I an gonna take the plunge and buy some Bessy K bodies in the near future. I was thinking of picking up initially two 24 inchers and two 31 inchers (i think they make a 31). My question is, since I am only gonna buy a few to start, which size do you all find yourself reaching for the most? Should I just say forget the smaller ones and go with 31s only or bigger?
Frank
Depends on what you build. I use the 24's more than the 31's, but at times you need the larger ones. While a 31 can do anything a 24 can do, it can be heavy and awkward at times also. I just got two more 24's though. Ed snipped-for-privacy@snet.net
I have an article on my webpage on buying K-Bodies (I think it's hidden in the Tool Picx area which is under Shop Tour).
The vast majority of my K-Bodies are 24s. I don't have any 31s. I've never felt the need for 31s. I made a mistake starting out with 40s, thinking that "I can always clamp smaller but I can't clamp bigger." Big mistake. Clamping small things with too-big clamps will have you on the phone ordering newer, shorter clamps very quickly.
The 40s have uses, however, and I've added several to the collection once I acquired some more 24s. I also have a couple of 50s, which are handy. It's all a matter of time and money. Over time you will have more and more clamps and less and less money.
I recommend starting out with 4 24s, if you're going to buy four. And you are already on the right track buying even numbers. Clamps must always be bought in pairs. It upsets the balance of the universe to have an uneven number of clamps.
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
I don't find the 30 something inchers to be any more cumbersome than the 24 inchers. As Ed said, 30 somethings can do whatever a 24 incher can do and a bit more. However, I'll offer some advice and suggest you look into the Gross Stabils. As good as, if not better than the Besseys and a lot cheaper if you purchase here:
TomL
Thanks Rod. I will probably take your advice and start with 4-24 inchers.
Hey, you need to update your portion of the website that deals with telemarketers. If you or anyone hasn't signed up for the national do not call registry, do it! It's easy to do and it works.
Frank
Were it not for the reality of 32-34" height cabinets, which, less the toekicks, still come to more than 24 high in the door, I'd agree.
I ended up buying the 31's _after_ the 24's.
I started out with 4 24's and 4 50's. I don't understand why people buy
48's, when 50's are available. If you want to build an entertainment center or bookcase, the 50's will serve you better. Especially if you want to put some kind of a pad on each end of the clamp.I've got two 52s (lack of apostrophe for Charlie's sake), four (approx.) 40s and six 31s. I'm on the hunt for a deal on 24s and hope to pick up at least four of them. I realize the 31s will do everything the 24s will do, but interestingly enough, I'm always bothered by the weight of them. When box building, there are often times you want to nudge a clamp this way or that, but when the clamp outweighs the box by a factor of several, it gets awkward. For this reason I keep several sets of cheap light aluminium bar clamps, but their accuracy just isn't there. I'm also planning on building a set of clamp block similar to the ones Bessey offers. These too will be for use in box building and will allow me to "build" a frame of clamps pre-set to the appropriate dimensions into which I can put the box after the glue-up.
Good luck Rob
These sizes you mentioned is what I have. Very useful. I use the 24" more than the 31". My next two Bessys will be smaller than 24". When I need a longer than 31" I use the Pony pipe clamps, but that's not too often. Depends on what you make.
I got what they call the cabinetmaker's kit, or something like that. Anyway it was 2-24" and 2-40" and the KP blocks which hold the clamps for doormaking. I later picked up 2-50" clamps. I find that I use all three sizes about equally, but I'd like to get four to six more in the 31" and 24" sizes.
Jon E
I own about a dozen Besseys and I must be the odd man out because I own more
31's then 24's...just a little heaver BUT just as easy to use... If these things sold for 10 bucks each I would have a dozen of each size.. Bob Griffiths
Point well taken. My usage thus far has always been for smaller work, which naturally biases my needs and experience in the 24" area.
When I next get in the clamp buying mode, I'll give the 31s some thought. Since I already have 34 K-Bodies, that won't be soon, sad to say.
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
snip
That price looks good if you're looking for k-body quality - but what makes the Gross Stabils possibly better than the Bessey's? Anyone else have any opinions? I own neither, but I'm curious.
Thanks. JP
Speaking from my own personal experience of using them both rather extensively.....
I've used bith the Gross Stabiles and the Bessey K-Bodies and I'll reach for the Besseys every time. The Gross units can be difficult to get open or closed. And yes, I know that the K-bodies sometimes can be a bit ornery, but nowhere near like the Gross units!
Terry Sumner
I recently bought a pair of the lighter UniKlamps. For smaller sizes and lighter work, they seem to be the best of both worlds. Good quality at a better price. They won't replace the standard size for big work, but these are very handy in the right place. Ed snipped-for-privacy@snet.net
I'm always reaching for the ones that I don't have. Seriously, I've got short ones, medium ones, long, and longer, and NEVER seem to have enough of whatever my current project requires. I'll be picking up some more this coming week, and will undoubtedly need to buy some more in the not too distant future. They are expensive, but, man you gotta love 'em!
dave
Frank Ketchum wrote:
Geez, this is like the Cabinet Master war.
Do you NEED more jaw surface area? I've never found the K-Bodies lacking in that.
Do you NEED more total clamping pressure (whatever that is)? I've never found the K-Bodies lacking in that, either.
What? A dollar or two per clamp less? I have 34 K-Bodies. I spent about a grand on them. $30-50 less over several years isn't enough to make a buying decision on.
Well, I know for a fact that Bessey makes a 96" K-Body. A friend of mine has a pair. Are you saying GS makes a longer one than that? And even if they do, is that a reason to buy GS 24s vs K-Body 24s?
Citing factors that are different but have no particular advantage doesn't make one product *better* than another.
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
Look at the Gross Stabil clamps as well as the Bessy's. I have both, and I definitely like the GS clamps BETTER than the Bessy's, but both are good clamps. Just the GS have more jaw surface area, and are rated to produce MORE total clamping pressure than than the Bessy's, as well as being a tad LESS expensive, and if you really need it, comes a longer max length than the Bessy's
John
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