Bessey GearKlamp - user feedback

[blues]

Gentlemen,
What is your opinion regarding these "Bessey GearKlamp" clamps? I am looking for good clamps and happen to notice that these (12" and 18") on sale @ woodpecker tools. I'd like some feed back from users who have used these in the real world. Are they any good? Or is it just a toy? How about glue getting into crevices.. gears etc? The clamping pressure.

Thank you very much!

 

[semenza]

Gentlemen,
What is your opinion regarding these "Bessey GearKlamp" clamps? I am looking for good clamps and happen to notice that these (12" and 18") on sale @ woodpecker tools. I'd like some feed back from users who have used these in the real world. Are they any good? Or is it just a toy? How about glue getting into crevices.. gears etc? The clamping pressure.

Thank you very much!

I have 6" and 12". For me they are a situational clamp. Pressure is quite good but not on the level of K-Body or REVO. Perfectly good but not my first choice for glue ups because parallels are just better. I use them in places where the handle arrangement makes it possible to use a clamp when others will not fit. Shouldn't be any problem with glue getting into the gears.  Definitely not a toy. 

Seth

 

[FestitaMakool]

Same as with Seth here, I have a set of 300mm (12”) which I recently bought.
I find them very useful as general use clamps. The design makes them invaluable for those situations where “normal” clamps won’t reach. They’re quick and easy to use, and pretty light. I used to have two other, very heavy and cumbersome to use Besseys in my tool bag earlier, these geared ones have easily become a favourite. But I wouldn’t buy them as replacement for parallel clamps for glue up.

Have a go anyway, you’ll probably not regret, they’ll find their use, often.

 

[ChuckM]

As Seth said, the clamping pressure is not for forcing a joint together. In my last project I used them to hold rails to the steps since the domino joints were well cut. The rails were hammered then clamped.

I also use the 6" one to clamp a stop block on the cross-cut sled as its handle doesn't get in the way with the saw's top. I think that's the selling point in the promotion materials.

 

[gunnyr]

I have a set of them and use them mostly when setting cabinets.  They are great for situations where a normal F Body clamp handle is up against something like a cabinet rail.  These clamps get the handle outside of the cabinet making it easy to apply enough pressure to hold the stiles in alignment for pre-drilling and screwing.

 

[blues]

Thank you all so much for your valuable feedback. I have standardized on Jet parallel clamps. These would be for adhoc requirements. Wondering if i should just stick to parallel clamps or get these.  The 18" or 12" as both are in sale. Does it make sense to get 1 of each or 2 of each? Or does it make sense to get 4 of just 1 size?
Thoughts?

 

[ChuckM]

If you don't have any particular project to use them on, I'd say 4 of the 18", which can also handle the job of a 12". I don't know about this sale, but usually the price difference between a short and longer ones is not huge.

 

[blues]

Thank you Seth, Jeff & Chuck. Placed an order for 4 of 18".

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have had 2ea of the 6" and 12" for about a year and a half. They are definitely not toys, but not my daily use clamps either. I really only get them out in situations were the formfactor is an advantage or when I am simply running out of clamps. I try to keep that to a minimum, but it can happen.

 

[hdv]

Good to see I am not the only one with that many clamps  [embarassed] Although I must admit am a bit envious about the number of Revo's...  [eek] Something must be seriously wrong with me! [tongue]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Good to see I am not the only one with that many clamps  [embarassed] Although I must admit am a bit envious about the number of Revo's...  [eek] Something must be seriously wrong with me! [tongue]

[unsure] I have been jokingly asked if I had a sponsor.....LOL
Actually, that is the result of several years of collecting them, then losing everything in fire. After getting an insurance check, I dropped a ton of $$$ on replacing my Festool gear, so I got a very good deal on the some of the Bessey clamps at the same time. I got all of the longer ones at that time  because it was a pick-up in person situation. I've never been confident about shipping them at that length (same as the FS/3000).  The 98"s 84"s, 60"s, and 50"s are in my profile pic. The rest are on the other end of that same wall. I think there are 30 of the smaller 31"-18" units.

 

[blues]

Agree... No other clamp to beat the parallel clamp. i have standardized on the jet clamps. Love them for their build quality. I was not sure of these gear clamps. If the build quality was good,  it could be quite useful. I have ordered 4 of the 18". Look forward to getting them.

 

[hdv]

I admit defeat  [wink]  [big grin]  [tongue]

After seeing a video by Peter Parfitt I decided to try some deep reach clamps and bought a pair of Bessey TGN80T40 (40 cm of reach). Although they are a bit too heavy for comfort (+8 kg!  [scared]) they do come in very handy for those jobs where a "normal" clamp can't get to the spot that must be clamped and where a caul can't be used either. I don't use them very often, but am very glad to have them at my disposal when I do need them. Thanks for the tip Peter !

On the other hand, I have a systainer with a set of KliKlamps that I don't really like all that much. They have a tendency to shift the workpiece you are clamping. For quick clamping I went back to the EZS clamps. I very much prefer those over the KliKlamps.