Replies

1. 
   ThreePuttJoe | Oct 16, 2005 07:08am | #1

   Mike -

   You didn't say where.

1. 
   chappy | Oct 16, 2005 07:17am | #2

   sorry, Amazon.com

    

    

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 16, 2005 07:46am | #3

   For those who missed it earlier, Bessey is having a 25th anniversary sale this month.  Various outlets have different specials.  Since I needed the 24" clamps, I bought from Woodcraft.  Lee Valley has sets on sale.  Not sure what Rockler has.

   I was Happy Person when these arrived!

   View Image

   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. 
   h12721 | Oct 16, 2005 07:39pm | #4

   What is the yellow item?

   Hilmar

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 16, 2005 07:57pm | #5

   Oh, that!  I needed a $15 item to get a free subscription to their magazine.  I didn't have tons o' time to think of something, so I ordered one of those newfangled HandGuard thingies.  I make my own push sticks and blocks, but this one has a pretty nice design, thought I get it and do a "personal review."View Image

   It's made of polypropylene.  I don't know much about plastics, but it doesn't "feel" like it would shatter they way some plastics do.  That tab at the back is adjustable to push different thicknesses of stock, and it's removeable and replaceable.  One end of the tab is designated "for shaping" but I haven't figured out why you'd need to turn it around.  The guard is designed to push over the blade.  Hmmmmmm, that'll take some getting used to.  Bothers me a little bit that they don't know how to spell RIP -- oh dear!

   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" .... :>) 

   Edited 10/16/2005 12:58 pm by forestgirl

1. 
   h12721 | Oct 17, 2005 03:13am | #6

        Yes , it will not shatter that easy. It is also used as a safety shield on lathes and bank windows and such.I bought 2 sets of 25/50 from LV. Good prize on those.I don't have a Woodcraft Catalog  but will check prize on web for 25/25. Thanks for the Info.  

   Are  the one's from WC 24" or 25" opening?

   Hilmar

    

   Edited 10/16/2005 8:18 pm ET by h12721

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 17, 2005 07:49am | #7

   I'm pretty sure they're 24" aren't they?  Thanks for info about the plastic.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" .... :>) 

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 17, 2005 08:23am | #8

   Hmmmmm, strange, I didn't notice before that the Woodcraft ones are labelled 24" but the Lee Valley are labelled 25".  I don't know about mine, I'll have to go out and measure them!  Would they really make clamps that were only 1" different in capacity.  Seems strange.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" .... :>) 

3. 
   BArnold | Oct 17, 2005 11:09am | #9

   I ordered the 24" and 40" from Woodcraft.  The 24" will actually clamp a little over 25"; the 40" will handle just over 41".

    

   Bill Arnold - Custom WoodcraftingMensa Member Click Here if you're interested in a good, inexpensive website host.

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

2. 
   plainjames | Oct 17, 2005 08:43pm | #10

   RIPP is a loose translation of an old chinese adage...read inthe phine print

3. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 18, 2005 02:12am | #12

   Forest.. I have one I made of ply sort of like that.. I had a 'plastic' one and it shattered! Geee... I thought the world ended!I did one other thing to mine.. I made it so that below your fingers it has two thin 'plates?' sticking out to shield fingers from splinters thrown by the blade.. The guards are above the fence to no problem and not wide enough to block the view..I like it.. I cut a lot of HARD splintery woods and it sure festers a hand with them splinters!

2. 
   jazzdogg | Oct 20, 2005 07:47pm | #26

   Hi FG,

   Saw some Bessey knock-offs by Jet in Rockler. They're priced like Besseys, but have a few added features: there's a release lever that makes it much easier to slide the head along the bar, and there are round bench dogs that thread into the clamp in two places, allowing the clamps to sit perfectly upright on/in the bench. I may have to pick up a pair for a test drive.

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 21, 2005 01:46am | #28

   I've only seen the Jet clamps in pictures, but they look like they have some nice added features.  Not sure I'd call them "knock-offs" :-)  Bet they'll have some at the show in Portland!

   " I may have to pick up a pair for a test drive."  Oh, I think you must!!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. 
   WhatKnot | Oct 21, 2005 02:38am | #29

   They are different, much different.. check them out at the show and let me know what you think. I like them. They seem quite well constructed.

   For one thing, they're lighter than the Bessey but they seem just as strong. I have a full compliment in stock right alongside the Bessey and the Jets are outselling the Bessey's for the moment. Well see how they fair down the road.

1. 
   ThreePuttJoe | Oct 21, 2005 04:18am | #30

   I was in Woodcraft (Palatine, IL) and bought a couple more Besseys for 40% off. They were backordered and now say they won't be in until Mid November. Just yesterday, I ordered the cabinet set with K-Blocks from Amazon (I couldn't resist with the price.) Would you believe that they were at my house when I got home from work today? Next day? And I didn't pay any extra shipping. My next project is now a rolling clamp rack, for my suddenly clamp-rich shop.P.S. I still need more clamps.

2. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 21, 2005 07:59pm | #31

   I was in Woodcraft (Palatine, IL) just yesterday ..Late..This brunette walked up to me and said we have the new LEIGH 24 inch in stock.. I gasped and said it two OK?.. SHe said we just have one left.. Well, I walked out with ONE! Always wanted one.. My Christmass present to MYSELF!REALLY!

   Edited 10/21/2005 1:00 pm by WillGeorge

3. 
   John_D | Oct 18, 2005 01:26am | #11

   OK you folks are officially evil.  Now all my discretionary spending money is gone again, this time blown out on a bunch of those nice Bessey clamps.  I may actually have too many clamps now.

   Please don't tell me about any "can't miss" deals in the next two weeks.  Heh.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 18, 2005 02:13am | #13

   NEVER ENOUGH CLAMPS!

1. 
   Pondfish | Oct 18, 2005 02:16pm | #14

   Got my first Bessey's last night from Lee-Valley.  Up to now I've used Jorgensen bar clamps, pipe clamps and cheap crummy eBay Chinese knock-off POS's (note to self: neve buy those again).

   I am amazed to see what I've been missing--these Bessey's are worth their price.  Maybe I'll have to order some more (but hide it from my wife)! 

   Must...buy...more...clamps....Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005

1. 
   mvac | Oct 18, 2005 02:27pm | #15

   Got 2 24" clamps about a week ago. Probably used 'em 3-4 times since. I have to admit, I still like the JCM's better, but at these proces for K-clamps, I'd be crazy not to by them...Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 19, 2005 10:33am | #17

   "but hide it from my wife"  Hah!  I did that when I got 4 Cabinet Masters during their 25th anniversary sale (substitute "husband" for "wife").  That was what? two years ago I think.  I just told him the other day that I had bought them.  He bought me the 24" Bessey K's pictured above for an early Christmas present, but wanted to know if I wanted to get some of the longer ones instead.  Had to tell him why I didn't need 3' or 4' Besseys!  ROFL.

   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" .... :>) 

   Edited 10/19/2005 3:34 am by forestgirl

1. 
   Wolfman | Oct 19, 2005 03:38pm | #18

   Wrong answer! Correct answer would have been "yes hon, I certainly could use some of those longer clamps also". Its not really a lie, you probably would have used them......eventually.

   I'm still waiting for my 50 inchers from Hartville Tool.

   B.O.B.

2. 
   Lyptus | Oct 19, 2005 07:09pm | #19

   I'm thinking of the getting the 24"/41" set with a set of stabilizers from Amazon or the 24"/50" seet from Veritas.  How useful are those stabilizers?  Are they really worth $17.00?  I'm leaning towards the 24"/41 set- just because they seem optimal for drawers and cabinet doors.  If the stabilizers aren't that useful, I may go with the sale at Veritas and save $10.00 over the Amazon offer.

   - Lyptus

3. 
   Wolfman | Oct 19, 2005 08:11pm | #20

   When you say stabilizers do you mean the K blocks? Those enable you to clamp in two directions, such as a panel door, I don't have any, but could see how that would be useful, especially for $10.00.

4. 
   Ecbntmkr | Oct 19, 2005 09:40pm | #21

   The K-blocks are very helpful if you are making frame and panels. They square everything up automatically and are pure pleasure to use. I bought 2 sets of the 25"/41" panel kits about a year ago and love them. I received my 25"/51" and my 12"/25" sets from Lee Valley last week. I'd suggest buying the 25"/51" set from Lee Valley and add on the K-Blocks. You'd be spending $7 dollars more than getting the kit from Amazon, but you'd also be getting 10" longer clamps. If you can spring for 2 sets from Lee Valley, you can always use the 4 25" clamps in the K-Blocks when clamping smaller stuff.
   Eric"When it comes time to die, make sure all you have to do is die." -Jim Elliot

5. 
   John_D | Oct 19, 2005 10:15pm | #23

   I'm just not picturing how those Kblocks would be used.  Any chance of a bit of illustration?  I got both sets at Lee Valley, but I'm not entirely averse to getting yet another set at Woodcraft if I have to. Heheh.

6. 
   Ecbntmkr | Oct 20, 2005 12:50am | #24

   Vulcan,
   Imagine a system that holds the clamps with the jaws vertical and that also holds them so you may criss-cross one clamp over the other at perpendicular angles. See the attached links. If after viewing those you aren't sure what I am talking about, post again and I can try to get some pics posted. You can blow up both pictures from the links by clicking on them.Erichttp://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=51086&cat=1,43838http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?DeptID=2080&FamilyID=315"When it comes time to die, make sure all you have to do is die." -Jim Elliot

7. 
   Pondfish | Oct 19, 2005 10:13pm | #22

   I got the K blocks but won't have a chance for a week or so to use them.  At first glance it seems like they would be easy to duplicate using scrap 6/4 wood -- but they're cheap enough to merit getting.  They will make panel glue up MUCH easier.Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005

2. 
   WhatKnot | Oct 19, 2005 06:47am | #16

   George, thats my line.. My warehouse guy was just complaining about having to stock clamps (a real pain to store in a warehouse) and thats what I told him. And you gotta know its true!

3. 
   lamadriver | Oct 20, 2005 01:11pm | #25

   You have uttered the most famous words of all woodworkers "Honey, I NEED MORE CLAMPS"

   p.s. tip on pipe clamps that are too short. I use the 3/4" pipe (Black, cheaper) with threads on both ends and then use a nipple to connect another length of pipe (handy on 6' caskets)

    

1. 
   WhatKnot | Oct 20, 2005 08:02pm | #27

   Lamadriver, ironically the black pipe is the best choice anyway. Galvanized pipe causes the clamps to slip when it gives way under pressure.