I am enjoying the clamp videos. They are short, entertaining, and share your perspective. I have four of the older style clamps (two have the Quick-Grip brand and two have the Craftsman brand). I haven't felt a need for more of the type. I tend to use them to hold a board to my bench to make a cut with a handsaw. On my clamps that use a screw to tighten them, I try to remember to retract the screw most of the way before I before I hang them up. I also try to remember to hang them up instead of just setting them down somewhere.
Hi Art good series. I used the spreader function of the clamps to remove an old wall air conditioner out of its frame. For the life of me I couldn’t get it out, put the spreaders on and out she popped.
I like quick grips because the’er easy to use one handed, but they don’t have the clamping force of an F style clamp. For that reason I often use them to get a glue up started when I need my other hand free, then backfill with F clamps. The blue and silver Irwin clam has some kind of mechanism inside that multiplies the clamping force unlike the black clamp you showed so that’s a nice advantage. It’s been my experience that only the quick grips that have the larger style grips and bars longer than 18” have the reversible jaws.
I was waiting for you to demonstrate my favorite trick with squeeze clamps - If you hold it vertically, with the bottom jaw being the one by the trigger, you can press the release and the top jaw will fall right into place, so you only need a squeeze or two to get your piece clamped.
I think of quick grips as the most useful for third hand operations. Short term clamping, a minute or two. Times when I could or should clamp but taking the time for a sturdier Clamp isn’t required.
I use Irwin quick grip clamps on the farm all the time as a third hand. Used several last week building a new chicken coop to hold one end of joists while I screw the other end. Also was handy to force warped boards into place to be screwed.
My absolutely favorite clamps (I always bring them wherever I use tools) are the *Bessey 8" KliKlamp* (lever clamps): light, quick, fast, one-handed, high clamping pressure.
Thanks for another good video.It's always interesting to see someone else's take on a tool.Personally I love my quick-grips. I have a bunch of them close to my assembly table(read table saw!) and always reach for them first to hold something until I can get a larger clamp into place.I think I tend to use them more as a hold down or hold fast than I do as an actual project clamp.!
Great series, Art! I love the Irwin Quick Grip clamps. I use them more for holding things to do other things (like sacrificial fences or dust hoses) than I do for clamping wood, but they are invaluable in any shop. People will find any number of uses for them. Also, as an employer at Rockler once said: “They are great at easily clamping wood together so you have time to set up a better clamp.” 😄
Well done, "Mr. Robertson". Love the shirt! And I believe that Irwin was the assignee on the original patent in 1988, so that original design is now in the public domain. Scott
Of course you deserve a👍. Fun fact about the quick grips I have ( brand wolfcraft) with the release handle you can move the clamp backwards. So if the clamp is to ” closed ’ and you can only use 1hand because your holding something you can open it with 1 hand. Very useful feature sometimes. The dollar ones become a ’quick’ garbage.
Quick-Grip are my favorites. Couple of points: 1) The skinny small ones can be more useful than the big huge ones as they fit into tight spaces and won’t ‘pull’ on the workpiece 2) The Bessey ones are reversible by simply turning a dial. Witchcraft. They also offer the ‘DuoKlamp’ which is similar style but completely different. Peter Millard’s Channel ‘10 Minute Workshop’ is where you can see them a lot. Love this series. Thank you!
i fit aluminium windows. I've just bought the 450 or 18" as your American and i myself am English. I'm currently coupling together a ribbon run of ali windows so I've gone for the Irwin's. I'm hoping between this and my 1200mm Stanley fatmax xl clamp i can do the job. what length are yours ?
I am also a parallel clamp fan but I have to admit that quick grip or squeeze clamps are great. If I had to choose one, I would pick the parallel clamps first but I will admit they the squeeze clamps are better for certain applications such as smaller projects, when you need to tighten the clamp one-handed, or when clamping onto an awkward work piece. I have a couple of 6” and 12” Irwin squeeze clamps and was pleasantly surprised when I picked up a set of 12” and 24” Bremen squeeze clamps from Harbor Freight. I got burned by cheap HF squeeze clamps that fell apart but the new Bremen ones appear to be on par with my Irwin’s in terms of the build quality. Hopefully they will hold up over time. 🤞🤞🤞
OK>..... I have to retreat and eat crow.... I went out and saw that the clamps that I was referring to as being junk were in fact Kobalt claps, not Irwin. All my Irwin clamps are fine but the Kobalt's are broke and all of them are junk. Only reason I kept them is I was going to get my money back but then I figured I could use the metal part for some project and throw away the plastic. Thanks Art!!!
The patent ran out after 15 or 20 years so Dewilt can use it now I find the quick grip slip but then again I only have those older ones so I may be missing something the newer ones have.
Curious. Must be some other reason that Jorgensen and Bessey use their method -- tough to swap I guess, and also tough to admit that your way is inferior. But in my view, the quick-grip style of clamp release is much more ergonomic.
yea just don't get any of the tiny one's they suck, and I don't generally use then other than a quick whip up proof of concept or a stop on a machine .. ie I got a workmate a quick grip and a hand guided saw ... need a stop, even used them on the bidgeport mill a few times for workpiece stops
I am enjoying the clamp videos. They are short, entertaining, and share your perspective.
I have four of the older style clamps (two have the Quick-Grip brand and two have the Craftsman brand). I haven't felt a need for more of the type. I tend to use them to hold a board to my bench to make a cut with a handsaw.
On my clamps that use a screw to tighten them, I try to remember to retract the screw most of the way before I before I hang them up. I also try to remember to hang them up instead of just setting them down somewhere.
Hi Art good series. I used the spreader function of the clamps to remove an old wall air conditioner out of its frame. For the life of me I couldn’t get it out, put the spreaders on and out she popped.
I like quick grips because the’er easy to use one handed, but they don’t have the clamping force of an F style clamp. For that reason I often use them to get a glue up started when I need my other hand free, then backfill with F clamps.
The blue and silver Irwin clam has some kind of mechanism inside that multiplies the clamping force unlike the black clamp you showed so that’s a nice advantage.
It’s been my experience that only the quick grips that have the larger style grips and bars longer than 18” have the reversible jaws.
Art Mulder: Clampologist!
I have opinions... ;-)
I was waiting for you to demonstrate my favorite trick with squeeze clamps - If you hold it vertically, with the bottom jaw being the one by the trigger, you can press the release and the top jaw will fall right into place, so you only need a squeeze or two to get your piece clamped.
good tip
I think of quick grips as the most useful for third hand operations. Short term clamping, a minute or two. Times when I could or should clamp but taking the time for a sturdier Clamp isn’t required.
Exactly!
Bessey is realy good quality
I use Irwin quick grip clamps on the farm all the time as a third hand. Used several last week building a new chicken coop to hold one end of joists while I screw the other end. Also was handy to force warped boards into place to be screwed.
Yup, perfect use case!
I love mine. They have become more versatile the longer I own them.
My absolutely favorite clamps (I always bring them wherever I use tools) are the *Bessey 8" KliKlamp* (lever clamps): light, quick, fast, one-handed, high clamping pressure.
I only have one of those -- a no-name equivalent from banggood, so I really have not had much experience with those.
Yep. I have 10 of the quick grips in various sizes. I find then very useful.
They sure are.
Thanks for another good video.It's always interesting to see someone else's take on a tool.Personally I love my quick-grips. I have a bunch of them close to my assembly table(read table saw!) and always reach for them first to hold something until I can get a larger clamp into place.I think I tend to use them more as a hold down or hold fast than I do as an actual project clamp.!
Others have said similar!
Great series, Art! I love the Irwin Quick Grip clamps. I use them more for holding things to do other things (like sacrificial fences or dust hoses) than I do for clamping wood, but they are invaluable in any shop. People will find any number of uses for them. Also, as an employer at Rockler once said: “They are great at easily clamping wood together so you have time to set up a better clamp.” 😄
Great comment from Rockler!
Well done, "Mr. Robertson". Love the shirt! And I believe that Irwin was the assignee on the original patent in 1988, so that original design is now in the public domain. Scott
US Patent # US4926722
Thanks Art.
Of course you deserve a👍. Fun fact about the quick grips I have ( brand wolfcraft) with the release handle you can move the clamp backwards. So if the clamp is to ” closed ’ and you can only use 1hand because your holding something you can open it with 1 hand. Very useful feature sometimes. The dollar ones become a ’quick’ garbage.
neat!
Nice clamping coverage as to features and options.
thanks for stopping by!
Quick-Grip are my favorites. Couple of points:
1) The skinny small ones can be more useful than the big huge ones as they fit into tight spaces and won’t ‘pull’ on the workpiece
2) The Bessey ones are reversible by simply turning a dial. Witchcraft. They also offer the ‘DuoKlamp’ which is similar style but completely different. Peter Millard’s Channel ‘10 Minute Workshop’ is where you can see them a lot.
Love this series. Thank you!
thanks for the info! Much appreciated
What is the purpose of the "thumb screw/wheel" ...oh its to switch to spreader "mode". Thanks!
131 thumbs up and not a single one down - yay!! Well deserved. Thx!
Yeah you missed the most important thing, how are they measured? Does a 6" quick grip clamp have a 6" bar or a 6" opening?
i fit aluminium windows. I've just bought the 450 or 18" as your American and i myself am English. I'm currently coupling together a ribbon run of ali windows so I've gone for the Irwin's. I'm hoping between this and my 1200mm Stanley fatmax xl clamp i can do the job. what length are yours ?
Thanks.
Welcome!
I am also a parallel clamp fan but I have to admit that quick grip or squeeze clamps are great. If I had to choose one, I would pick the parallel clamps first but I will admit they the squeeze clamps are better for certain applications such as smaller projects, when you need to tighten the clamp one-handed, or when clamping onto an awkward work piece.
I have a couple of 6” and 12” Irwin squeeze clamps and was pleasantly surprised when I picked up a set of 12” and 24” Bremen squeeze clamps from Harbor Freight. I got burned by cheap HF squeeze clamps that fell apart but the new Bremen ones appear to be on par with my Irwin’s in terms of the build quality. Hopefully they will hold up over time. 🤞🤞🤞
Yup, I wouldn't want them as my only clamp, but I like them as a supplemental
OK>..... I have to retreat and eat crow.... I went out and saw that the clamps that I was referring to as being junk were in fact Kobalt claps, not Irwin. All my Irwin clamps are fine but the Kobalt's are broke and all of them are junk. Only reason I kept them is I was going to get my money back but then I figured I could use the metal part for some project and throw away the plastic. Thanks Art!!!
Irwin and DeWalt are both owned by Stanley Black & Decker. That's why they both have the same release
Well that would explain it! thanks.
The patent ran out after 15 or 20 years so Dewilt can use it now I find the quick grip slip but then again I only have those older ones so I may be missing something the newer ones have.
Curious. Must be some other reason that Jorgensen and Bessey use their method -- tough to swap I guess, and also tough to admit that your way is inferior. But in my view, the quick-grip style of clamp release is much more ergonomic.
Convenient yes but cheaper ones tend to break easily when you over squeeze them
Just punch the pin out and you can reverse the grip. I have the same old set of 'Quickgrip' now owned by Irwin.
Yup, just haven't needed to do that yet on that one.
yea just don't get any of the tiny one's they suck, and I don't generally use then other than a quick whip up proof of concept or a stop on a machine .. ie I got a workmate a quick grip and a hand guided saw ... need a stop, even used them on the bidgeport mill a few times for workpiece stops
My Irwin claps get rusty if you don’t watch out.
you must have a high humidity in your shop? Never had that issue in mine.
Yes, I had some out in the rain for a short while and now they're difficult to slide and need a light rub down. Oiling them is a bad idea though.
Just don't buy the harbor freight trigger clamps. I have a pile of them. They are junk.
Not much chance of that up here... but thanks for the info!
I use them for very light weight clamping but would not recommend them.