I am about to buy some clamps from lowes. I have a cabinet that is 19"
wide that I will need to clamp when I glue it.

To me it looks like a clamp is a clamp. So I'm considering
2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each. Some of the others
are much more expensive and I am wondering if there is anything I might
be missing. Ill probably do one project every 4 months so I don't need
the uber clamps.

The IRWIN 24" quick-grip bar clamp / spreader is $24.

Just checking before I buy these. Don't want to get home to find out I
have "consolation prize" quality tools.


--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16

with all the respect to the Good Tools I do not think expensive clamps are
that much better, easier to use .. maybe, but come on, how much time will
you be spending working on clamps, you set them and they work no matter how
much they cost. For large things i love the pipe clamps, have them on short
30 inch pipes but have some long pipes just in case to use once in a blue
moon, or to scare wildlife.

"dnoyeB" wrote in message
...
I am about to buy some clamps from lowes. I have a cabinet that is 19"
wide that I will need to clamp when I glue it.

To me it looks like a clamp is a clamp. So I'm considering
2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each. Some of the others are
much more expensive and I am wondering if there is anything I might be
missing. Ill probably do one project every 4 months so I don't need the
uber clamps.

The IRWIN 24" quick-grip bar clamp / spreader is $24.

Just checking before I buy these. Don't want to get home to find out I
have "consolation prize" quality tools.


--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes
9:16

So I'm considering 2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each.

In my humble opinion, you'd be better off getting something either
better or cheaper. Amazon has Jorgensen 24" heavy-duty bar clamps for
$13.99 each with free shipping over $25 - I have some of these and
they're very beefy and nice. They have nice wide threads so you don't
have to spin the handle a bunch of times to tighten it, and the handle
is large enough in diameter that you can put some good torque on it.
If you just want something to use 3 times a year and to be functional
but you'd settle for less beefy, I'd go to Harbor freight (if you have
one, or harborfreight.com) and get some of their 24" bar clamps for
$6.99 (or less if they're on sale as they frequently are). HF stuff is
obviously cheap and cheaply made, but from what I've seen on this
newsgroup, I'd be willing to try these clamps, especially at half
price. If you really like the SUMOGRIPs for some reason, and you're
willing to wait a week, Amazon has those for $8.99, again with free
shipping over $25.
Hope this helps,
Andy

The IRWIN 24" quick-grip bar clamp / spreader is $24.

Sorry for the second post - I forgot to mention that I have some of
these quick-grip clamps and I don't like them that much. They can be
used one-handed, but it doesn't seem like I can put very much pressure
on them, they're somewhat difficult to release, and I've heard stories
of them coming apart. If I were getting more of this style clamp, I'd
look at the Jorgensen ISD line, also available at Amazon. No
experience with these, though.
Andy

For large things i love the pipe clamps, have them on short
30 inch pipes but have some long pipes just in case to use once in a blue
moon, or to scare wildlife.

In case you didn't know, dnoyeB - the pipe clamps should be there at the
hardware store, but they're hiding in little boxes since you only buy
the ends, then go to the plumbing aisle and get the pipe separately.

Thanks all for the good info. Home depot has the Jorgensens so Ill
probably grab 4 of those.

--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16

I'm with Andy.

I would much rather have 8 cheap clamps than 1 uberclamp (yes the price
differnce can be that much).

Harbor freight (Pittsburgh) bar clamps are of adequate quality and excellent
price. They come little plastic pads which are actually quite helpful if you
can get them to stay on (hint-hotmelt glue).

Don't get me wrong, I really like my cabinet masters, and you probably want
at least a few bar clamps to handle large carcass assemblies, but for mnost
things where a 24" or less clamp will do HF is a good value.

-steve



"Andy" wrote in message
oups.com...
So I'm considering 2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each.

In my humble opinion, you'd be better off getting something either
better or cheaper. Amazon has Jorgensen 24" heavy-duty bar clamps for
$13.99 each with free shipping over $25 - I have some of these and
they're very beefy and nice. They have nice wide threads so you don't
have to spin the handle a bunch of times to tighten it, and the handle
is large enough in diameter that you can put some good torque on it.
If you just want something to use 3 times a year and to be functional
but you'd settle for less beefy, I'd go to Harbor freight (if you have
one, or harborfreight.com) and get some of their 24" bar clamps for
$6.99 (or less if they're on sale as they frequently are). HF stuff is
obviously cheap and cheaply made, but from what I've seen on this
newsgroup, I'd be willing to try these clamps, especially at half
price. If you really like the SUMOGRIPs for some reason, and you're
willing to wait a week, Amazon has those for $8.99, again with free
shipping over $25.
Hope this helps,
Andy

On Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:06:35 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm,
dnoyeB quickly quoth:

I am about to buy some clamps from lowes. I have a cabinet that is 19"
wide that I will need to clamp when I glue it.

To me it looks like a clamp is a clamp. So I'm considering
2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each. Some of the others
are much more expensive and I am wondering if there is anything I might
be missing. Ill probably do one project every 4 months so I don't need
the uber clamps.

I've never seen those but have dozens of the HF Pittsburgh bar clamps.
They work very well and are 1/2 the price or less. (They're often on
sale for half that.) Pittsburgh clamps have a lifetime warranty but
I've never had to return one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=5976


Just checking before I buy these. Don't want to get home to find out I
have "consolation prize" quality tools.

I'd be wary.


-
Press HERE to arm. (Release to detonate.)
-----------
http://diversify.com Website Application Programming

On Wed, 1 Feb 2006 09:28:49 -0500, "Stephen M"
wrote:

I would much rather have 8 cheap clamps than 1 uberclamp (yes the price
differnce can be that much).

I hope nobody beats me to the next one, but I buy older clamps at yard
sales, flea market, and other such. The best by far have a wheel to
turn for great and easily applied pressure. Next after that are two
very solid 4' clamps with a wooden straight turn handle, well designed
and solid, I got the last two for $15 Can. I do a lot of browsing
though, and don't buy anything that's not excellent quality, such as
an old Stanley hand-drill with all the bits for $1 Can at a house
sale.

I have a "Quick grip" I'll give away as soon as I find somebody I hate
enough. The damned thing won't spring back for more pressure, then an
hour later I hear a "click" ...but too late.

An hour later? What kind of glue are you using or what are you gluing up?


"Guess who" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 1 Feb 2006 09:28:49 -0500, "Stephen M"
wrote:

I would much rather have 8 cheap clamps than 1 uberclamp (yes the price
differnce can be that much).

I hope nobody beats me to the next one, but I buy older clamps at yard
sales, flea market, and other such. The best by far have a wheel to
turn for great and easily applied pressure. Next after that are two
very solid 4' clamps with a wooden straight turn handle, well designed
and solid, I got the last two for $15 Can. I do a lot of browsing
though, and don't buy anything that's not excellent quality, such as
an old Stanley hand-drill with all the bits for $1 Can at a house
sale.

I have a "Quick grip" I'll give away as soon as I find somebody I hate
enough. The damned thing won't spring back for more pressure, then an
hour later I hear a "click" ...but too late.

Max Mahanke wrote:
An hour later? What kind of glue are you using or what are you gluing up?


Most yellow wood glues only need to be clamped for an hour or so. The
glue is still drying for another 4-24 hours, so it still should be
handled carefully and not machined, but the clamps can come off.

I found out long ago that leaving them on longer was usually a waste of
time. Bends and some edge to edge glue ups need more clamp time.

Check out:
http://www.titebond.com/download/pdf/ww/GlueGuideTB.pdf

Barry

Don't do it...buy some pipe clamps at the very same place.

In a few "rare" Lowes, they "might" carry the Bessey "Tradesman"
F clamps that are excellent.



dnoyeB wrote:

I am about to buy some clamps from lowes. I have a cabinet that is 19"
wide that I will need to clamp when I glue it.

To me it looks like a clamp is a clamp. So I'm considering
2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each. Some of the others
are much more expensive and I am wondering if there is anything I might
be missing. Ill probably do one project every 4 months so I don't need
the uber clamps.

The IRWIN 24" quick-grip bar clamp / spreader is $24.

Just checking before I buy these. Don't want to get home to find out I
have "consolation prize" quality tools.

The Lowes closest to me carries the Tradsman and the K bodies.

"Pat Barber" wrote in message
news
Don't do it...buy some pipe clamps at the very same place.

In a few "rare" Lowes, they "might" carry the Bessey "Tradesman"
F clamps that are excellent.

I would never have bought those Bessey K clamps if not for
Woodcraft's 40% off sale and the $ 15 off next order coupon.

But they got me. And they are really really nice clamps.

Stephen M wrote:
I'm with Andy.

I would much rather have 8 cheap clamps than 1 uberclamp (yes the price
differnce can be that much).

Pat Barber wrote:
Don't do it...buy some pipe clamps at the very same place.

In a few "rare" Lowes, they "might" carry the Bessey "Tradesman"
F clamps that are excellent.



dnoyeB wrote:

I am about to buy some clamps from lowes. I have a cabinet that is
19" wide that I will need to clamp when I glue it.

To me it looks like a clamp is a clamp. So I'm considering
2 Columbian 24" SUMOGRUP Bar Clamps @ $12.48 each. Some of the others
are much more expensive and I am wondering if there is anything I
might be missing. Ill probably do one project every 4 months so I
don't need the uber clamps.

The IRWIN 24" quick-grip bar clamp / spreader is $24.

Just checking before I buy these. Don't want to get home to find out
I have "consolation prize" quality tools.




I ended up buying some Jorgensen 24" clamps. Why do you suggest the
pipe clamps?

--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16

I ended up buying some Jorgensen 24" clamps. Why do you suggest the
pipe clamps?

DnoyeB,
Some people like pipe clamps because they're cheap, versatile, and
super-beefy (at least the 3/4" ones are). You can start with whatever
lengths of pipe you can get (HD etc. will cut and thread them for you),
connect 2 lengths, or get longer lengths as needed. However, pipe
clamps are very heavy and bulky, and therefore less mobile than most
others. I have a couple pipe clamps, but I find I reach for bar clamps
almost all the time since they're lighter and easier to maneuver. Pipe
clamps are especially good for glueing up wide panels like table tops,
especially if you don't have any Bessey K-body or Jorgensen
Cabinetmaster clamps (super-nice, super-expensive, parallel-jaw type
clamps). Your 24" bar clamps were an excellent way (IMO) to start your
clamp collection, but if you ever need more capacity or more clamping
pressure, you can check out some pipe clamps. Note - I've also heard
from various people on this NG that Harbor Freight brand pipe clamps
(only the Heavy Duty 3/4" ones) are decent quality, and if you see them
on sale for $3.49 a set like they were a few weeks ago, they're
definitely worth it.
Hope this helps,
Andy