Pipe Clamps

[marcros]

I am going to teh USA next week and was going to bring back some pipe clamps, so that I an have a range of clamp sizes available without having to incur massive expense, or store a large number. I know that i still have to store the pipe but still.

I was looking at http://www.homedepot.com/p/Pony-Adjusta ... escription or http://www.lowes.com/pd_202609-52800-BP ... rce.storel both of which work out at about £10 each.

There is an axminster alternative http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... 7aodw08amw at a few pence less.

Has anybody got any thoughts on any of the 3? Are the branded ones worth bringing home with me over the axminster ones? Are the clamps as a whole any good? Other than the clamp heads that are available for putting onto your own wooden bars, I cant think of an alternative.

 

[Myfordman]

The principle is fine and I use Power Press pipe clamps fittings which are no longer made sadly.
You might need to clean up the castings and/or fit some pads to prevent the job being marked.
I'd not be without mine and am always looking to get more used Power Press heads when they come up.
Far better than the wooden bar type IMHO

 

[marcros]

The more i look at the wooden bar type, the less keen that I am on them. By cleaning up the casting, I assumeyou mean tickle some bits with a file, and run a tap down them. Pads are no issue- quite probably the case with any system.

The only other thing I am considering is these little babies http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.a ... at=1,43838

They are not quite as versatile as the pipe clamps though I dont think. using one bar only will allow them to be used on boxes/non panels. The trouble is knowing what I might make in the coming years. Most furniture is box shaped or panel shaped, so perhaps a mixture.

What makes the Power Press ones good- just an old quality casting, that from experience you know works?

 

[alan895]

I've seen the Axminster ones up close and personal and they're not bad clamps by any means, my friend who has them has around 10 but swaps them onto different pipe lengths when needs dictate says they will make marks on edges easily so uses same scraps as protection but he's never had problems of them slipping which looks to be the only weakness of the system.

It might come down to which colour you prefer to have