Hello,

I'd like your comments on a potential clamp purchase. I'd like to
start getting some 36-inch clamps (making a benchtop), and LV stocks
three in that length that I'm looking at:
03F01.36 light duty (600lbs)
03F04.36 medium duty (650lbs)
03F05.36 heavy duty deep throat (1200lbs)

My inexperienced gut feeling is that I may as well get a stronger
clamp for a longer length, and that 650lbs is plenty for most clamping
jobs, esp if my edges are glueline and the wood is straight. Or am I
not seeing things right? (The largest I've had to clamp is about 16in
so far.)

Can anybody comment on where I may need 1200lbs of load limit? I have
light clamps in short lengths and I like them as they are easier to
position and don't pull themselves out of position with their own
weight.

Thank you all for your comments (esp those who replied on my previous
safety equipment post).

- Daniel

(Daniel) wrote in message om...
Hello,

I'd like your comments on a potential clamp purchase. I'd like to
start getting some 36-inch clamps (making a benchtop), and LV stocks
three in that length that I'm looking at:
03F01.36 light duty (600lbs)
03F04.36 medium duty (650lbs)
03F05.36 heavy duty deep throat (1200lbs)

My inexperienced gut feeling is that I may as well get a stronger
clamp for a longer length, and that 650lbs is plenty for most clamping
jobs, esp if my edges are glueline and the wood is straight. Or am I
not seeing things right? (The largest I've had to clamp is about 16in
so far.)

Can anybody comment on where I may need 1200lbs of load limit? I have
light clamps in short lengths and I like them as they are easier to
position and don't pull themselves out of position with their own
weight.

The short answer is that the clamps you cite all have their uses, but
none of them are really the best choice for gluing up something like a
benchtop from solid wood (assuming that is what you are wanting to
do). They look to be close knockoffs of the regular and HD Jorgensen
bar clamp. This style clamp is extremely useful for assembly work and
the heavy duty version is definitely stronger than the regular kind.
But gluing up multiple pieces of thick wood on edge, as for a
benchtop, is a whole other ball game and, from experience, pipe clamps
or K-Body clamps will do much better. By design, they are much more
suited to really cranking up the pressure across big expanses of wood,
plus they will stand up in position on their own (at least sometimes),
which you will find is a good thing.

Thank you all for your comments (esp those who replied on my previous
safety equipment post).

- Daniel