F clamps

[AjB]

Anyone have any recommendations for mid priced f clamps? Or know of any special offers.

 

[MattRoberts]

I bought most of mine from ebay - there's loads on there for good prices, such as https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3054321621

 

[AjB]

Thanks for your reply. I've seen these but wasn't sure about the quality.

 

[pcb1962]

I switched from using F clamps to these
A bit more expensive but massively more convenient when you only have one hand free.

 

[Yojevol]

I've got a number of these from Tilgear:-
https://www.tilgear.info/large-f-clamps
They are excellent, a bit pricey but you get what you pay for.
Brian

 

[MikeJhn]

These look good value: https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-all ... 131_BQ.prd

 

[transatlantic]

I bought most of mine from ebay - there's loads on there for good prices, such as https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3054321621

I bought a set of these. In my opinion they're very poor. Aside from the very small 50mm throat, the handles are joined to the thread only at the very tip (the handle is then hollow), and after a few months usage, broke at that joint. And I don't I was applying too much pressure, a little more than finger pressure.

Edit : and the cast iron joint also broke on one of them.

 

[Noho12C]

What about Bessey clamps ? They always have some offers of some sort, and they seem to be fairly ok.

 

[MikeJhn]

How long do they have to last to make it into the good value category: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-PACK-x-150 ... SwfpVZHYmv probably over ten minutes, but you never know.

 

[Beau]

I've got a number of these from Tilgear:-
https://www.tilgear.info/large-f-clamps
They are excellent, a bit pricey but you get what you pay for.
Brian

Yes I have a few of those and thoroughly recommended. Very solid construction and almost no chance of them ever slipping. Only negative is they are heavy for their size but that's why they are pretty bomb proof.

 

[OscarG]

Do you guys rate Irwin clamps?

I bought a couple of the 1 handed, squeeze ones, very happy with them but I'd like a couple of proper F clamps, wandered how Irwin compared to Bessey etc?

 

[transatlantic]

I love the small irwin quick clamps, I use them all the time. Not sure if they would be good for a glue up, I *think* they tend to lossen if left for long periods of time.

 

[defsdoor]

These look good value: https://www.diy.com/departments/mac-all ... 131_BQ.prd

These look the same as the cheap ones from screwfix etc.. We've discussed these elsewhere. The handles snap far far too easily (I broke 2 in first use) - I'd avoid.

 

[MattRoberts]

Thanks for your reply. I've seen these but wasn't sure about the quality.

They're fine. The plastic end caps need glueing on, and the bars bend a bit under lots of pressure, but for general cleaning they're great.

I wouldn't do a panel glue up with them though...

 

[defsdoor]

How long do they have to last to make it into the good value category: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-PACK-x-150 ... SwfpVZHYmv probably over ten minutes, but you never know.

Ditto for these - you'd be lucky to get one clamp out of them.

 

[MattRoberts]

I bought most of mine from ebay - there's loads on there for good prices, such as https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3054321621

I bought a set of these. In my opinion they're very poor. Aside from the very small 50mm throat, the handles are joined to the thread only at the very tip (the handle is then hollow), and after a few months usage, broke at that joint. And I don't I was applying too much pressure, a little more than finger pressure.

Edit : and the cast iron joint also broke on one of them.

Nightmare. I've never had one break on me. Maybe I've been lucky?

I do have some silverline ones too, which do seem to be better quality (can't believe I'm saying that about silverline...)

 

[transatlantic]

Yes, I would have thought that clamps would be one of the easiest things to get right and sell cheaply. Naive me

 

[MusicMan]

I love the small irwin quick clamps, I use them all the time. Not sure if they would be good for a glue up, I *think* they tend to lossen if left for long periods of time.

I also use them a lot, including glue-ups. I don't find that they loosen after say 24 hours, certainly not by the time most glues have grabbed. The only issue in glueing is that unless you have them dead square, the surfaces can slide a little over each other as you apply pressure. But this can happen with any clamp, and the one-handed design makes them much easier to adjust.

 

[transatlantic]

which type do you have? big grip or litte grip?

 

[MikeJhn]

Sorry post is out of sync with the thread.

Mike