A collection of Clamps. #4: JackClamps

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Boys and Girls,

Many years ago I bought a set (4) of these JackClamps after being mesmerised by some smooth talking salesperson on YouTube.

My initial thought on receipt was impressive, however, after the new shiny package opening, the hype wore off quickly thinking it was little different to my collection of Irwin Quick-Grip clamps, but with a colour change.

At the time I was still living in the big smoke and was laying down some decking in my newly constructed workshop, when I remembered some feature of this clamp that had to do with decking.  I RTFM'd and took them out of mothballs, applied them and was impressed.
I then re-RTFM'd and started to put them to more diversified uses.

They are a solid metal construction,

which some might consider weighty, however, if the dog bit you and SWMBO barked at you (or the other way around) and feel a tad vindictive, you could drive over them with you 4WD and the first thing you'd do is check the tyres for damage.
The "fixed jaw" on the Jack is movable 
which gives a greater diversity in setup/configuration options,  You may consider what is the advantage, however, I can remember a few times when the job had shapes where the conventional grip position may be too close to the work...


As with most clamps it has the reverse spreading feature, however, for whatever twisted reason one may formulate, by reversing the "fixed jaw" you can use it to lower items


Falling back on the spreading feature, they come (not sure whether it was supplied or add on) with a pair of fingers,
which are ideal for decking.  Screw down the extremities of the decking and use the fingers in the middle to either pull in or expand any bows in the decking... and I had plenty of those.
The designers cocked these up as I needed to tape them to the clamps,

to stop them from dropping off when held horizontally, upside down. Not a biggie but a nuisance the first time.

Another accessory is a 90° bracket attachment, Ideal for pipes

and corner clamping... 
c'mon who hasn't tried to balance a conventional clamp across diagonals.  Good for small square boxes but a bugga for rectangles.
 
For people with only two hands, there is a foot stand to prop the clamp vertically 
for those cabinet lifting/placement procedures without asking SWMBO's assistance... at the cost of extra household chores.

Nearly forgot... however, I could have moved this up further on the page... the clamps come with 2 built in spirit levels,
not much chop if you randomly place the clamps on the work, however, with prudent positioning, they could be useful in alignment.

I do not advocate yazall rush out and Jack up all you clamps, however, a set would not go astray in the workshop.

Home Base

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Don’t be crafty  Craftisians,... SHARE  your craft!


If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

Those remind me of some I have that I call my Caulking gun clamps. Got em at Odd Lots years ago for 50 cents apiece. Not the finest clamp in the world, and mine are just the clamp. Yours seem to have a variety of accessories. Just what I need clamps that have accessories, like clamps aren't expensive enough already.

Now for squeeze handle clamps IMHO there are none better than the Jorgies seen here, and I find the 12" the perfect size to have a big pile of.



The other smaller clamp I dearly love, and just really wish I found about them BEFORE I spent so many dollars on Bessey gear clamps are the Jorgies seen here.



Both of these things for the price, as compared to prices of other name brand clamps are much stronger, and do such a better job, I can barely describe.
As mentioned before, the closest thing to Jorgies are squat dogs with short legs.

Those "click clamps" seem similar to ones available in Aussieland and I plan to comment about in the series.

I have a set of those "Klick clamps" you attribute to Bessey,

Never use them due to the way the lever extends out front limiting application. 
I have a similar action Fe$tool that I never use outside my track saw.

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

I generally avoid "eco-systems" when it comes to tools because 90% of the time they just add stuff for profit and very little utility.
BUT (wait for it.....)

If the basic tool is something that is built to last forever and is not clunky, I might dip my toe into the waters.
These seem to have accessories with actual value, rare indeed! Something that can hold a box for glue up and help with swapping out shocks on my truck. 
At least you can never say again "I've never heard of them!"

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD

My mind is playing tricks on me today

I look at this



and see this



You don't always get what you go after,but you do get what you wouldn't have got if you didn't go after what you didn't get. Blaze Foley

Those guns always gave me a headache, lucky I'm half blind without glasses, and a poor shot.

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD