Bar clamps from HF

[Ron Magen]

Mike, FWIW . . . there's an old saying among boatbuilders {& other woodworkers??}- ". . . you CAN'T have too many clamps !!

With clamps like these {and the wood-jawed clamps as well} it's a case of 'Form follows Function'. In cases like this it's a good bet that many of the clamps you see at supply outlets as well as the 'Harbor Freight' types, are made in the SAME factory in China.

Almost every time I see them on sale, I get a half-dozen or so {more in the

12" sizes for me, but I have them up to 50"}.

All I can say is, if they are of a size you generally use and the price is GOOD - - BUY more than you *think* you'll use.

Regards & Good Luck, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop

[CW]

Yes, every country has one factory were everything is made. Rest assured, there is someone in Sweden saying "it all comes out of the same factory in the US". BTW, where is our factory?

[Mike Marlow]

woodworkers??}-

And for what it's worth, this Mike did exactly that today. Went down to the Harbor Freight in Syracuse before Bob S could wake up and get moving about, and bought all they had on the shelf - all four of them. 18" length, $2.99 each. Of course getting about before Bob S wakes up and starts moving does not put an overly strenuous burden on a soul...

[Jim Wilson]

I like the HF 6" a lot for the price, and the 12" are not bad. Longer than that and they are too bendy for my taste; for those sizes I go to the Bessey's, up to 48". At 48" I use Jorgie I-bar clamps and over that,

3/4" pipe clamps.

Jim

[Mike]

Thanks for all the replies. I didn't expect that many, but now I know that others use the HF clamps and they won't be a waste of my money.

I wound up buying two of the heavy-duty Jorgensen 18" clamps at Home Depot today so that I can finish my workbench, but I'll be getting more clamps from HF when they go on sale.

Mike

[Larry Jaques]

On Mon, 2 Jan 2006 13:12:24 -0600, with neither quill nor qualm, "AL" quickly quoth:

But are they guaranteed for life as the HF Pittsburgh brand are?

I'm a happy HF barclamp user, too.

[Larry Jaques]

On Mon, 2 Jan 2006 14:09:02 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, Jim Wilson quickly quoth:

Some day you'll learn that you -don't- need four to six TONS of pressure to put two flat boards together. When that day comes, you'll find the longer HF bar clamps work just fine, Jim. ;)

[jo4hn]

I have lots of clamps bought from HF, WW shows, Big Lots, etc. The pair that gave me the most trouble were a pair of Jorgenson's. I had to resort to touching them (hard!) to the grinder to get them to open to full width. Go figure. gloom, jo4hn p.s. First nasty winter storm is still going on. Wind is howling, snow and ice flying (maybe 4 inches on the ground). Anybody who watched the Rose Parade will get an idea of the weather (then drop the temperature to about 28 dF. Lotsa fun. Then too, I managed to provide a home for a runny nose/cough/low grade fever virus which explains my grumpiness (besides my normal curmudgeonlyness). ` peace, jo4hn

[Jim Wilson]

C-less, the only time you *don't* need four to six tons of pressure is when you're doing an edge glue-up. Wouldn't want to starve that joint, eh? :-)

Now, lessee 2000 lbs in a ton, and 2000kg's in a tonne? Or is it...aw, tahellwidit...

Jim

[mac davis]

Mike.. if you shop online, go to the HF site, find the clamps and add them to your wish list..

Check your wish list once in a while and look for anything that has the price in RED, indicating that this is a sale price.. YMWV

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[jo4hn]

Hadn't thought of that, Mac. Thanks a bunch for the info. Does that mean that you will buy me some of the stuff on my wish list? ;-) mahalo, jo4hn

[mac davis]

maybe, John.... Brings to mind something that they told us in the Army... "wish in one hand and shit in the other.. determine which fills up first and drive on"

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing