Bessey G clamps

[Ragnarok]

so i ordered some bessey g clamps (4x 6" and 2x 8" ones) a few days ago and they arrived today they look excellent, strong forged steel frames and copper coated threads and feet, however when i had a go with them it turned out half of them didn't clamp up straight... i've called the company i ordered them from and they are sending replacements and having the faulty ones picked up.

anyway half of them are fine and seem like great clamps, better than the old record ones i think.

photo, as you can see the 2 6" ones on the far right are very side ways, and the 8" one one from the left is also wonky. shame.

 

[Shox Dr]

More than likely make in ROC.

Old Record G clamps are the best. You know where they were made

 

[pedrobedro]

I bought some cheap 6" clamps £1.99 from the local hardware and they had the same problem, I just put them in the vice and beat them straight with the hammer. They were quite bendy and I broke one using it to press a bush in but I found they are weldable as well.

 

[Ragnarok]

ROC?

i think the old record heavy duty ones with the t-bars are nice, but i'm not a fan of the much more common wing type thing with the course screw they're just heard to get tight enough for metal work imo good for wood work.

these besseys are very nice.. the ones that are straight that is. haha

 

[Ragnarok]

I bought some cheap 6" clamps £1.99 from the local hardware and they had the same problem, I just put them in the vice and beat them straight with the hammer. They were quite bendy and I broke one using it to press a bush in but I found they are weldable as well.

i'm not gunna start trying to straighten them, they're new and from a decent brand so they can sort it out! haha

 

[Welderpaul]

Suprised that you have had problems with Bessey clamps, i have a few which have been fine despite their daily abuse.

I also have a few wonky clamps like you have, Record ones, caused by over tightening which sends them wobbly

 

[Ragnarok]

yeah, i was pretty shocked considering their reputation.. these are some of the cheaper clamps they make though the CFD line, they're forged steel though rather than malleable iron which i believe is what record clamps are, basically looks like the hole has been drilled and threaded out of line, so the screw isn't straight with the body.

 

[Shox Dr]

ROC?haha

Republic of China

 

[Ragnarok]

ah right, of couse, it is posable i guess, i haven't seen a made in on them anywhere though.

 

[Shox Dr]

What isn't made there. Since irwin took over record that's where they are made now

Why I said the old ones, are the best

 

[Ragnarok]

yeah as far as I know most or all Bessel stuff is made in Germany though!

 

[ford34/2]

Complaning

Bloody good on ya complaining, too much rubbish is put onto the market place, is not of useable, merchantable quality and we grin and bear it.Top marks well done to complain.

Stan

 

[Hitch]

Think all the bessey clamps i have ever seen have had a silvery look about them, with black threads..... They look like black silverline ones

 

[Ragnarok]

these are not silverline, they have Bessey forged steel forged into the body, they are these link

 

[hotrodder]

Bessey say...

BESSEY’s flagship metalworking clamps are made in Germany, using steel drawn in our own ISO certified facilities. No other manufacturer in the world can offer the quality and experience that Bessey puts into this style of clamp.

Quoted from their N.American site I'm thinking 'flagship' probably means their more expensive lines rather than everything shown on the page?

Google suggests more and more of their stuff is being outsourced to China while the Gedore Tool Group say... http://gedoreuk.com/default/about-gedore/

Good to hear that they're arranging everything rather than expecting you to return the wonky ones

 

[Ragnarok]

ahh well, i know some of the G clamps they sell in america have "made in the USA" stamped on them too, these seem decent appart from the ones that aren't straight and they weren't particular expensive, i'm sure they'll be good clamps and last along time when they're all sorted out

 

[drivewasher]

How the heck did so many faulty clamps get out of the factory in the first place!!! 3 out of 8 rthats about a 30% fail rate. How many are out in the field being used like that where the user doesn't know or care. It's pathetic.

 

[Ragnarok]

No it's 3 of 6 that's 50/50......

 

[Ragnarok]

these things are unbelievable, i've just got the replacements, 2 x 6" and 1 x 8" one of the 6" ones is bent, and so is the 8" called lawson-his again, and they are having the 2 that are bent picked up again, and i've asked them to check that the replacements are straight before sending them out, see what happens, i can hardly believe this though tbh, i think i'm going to email bessey, the ones i'm calling bent/wonky are basically unusable, you would think that even the cheaper lines from a brand that has a reputation to keep would at least do their job and would have reasonable quality control...

the one on the far left is one of the original lot, the one next to it is the one i'm saying is ok from this batch, the other 2 are the ones being picked up tomorrow.

 

[Welderpaul]

Buy Carver clamps instead

Agreed; very poor quality/service. You would think someone would have double checked them wouldnt you!