Thomas Watsons clamp collection

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This brings up a religious issue. Both Toms have a lot of Bessy Tradesmen clamps. They're nice clamps -- I have a couple -- but I prefer the Jorgensen bar clamps (and HF "Pittsburg" knock offs) because they don't take three hands to put in place.

Clamp of choice opinions? ;-)

-- Mark

UA100

The Bessey type is better for most stuff, IMO. They are easier for me to operate than the Jorgensen types, and have a much beefier bar and a thicker handle, so you can apply more pressure when it is needed. The Jorgensen bars tend to bend if the clamp is over 12" long.

I do like and often use the 6" Jorgensen-type bar clamps, both the real- deal and the HF knock-offs. They are very handy, and often go on sale at HF for $2 apiece or so. If I'm running short of 12" Besseys (all too often), I fill in with Jorgies.

It was tongue-in-cheek of course, but I'm not sure what you meant by "three hands." If you pull on the handle as you make the first turn they don't slip.

For longer stuff up to 36", I use the Jorgensen I-beam clamps. I got eight of them from a yard sale for practically nothing. I don't think they are as good as the Bessey K-bodies, though. They are strong and well made, but the heads have a slant to them that can sometimes force the work out of square. With care the problem can be avoided, but it would be better not to have to worry about it.

Any longer than 36", I use pipe clamps. I like the Jorgensen Ponies best, but I do have some of the cheap HF ones. The screws are not nearly as good as the ones in the real McCoy. All mine are 3/4". Just never bought any in the 1/2" size.

Cheers!

Jim

Doh! That does work better. Time to shred the mensa card...

-- Mark

I've been wanting to stop by Mr. Watson's shop. I get to Philadelphia several times a month on business, and I've thought about calling him and asking him if I could drop by and look at his shop and his work. You never learn if you don't ask. It was definitely a religious experience looking at the photo of his clamps -

Like everyone else, I like the Bessey K's but I also found the "one handed" spreader type made by Penn State are really good. They're well made, and a whole bunch cheaper than the Irving's at HD and the other stores.

Thanks for the great links!

Nick

Good Lord this one is even worse! I have to go buy more clamps..........must have more clamps!!!!

Jim

Bob

Does Watson have a park named after him? Huh? Huh? Plamann does.

-- Mark

Hey - you start a company like IBM and you can afford that many too!

mttt responds:

And all this time, I thought it was Tom's golf game that got him his shop.

Charlie Self

"In the final choice a soldier's pack is not so heavy as a prisoner's chains." Dwight D. Eisenhower

Reminds me of a quote by Thomas Watson that I read some time ago...

"Better to aim for perfection and miss than to aim for mediocrity and hit it."

Come to think of it, sounds like something Tom Watson might have said.

-Chris