I left them outside for about a year and when I brought them back in, the locks would hold under light pressure, but still wanted to slip if I tried to tighten them too much.
That's a good idea. Maybe i'll leave the pipes outside for a week and let them rust up a little so the clamps grabs better.
I have a 4 sets I use on 72" pipe. I have 4 Bessy's (sure-foot.. not sure what they call them but the same concept) I use on 60" pipe. I simply use them on the larger lengths and Cabinet-Masters get the call 48" and down.
Of course I prefer the Cabinet-masters, but the longer lengths are very expensive even though up to 60" is common at my place. I really like the feet on both, but the Rockler's are pretty tight around the locking collar rings that adjust the lenght of the pipe. I prefer the Bessey's as the mechanism is much smoother IMO.
But.. for $9.99 and you need long clamps as I often do.. it's not that much trouble as the Bessey's are about $14 a set.
Hope that helps....
Sarge..
I have 8 of them, 4 on 5' pipe and 4 on 2'pipe. I've used them quite a bit and have never had any trouble with them. I have them on lenghts of galvanized pipe I bought from Homeless depot and have never experienced any slipping.
Glad to hear you have no problem SJ. I definitely don't have a problem "slipping" as the problem is just the opposite. When I mash the spring tensioner.. it often sticks as if too much tension and very tight.
Then again.. they don't get used everyday on 72" pipes.. so that may be possible rust formed to bind from just sitting through the humid Ga. climate? Really not sure.. but again not a major problem, more of a minor annoyance.
Sarge..
With the Rockler clamps, it's not the pipe that is an issue, it's the thread on the screw. This is true for many clamps, vices, even table saw arbors. It's expensive to make good threads. Poor quality ones bind, you end up twisting the clamp instead of applying pressure to the work. The feet and other accessories are just smoke and mirrors with little benefit. Over the long term, you will get more service from the Jorgensen's, they know how to make a good screw.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Grizzly has some thing similar for a dollar less: http://grizzly.com/products/Pipe-Clamp-Set-On-Stand/H5956I can't speak to their quality.ne sutor ultra crepidam
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