Bessey or Jet

[jacko9]

I have a few dozen of the Bessy clamps the one big difference is the handle size where the larger orange/red strip handle allows me to get much more torque without my hand slipping.  The older style with the solid red wood handles are OK unless I need to close up a stubborn joint.

Jack

 

[semenza]

          There seems to be something different about the turning (other than the larger non-slip handle) on the new Besseys. When the old style gets tight the clamp seems to really "bottom out " abruptly. The new clamps reach the limit more gradually.

Seth

 

[MahalaHomecraft]

As far as bessey vs jorgenson, I feel like Home Depot has jorgenson, lowes has bessey.  I have a lot of 12-24" clamps from both and I reach for either based on what's closest.  This is talking about "normal" clamps.  As far I've I've seen, if true going for "nice" clamps, the jorgensons are still really nice, but I just don't think they offer some of the options bessey does.

 

[mouppe]

I'd never buy jet again. After a relatively short time, one parallel clamp no longer works. I think the steel must be of poor quality.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

I understand that Bessey's are now made in the USA?  Gotta tell ya, I love my Bessey's!  They slide easily, don't weigh as much as Jets, parts are easy to get, they tighten very gradually. Simply, a real pleasure to use.

 

[Brev]

I understand that Bessey's are now made in the USA?  Gotta tell ya, I love my Bessey's!  They slide easily, don't weigh as much as Jets, parts are easy to get, they tighten very gradually. Simply, a real pleasure to use.

The clamps are assembled in USA from international materials.

 

[leer]

I understand that Bessey's are now made in the USA?  Gotta tell ya, I love my Bessey's!  They slide easily, don't weigh as much as Jets, parts are easy to get, they tighten very gradually. Simply, a real pleasure to use.

The clamps are assembled in USA from international materials.

Sounds like DeWalt's new marketing plan.  

I missed out on the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales on Bessey clamps, but I did check them out a Lowe's the other day.  The prices were decent.  I did not write them down, but the price was cheaper than current prices and good enough that I may go back and get a couple of the 24" models.  I've got several 12" Woodcraft-branded parallel clamps that look more like the Jet clamps, and I sure like the feel of the handles on the Bessey clamps better.

UPDATE:
I went to Lowe's today (12/9) and bought the 24" models of the Bessey Revo clamps.  They were $37.88.  Used my Lowe's card to get the 5% discount! making them $35.99 each.  Very nice clamps!

 

[Slappy]

Besseys are the best , Jets are good but only if one gets the Jets  at a deep discount because if a Jet breaks , then you toss them as  parts are not available .
It is my feelings that  I'll buy Bessey at standard prices & I only Buy Jet if they are at least 50% off for that reason of no parts .

 

[oil trader]

The latest Rockler flyer has the Bessey clamping kit on sale for $169.  That's 2 - 24", 2 - 40", and a set of 4 clamp blocks. 

 

[ShawnRussell]

I may be moving towards Bessey.

Jets clamps arrived today and two of them were damaged. Worse #$@! pack job I have ever seen and UPS must have enjoyed tossing them around as well. The only thing surround a dual pack clamp is a 1/8" of small bubble wrap. No double boxing.. just cheap. The clamps are also made in China..(no China bashing just pointing that out). Now, the quality of the clamps are of the same build quality of the Jet clamps I bought in 2010.

As others have said I find myself using some of the Bessey accessories. After at least three years Jet has not made any improvements or came out with any accessories for their clamps.

Going forward I will be picking up Bessey clamps for the following reasons:
1. They are clamps and spreaders
2. You can clamp in front or behind the bar
3. The number of accessories available

 

[Slappy]

the only reason I bought some Jet 12 & 24 " Jets were I have  a project & the 50% sale was just good timing
the smaller jets will work just fine , as I have 8 of the large Bessy's & all the attachments
some of the Bessy attachments i think will work on the jets (the extenders I think ) but I haven't tried yet
I feel you can't too many clamps  [tongue]
the last time I ordered Jets the packing was poor & one was busted