Bessey Ratcheting Spring Clamp

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Had some time to kill waiting on my wife's dentist appt. so I went next door to the Home Despot to wander and mock.
Had $15 left on a gift card burning a hole in my life, so figured another tool doodad perhaps.

Saw these clamps and the price was right, just under $8 each.

Apparently they are available in 2-1/4" jaw opening (mine), 4", and 7-5/8"
They basically are like the typical spring clamps but have a ratcheting mechanism to lock them down.

They also felt quite sturdy (beefy) and had a nice relief with the "C" jaws whereas my cheap spring clamps have basically nothing. Makes for much more cross clamping options.


They act like the typical "quick grip" (QG) clamps for utility, though limited opening range BUT they have the pivoting jaw pads that fix one complaint with the QG clamps.
Fer instance, clamping this ebony trim onto a table leg. The QG clamps always go out of parallel when the pressure is applied. In this situation the part I'm gluing will slip down a bit. The Besseys don't have that issue, clamping pressure is always parallel (or whatever angle is presented).

Not a lot of clamping force, but sufficient for my needs.
I'll probably pick up another pair someday.

Well built!

12 Comments

thanks for the info splint. not a bad price ! the questionis, do i need more clamps 🤔

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Those look pretty handy Splint. I'll take a look at them next time I'm in HD.
 the questionis, do i need more clamps 
Always.

"Duck and Bob would be out doin some farming with funny hats on." chrisstef

well i always thought so, but ..............................

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Split

Thanks for the review.  Now I'm buying those.

Petey

Good info to know Splint, especially at that price. I have & use the QG alot, good for non-gluing situations but they always push and move components out of alignment when lubricated with glue. Thanks for the review.
Sure thing guys!
I like the QG and use them all the time but the slipping is annoying. My original intent for these was to make clamping a workpiece to my miter gauge fast and easy. I usually use the QG, but they can get in the way while cutting. I got the 2-1/4" Besseys for this but they were a but short on jaw capacity so I'll need to get some of the 4" next time.
Weird thing was these were an impulse buy and I figured HD would not be the cheapest source by far, but looking around at the usual mail order places showed that to be false.
Split

I had them in my hand. Then got distracted. I was looking at the larger ones 4 1/2?

Next time

Petey

I like those Splint.  Thanks for highlighting.  I have some Irwin quick grip clamps like that but they lack the clearance to clamp 2 ways like that.  I'll have to pick up a few!
I have some and never have used as I find them frustrating! Guessing it's me. 
I bought 4.

Have not used them yet.

Petey

I've been using my two clamps a lot more of late. Still wish I had some of the next size up for more reach, but they have been very handy. Not a lot of force can be applied, but their dexterity has been a winner.

Thanks for the heads up Splinter.

Initially avoided commenting as I didn't want to pollute with negativity but a few vinos drop my  pants  resolve.

This type of one is missing from my "collection"... for the reason I share your opinion of,
 Not a lot of clamping force, but sufficient for my needs. 
however, if you need to just hold two pieces together (withing it's range), not requiring force, they are a quick goto, though in my shop finding them might be a slow goto.
Just noticed I deliberately omitted these in my blog,


\
Pottz
 
...., do i need more clamps 🤔 
Concur with the other duck!
Your statement is nearly as false as your "desire denial" of the glossy shearing picture.

Though as a follow up to my "collection", these have been deliberately omitted,

with a similar  ratshiting  ratcheting action,

...and YES, I don't need more of those.

On hindsight, while taking the happy snap above, I can formulate a use for them in my befuddled brain (no, not used in /on my "brain") and will include them in the "collection".
Correction... yes, you can't have enough clamps, even if just two or four of these types (clamps must be bought in pairs... even cprappy  ones  twos.).

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD