As I was building this series on clamps, I baulked on this one as I really didn’t like them and thought 1,000 fleas would infect my armpits if I mentioned them to anyone other than my enemies.
Now it’s not that I’m hoping only my enemies will read this, but I have just read Splinter’s review of his Bessey Ratcheting Spring Clamp and while preparing a somewhat loaded reply, something unforeseen sprang into mind that needed to be followed up.
This is not a review, so no stardom or costs effectiveness… it is just to make people in the dark be aware of them (another type).
While you can apply some pressure with effort to these clamps, it is much easier to use the traditional quick-grip/quick-action clamps
(that I seem to have also omitted out of this collection).
However, there are times when the length of the bar just won’t permit fit,
though in that instance, I used spring clamps
(more on them in another post) and these clamps would have worked out just as well.
I’ve found that when using these clamps, when they are closed they come to a full stop and unlike spring clamps that lack of movement/flexibility gave me a disillusioned sense of inefficiency… it’s all in the mind and not the clamp.
These clamps come into their own when you have the need for a spring clamp, but the work fights back. Like Splinter’s Besseys, these clamps have a ratchetting system, and when you apply your maximum force and release the clamp, like on these layers of foam rubber,
they stay at that setting, while a spring clamp will only apply its maximum force and will resist the foam rubber from further possible compression.
FAIW, if the work did fight back, the plastic in the clamps may bend/buckle, but they will not release the pressure applied.
Not necessarily my first choice of clamps, however, they do have a niche… especially if you have a phobia for more clamps.
More clamps to come (maybe)…
Don’t be crafty Craftisians,... SHARE your craft!
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
I’m actually a big fan of the smaller version of those ratcheting clamps, ducky. Use them quite often for small projects and I find they work great. And you can definitely get more pressure on them than with a traditional spring clamp to be sure.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Yep, they don't work as bone crushers which makes sense given their leverage (grip to jaw) is about 1:1 whereas the "QuickGrip" style have a much higher ratio built in. For me it was all about the access which is just like traditional spring clamps, but lock-able and the greater relief area behind the pads pays off for a lot of applications. I have a gazillion* traditional spring clamps I use a lot, but often their lack of relief behind the pads makes them unsuitable. Certainly categorized as "special use" vs. max force clamping, but handy at the TS for clamping stuff to the miter gauge fence.
I just don't like them because when I close them, they lock with no give... leaves me with the concept they're not tight enough... I have used them... but like castor oil, I've drank it but still hate it.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
SplinterGroup I'm still getting used to that as well. I have the GI-Joe kung fu grip so I always squeeze until something yields a bit.
Mine's more like Jane's, however, it's my elbow and wrist that yield... and my knee if I lean... and the eyes if I squint... and,... and... "000" (our equivalent of 911) have their own pot of coffee brewing in my workshop 24 x 7.
It's all in the mind, except for the pain, but old dogs and new tricks...
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
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