C - clamps; anyone bought some lately?

My boys lost my ancient 8" iron clamp somewhere - never to be seen again I am sure.

Went to the local BIG BOX store to buy replacement. Man was I disappointed.

Could only find 4" and 6" clamps and they are CHEAPLY made. The screw drags and grabs and the spine does not appear to rigid.

Even seen C clamps with Quick Disconnects that you could slide the entire screw up or down. Gotta wonder about the strength of that design under harsh load.

Looks like time to hit the yard sales to find me sold OLD, SOLID IRON C clamps.

Done ranting!

You're right, the Chinese cast iron junk available at most stores isn't worth bringing home. I'll take a fifty-year-old malleable iron C-clamp any day over that crap.

Two good clamps are of more use/value than a hundred poor clamps.
Yup, I was very underwhelmed by the clamps hanging around for sale and won"t buy them unless I intend to throw them away very soon.

How about Real American Made clamps. Wetzler makes many styles of very good clamps in a bewildering range of sizes. The Quick-Action clamps with the copper plated screws for welding. These clamps are versatile , quick to use and heavy enough for many uses. While they are not super heavy, don"t compare them to the junk available in stores.
They don"t paint their clamps, so they can rust if you leave them to the weather. Nice tools though. Wilton makes some real heavy copper plated screw C-clamps. They also make and sell many more lighter duty, but good ones.
I had to tell my supplier many times and point to the pictures in their book too, to convince them that I really did want those HEAVY ones!

This level of tools are not available on the shelf of chain home improvement stores.

Link

• bessy

• Clamps