[member=67226]Oceans05[/member] - if you're leaning toward any of the Bessey offerings, keep in mind that the Revo has already been superseded by the supposedly improved version known as the "Revolution", the latter of which has already been released in Europe and which
will be released in the U.S. in March. The updated "Revolution" model has a slightly different body but, more importantly, it solves the major complaint with the Revo; namely, the inability to stand the clamp on end without the clamping head slamming down under the force of gravity. Additionally, the Revolution series is capable of producing a clamping force of 1700lbs (200lbs
more than the Revos) and features a hex bolt in the handle that one can use (with an appropriate hex wrench) to increase the leverage during clamping (the latter of which, I'm guessing, is Bessey's less than elegant response to Taiwanese clamp manufacturer
Ehoma's innovative high-torque pivoting handle). FWIW Ehoma fixed-head parallel clamps w/the pivoting handle can be purchased from Lee Valley (sold under the vague and less than inspiring title of "
Anti-Slip Parallel Jaw Clamps" or from japanwoodworker (they carry the non-pivoting handle version), to name a couple U.S. suppliers.
Of course, what this means (and you may have already arrived at the same conclusion if you've searched on this forum) is that the deep discounts on Revo clamps that were offered by several mega retailers only a short while ago may have had something to do with the need to reduce stocks of the soon-to-be obsolete Revo's in preparation for the arrival of the new and improved Revolution's. And, more importantly for you, it may be that all remaining stock of the Revo's will be dumped in the coming month or two. So, if you can live with the guillotine clamping head and "only" 1500lbs of clamping force, you might find some good deals appearing any day now.
FWIW I'm also in the market for a selection of parallel clamps (I have a couple of kitchens to build and the fit-out of the interior of a tiny house to accomplish, all coming up in a few months) and have decided to go with either a mix of the Bessey Revolution "Vario" clamps - the 'floating'-head (not fixed-head) version (KREV is the model code) - and the fixed-head 'standard' Revolution (KRE is the model code) -
or a full compliment of the version of the fixed-head Ehoma which features the high-torque pivoting handle. For me, it will all boil down to whether the Bessey is being manufactured in Germany (or assembled in the U.S. from German components) or not. Until I hear otherwise from Bessey (I contacted them several days ago and am still waiting for a reply), there is some
debate as to whether the Ehoma offerings are Bessey-copies (i.e. "knock-offs") or if Ehoma is actually Bessey's newest component supplier. If the Revolution turns out to be nothing more that a rebranded Ehoma, and if the Ehoma's remakably similar-looking hourglass rail is compatible with Bessey's K-body accessories (a major selling point of Bessey K-body clamps), then I'll likely go with the lower-priced Ehomas and a selection of Bessey's K-body accessories.
Good luck on your impending decision.
