Bessy Kliklamps - Comparison to Festool Quick Clamps

[dlu]

They seem to be quite similar - aside from not fitting into a t-slot. I often find myself wishing a had a few extra of the Festool clamps (or wandering around the shop to see where I used the last) and right now they are on sale for $80/6 at Woodpeckers. That makes them interesting...

Aside from not fitting the rail and (I assume) 20 mm holes, are they a reasonable substitute for the Festool clamps? Are those two limitations too big of a compromise? Can the be converted to fit?

 

[threesixright]

They seem to be quite similar - aside from not fitting into a t-slot. I often find myself wishing a had a few extra of the Festool clamps (or wandering around the shop to see where I used the last) and right now they are on sale for $80/6 at Woodpeckers. That makes them interesting...

Which one:  Bessey or the Festool are on sale?

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

They seem to be quite similar - aside from not fitting into a t-slot. I often find myself wishing a had a few extra of the Festool clamps (or wandering around the shop to see where I used the last) and right now they are on sale for $80/6 at Woodpeckers. That makes them interesting...

Aside from not fitting the rail and (I assume) 20 mm holes, are they a reasonable substitute for the Festool clamps? Are those two limitations too big of a compromise? Can the be converted to fit?

Hi there, do you mean the ratchet quick type clamps? I have Bessey and Axminster Tool versions, that look virtually identical to the Festool but, are red, and considerably cheaper.

 

[ColossusX]

I dont have any of the Kliklamps, but plan on picking up some.  They'd be a nice replacement for my small Irwin Quick-Grip clamps.  You can never have enough clamps

 

[AlexThePalex]

Festool clamps are made by Bessey. They're exactly the same, except for the head which is modified to fit the rail.

BTW, it is not the Kliklamp line that is similar to Festool clamps, but another line. I love the kliklamps, got several and they're my favourite clamps.

 

[rmwarren]

As Alex noted these are not the Bessey clamps version usable in the Festool track, totally different construction. They appear to be cast AL on a steel bar rather than 100% steel as the Festool style clamps are.

I have a few and overall I like them but I'm reluctant to really crank down to get clamping pressure for fear of breaking them.  Bessey even calls them light duty clamps.

RMW

 

[RKA]

The Kliklamps are a light duty clamp.  They really don't appeal to me because they still require the 2 handed operation (at least for me).  I would rather have a trigger style clamp if I'm losing the MFT and rail functionality and only require light duty clamping. 

The heavy duty Bessey clamps (similar to the Festool clamps) are their "rapid action clamps".  There are a few distinctions, they don't have the plastic covers on either clamping surface and the head on the end of the steel L is around 3/4" x 1", so it's not fitting into a rail or MFT hole.  Those are going to run about $60 ea. for an 8" clamp, so you're not saving any money over the Festool. 

 

[rmwarren]

FWIW my welding supply has very heavy rapid-action type clamps available for around $23. I grab a couple whenever I am there.
https://www.shopjfi.com/8-ratcheting-lever-f-clamp.html

The bar is at least 50% heavier than the Bessey/Festool variety.

RMW 

 

[rvieceli]

[member=21249]RKA[/member] raj the Bessey clamp you want is this one:
https://www.besseytools.com/en/prod...f00070023&ASIMOID_MC=000000000001f3f000030023

Basically the same as the Festool. Bessey makes them for Festool as I recall. About the same list price, but you can sometimes find them discounted or at a place that will take a coupon.

Ron

 

[Cheese]

Something else to consider is the Festool version and the Bessey version that Ron pointed out will fit in 8020 aluminum extrusions. They make for a little more flexibility down the road if 8020 usage is anticipated.

[attachimg=1]

 

[pixelated]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], which profile are you using to fit the clamps? I've been working with 1 inch and 30mm so far, and I've found the clamp won't go into the 1 inch at all, with the 30mm it slides part way in, but won't go beyond the first inch or so of the slot.
TIA

 

[rst]

The quik clamps are light duty, I bought a pile of them when Lowe's lost Bessey to the Depot, paid less than $10.00 for at least ten of them in 6' and 8".

 

[rvieceli]

[member=61230]pixelated[/member] the track clamps need 15 series 80/20 in imperial and 40 series in metric

Ron

 

[Jiggy Joiner]

Something else to consider is the Festool version and the Bessey version that Ron pointed out will fit in 8020 aluminum extrusions. They make for a little more flexibility down the road if 8020 usage is anticipated.

[attachimg=1]

These are the ones I have in Festool, Bessey and Axminster Tools, they all fit my rails and MFT rails, and all apart from the colour, look the same. IIRC, the Festool and Bessey have “Germany” stamped on them, the Axminster do not.

 

[deepcreek]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], which profile are you using to fit the clamps? I've been working with 1 inch and 30mm so far, and I've found the clamp won't go into the 1 inch at all, with the 30mm it slides part way in, but won't go beyond the first inch or so of the slot.
TIA

They fit in the 15 series from 80/20.

 

[Cheese]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member], which profile are you using to fit the clamps? I've been working with 1 inch and 30mm so far, and I've found the clamp won't go into the 1 inch at all, with the 30mm it slides part way in, but won't go beyond the first inch or so of the slot.
TIA

As Ron & Joe both said they fit the imperial 15 series and the metric 40 series.

It’s just nice to be able to use the same clamps in the MFT, the guide rails, the MFS and the 8020... makes life easier.

 

[rhoyer]

FWIW my welding supply has very heavy rapid-action type clamps available for around $23. I grab a couple whenever I am there.

I assume these don't fit the Festool rails out of the box, right? If they don't, would grinding/cutting off the end to make them work?

 

[Bohdan]

No. The clamp body is too wide to fit in the slot vertically.

 

[rmwarren]

FWIW my welding supply has very heavy rapid-action type clamps available for around $23. I grab a couple whenever I am there.

I assume these don't fit the Festool rails out of the box, right? If they don't, would grinding/cutting off the end to make them work?

Definitely not, these are much too large. Sorry for any confusion, I wasn't suggesting they could be an option for use in slots. They're just great quality clamps for almost a third the $$.

RMW

 

[Cheese]

I assume these don't fit the Festool rails out of the box, right? If they don't, would grinding/cutting off the end to make them work?

Take a look at the clamp rating, 1100# vs 540# so everything about the welding clamp is more robust.