Clamps

[jfc]

They call them uniklamps not sure why people dont like them as they are good for light work . Hmmmmm but then the kbodies give me the hump with heavy work , maybe thats it

[engineerone]

interesting looked at the bessey site, and really from the photo cannot see the difference between the uni and the k clamp.

mine are k's but i also have a couple of the klik clamps and i frankly find them Cr*p.

paul

[dexteria]

Do the uniklamps have the rollers in the head mech like the Ks?

I have a few of the Ks and sometimes find that they jam at the most inappropriate time but that aside I find them the easiest of my clamps to use followed by Irwin F clamps. Agree that the klick clamps are cr*p in all but the lightest applications.

Has anyone tried these copies from Rutlands?

www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/DK2010/4PACK

[jfc]

Modernist said he has some copies from rutlands on the last page . As for the same construction as the K's , it looks the same but i dont really look at things like that . They work or the dont ... if they dont i beat them on the Trend T3 ;D
So far on first clamp up i like them but that may change after twenty glue ups so everyone duck cause they could be getting launched ;D

[modernist]

Modernist did indeed; and I have since had the opportunity to try them. One or two probs have appeared.

the clamps were pretty tight as the room was too hot and the glue was going off fast





1. the rubber pads leave resin marks so I've had to use packers



2. I'm not sure I like the amount of deflection in the fixed end under load for a "parallel" cramp.



3 The bar bend seems not too bad for a 600mm cramp.



4. The rivet fixing the wobbly handle, which is great, is hollow at the end and looks if it might not last too long. I suppose it could be changed for a small capscrew


How do they compare to the alloy and other gear?

Brian

[Lord Nibbo]

modernist said:

The bar bend seems not too bad for a 600mm cramp.




How do they compare to the alloy and other gear?

Brian

Do you need to clamp that tight ?
Surely using the toe of the clamp is inducing the bend. I use them with the bar tight to the work piece, it helps panels stay flat. There is now way I use as much pressure your using.

[dexteria]

Thats a fair bit of pressure that you've got those bars under. If I need to use this much clamping force I use my Faithfull t-bar clamps. Besseys bars do ben in the same way as in your pictures if cramped up really tight but the head stays square to the end of the bar. I agree with LN on not using just the toe of the head.
What about using masking tape on the cushioned part rather than packers. This would more easily allow you to use the whole clamping surface.

Cheers for the pics. I may just yet get a pack of four to try out.

Thanks

Mark

[modernist]

lordnibbo said:

modernist said:

Surely using the toe of the clamp is inducing the bend. I use them with the bar tight to the work piece, it helps panels stay flat. There is now way I use as much pressure your using.

Yes - as I said I did have them unusually tight as I got caught out by the biscuits swelling while I adjusted the assembly and had to pull it up tight.

I don't usually put the bar against the work as it marks the surface when the bar deflects under load. Having said that it was a bit extreme but if the clamp end/bar joint flexes then it puts the pressure on the very edge unless you use a packer.

The marks from the rubber pads are caused by resins in the rubber and they would have been better in a plastic.

All in all they are good value whilst on offer and decent cramps for general use.

Brian

[Scrit]

jfc said:

Whats so good about the planos then

They hold the boards flat as well as providing edge pressure - ideal for glueing-up drawer side stock, etc. Flaming expensive, though

Scrit

[pitbull]

I use 3 types of Clamps.
The Record T-Bar I don't like the sash
The pony pipe clamps for quick light clamping
And Wolfcraft one handed clamps. (These I find out perform the Irwin quick release on both performance and cost)

[wrongnail]

I never spend a fortune on clamps.
A few years back I got a dozen 14" G clamps from Trego Mills in Kernow. ( £2.50 each) I think the difference between them and the expensive clamps is that they are cast, as opposed to being drop-forged.) I still use them and as long as I don't apply them as tight as mercy, then they're not likely to break. Same goes for 4' "T" bar clamps. £5.00 a throw from the open market in Walsall.
Can't go wrong. Quite good enough for the job and leaves me more money to spend on Lie Nielsens and the like! ;D.

Happy Woodworking
John