G clamps + tools

[KennyA]

Hi There, I'm an apprentice plater and looking to buy a few G clamps. I would ideally love to buy the Carver clamps (i thin thats the name) but obviously there dear ones. I work in heavy steel so need them to be heavy duty. At first i bought clamps from machine mart which were good for homers but when took them to work they just break. Can anyone recommend good heavy duty G clamps? I'm looking for a 4", 6" and maybe some thing bigger.

Also IF you could recommend anywhere for buying other tools such as Trammels, Rule (600mm line of chords) hammers, centre dabs, ETC...


Thanks Kenny

 

[Welderpaul]

You've answered your own question really...if your into heavy stuff, Carvers are the only real clamps in my experience that you only buy once.
Even the decent makes of G clamp don't last long before the threads get broken/chewed, they start to deform and tip to one side, loose the disc on the end of the thread, or snap. G clamps arent really the best design for heavy steelwork.
You pay 30 quid off Ebay for a used 300mm long Carver. Money well spent.

Same with other hand tools, buy decent makes and they are an investment. Don't get blinded by cheap prices. Generally they are cheap for a reason. We're into heavy stuff as well. Cheap means broken. I vowed never to buy cheap tools when a Draper ratchet suddenly gave way meaning i punched the side of a beam HARD. Britool all the way now
At least if you ever broke a Carver you can weld it back together...You'd have to be an animal to break a Carver.....

 

[Hitch]

Like this?

I welded it up and it seems to be okay.

Weve a few Piher heavy duty F clamps which are great, i think it was Snowcat that also uses them. They are good, and good value, think my 450mm ones were about £15, probably nearer £20 now.
Piher also do some normal G clamps, but they are seriously heavy duty. One of our lads had a pair.

http://www.piher.com/

200mm gclamp weighs in a 9kg

 

[Freshfabrications]

Id say for quality but used trammels (SP) etc a company I use called G & M Machine Tools in Essex are great for quality used engineering tools, for clamps, other than Carver Clamps would be Bessey G Clamps, there are ones with a heavy duty corse trapezoidal thread and copper coated for welding, I have a couple of pairs 6" & 8" and even just the G-clamps are nicely forged and very strong.

 

[Justme]

Fab your own?

 

[Welderpaul]

Like this?

Thats the one i was thinking of. Animal

 

[KennyA]

thanks for the replies, Seen the one about Fab my own. Anyone got any designs so I could fab my own clamps?

Thanks

 

[REDBURN]

kant twist?

Does anyone know if the "kant twist" clamps err .... twist?

 

[breezer]

HOW annoying is it when the discs keep falling off the end of the thread every time you move the clamp.

GRRRRRRRRR!

 

[NeilH]

snip

I vowed never to buy cheap tools

Britool all the way now

nice paradox

 

[Jammy James]

I don't know if record still make G clamps

 

[knoba]

I'm pretty sure Irwin bought Record out.

 

[tomb]

I do like carver clamps and must admit to collecting them, I even have a pair that are bzp finished! But for heavy use I have these, brought from man who thought they were D shackles. I've tried googling the names but no luck and I have only see a few for sale since. Well worth getting if you see them. The photo shows 3.5", 4.1/4" and 5.1/4" clamp with a standard duty 300mm carver.

 

[chunkolini]

They look a bit on the lightweight side to me.
What are they for?

Chunko'.

 

[pete23]

i think (not sure) but are they the type of clamp that workers use on the railways?

 

[Welderpaul]

Good clamps those, take some real abuse. I've been on the lookout myself, not sure of their proper name

 

[tomb]

I heard about the railway history but got no further, google was not my friend. When I got them they were still in there wax paper! Ideal for .9 stainless work

 

[tomb]

One has lion on them, when I get back to the shop I'll let you know the other markings.

 

[Hitch]

Me fabricating farmer friends had a couple of them about, nice and heavy, but not that good for closing gaps up if i remember rightly.

 

[tomb]

Bigger bar! en24