Clamps, how many is to many?

[Mick Annick]

I am partial to a Carver

OMG

 

[roblane65]

I was going to like that, until I noticed how you'd spelt DRAWERS. Not saying anything, mind.

whats wrong with draws no different to nickers !

 

[Turbo]

I'm glad other people have this problem too. I didn't know how many I had until I got somewhere to stash them.

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Some are in use, the table has a slight bow in it, so clamped it down to the cast bed of the table saw while I pour the resin or it will all pool in the middle.

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And these won't fit on the rack

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Or these pipe clamps, I have another 3 sets somewhere, great if your making larder cabinets.

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And downstairs in the barn I have the mother of all sash clamps 5 quid from the market, about 6 foot long. Not sure exactly where it is.

Nice collection!
Do I spot some of the lidl f clamps in there? I have a few of them & they are really good considering the price! Haven't broke or bent one yet but I have melted the plastic protectors with heat from welding!

 

[Turbo]

I have some carver clamps & when it comes to clamping something tight there is no equal but it's a complete pain that you cannot fit them with 1 hand.

What I do is use a ratchet or g-clamp to hold the piece in place leaving 2 hands free to fit the carver.

 

[brewdexta]

Nice collection!
Do I spot some of the lidl f clamps in there? I have a few of them & they are really good considering the price! Haven't broke or bent one yet but I have melted the plastic protectors with heat from welding!

Yes, I bought some Bessey f clamps, then saw the ones in Lidl for a fraction of the cost. The Lidl ones are just as good, if not better as they have a slightly deeper throat. So when they next came in I bought a load more. I've melted a few clamp pads too

 

[Carl Wilson]

The deeper the throat the better.

 

[metalmelt]

Counted mine now and 76 fel to hand but rest assured some will be playing hide and seek.

Largest has a span of 15' 3" and they are specifically for lorry chassis.

 

[Nick DV]

Well, I hadn't seen this thread but today I called into Truflame in Sheffield for a magnifying lens for my helmet, there on the shelf, next to me, at the checkout, RIGHT THERE: Bessey Clamps, half price <sigh> here they are with the three waiting for me when I got home:

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Really nice, well built with a really fast heavy copper coated ACME Thread. I too took advantage of the MSC deal on the Kant Twist clamps. I will see how I get on with them and if I like them, next time they go on special I will buy more.
The Bessey clamps mean business though.

Nice clamps, but did you remember to get the cheater lens?

 

[northwest]

Nice clamps, but did you remember to get the cheater lens?

Yes It is for the Panoramaxx and is specially shaped (and priced) for that helmet. I reluctantly bought the lens but now that I have it and have fitted it I am a lot happier about it. All of the cheater lenses I have bought in the past have been about an inch and a quarter square each side. This lens covers the whole of the viewing area and is ground the whole area of the insert. We will see, will be using it later.

 

[daleyd]

Counted mine now and 76 fel to hand but rest assured some will be playing hide and seek.

Largest has a span of 15' 3" and they are specifically for lorry chassis.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

This is about 3/4 of mine, then there's a drawer of vice grips. I agree with a few people about the Kennedy Bessey copies, I much prefer them, and I've bent less of them than I have Besseys. I never got on with Carver clamps, much prefer an f clamp.

 

[Dexy]

Like a clamp now and again lol

 

[MetalMonkey]

@northwest

I've been eyeing up those Bessey G clamps, but I do recall somebody on here had an issue with a couple of batches of wonky ones - have you had a chance to use them, how do you rate them? I take it that’s a 4” and a 6”.
They look quite similar to the old Record 121 pattern which I really like.

 

[northwest]

@northwest

I've been eyeing up those Bessey G clamps, but I do recall somebody on here had an issue with a couple of batches of wonky ones - have you had a chance to use them, how do you rate them? I take it that’s a 4” and a 6”.
They look quite similar to the old Record 121 pattern which I really like.

They are realy terrific and I am going to get my pal to drop by and pick a couple more up. Nothing wonky about them at all.

 

[Turbo]

Did a count up of what I have tonight.

Sash Clamps 20
G clamps 27
F clamps 13
Carvers 7
Ratchet 9
Magnetic 8
Welders 7
Total 91

So a few more than I thought! Nearly all were bought second hand, I would imagine it would be frightening to add up their new price! The carvers alone would be over £350 & the record sash clamps would be £500+!!

Sash clamps, roughly half of them records.

G and carver clamps.

Sizes range from 1" to 10"

F clamps, some lidl & some very strong Sandvik ones.

One handed ratchet clamps from lidl. Not very strong but handy for assembling stuff on your own before fitting a proper clamp!

 

[metalmelt]

Daughter picked up two packs of those from Lidl/Aldi and gave me a pack, awful handy for looser assembly work prior to final clamping.