Well made clamps from small American company trying to remember now...

[whit richardson]

Help anyone who has more memory than me. I am looking for the name of a small family run iron works or fabrication compnay that makes really nice woodworking and other type of clamps here in the US. I think their name starts with a W. They also had a write up in PW I think. Something on the order of a Bowclamp size business but nice metal clamps. Anyone who knows they company please sound off.

[jim sauterer]

are you thinking of wetzsler.

[Jim Matthews]

Wetzler (http://www.wetzler.com/)

Delivery times depend on the current order load.

[Andrew Joiner]

Jorgensen/Adjustable Clamp are made in the USA as well.

[Van Huskey]

If you plan on ordering from Wetzler you may want to read the posts on them. A recent post made it seem like it was impossible to order currently.

[James Hamilton]

Does Jorgenson start with a "W", because I like their US made clamps! :D

[Tony Zaffuto]

Could also be Universal Clamp Co. The Best Things and Tools For Working Wood carry their aluminum bar clamps that are simply great (and fairly cheap).

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Might you mean these guys: http://usaclamp.com/Default.aspx


Jorgensen's pony clamp's are made in the USA and Some of their bar clamps are made in the USA
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/Bar-Clamps-USA-Medium-Duty-by-Jorgensen/products/774/

carrlane carries some clamps made in the USA

I believe that Dubuque Clamp Works is in the USA
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/indextool.mvc?prodid=MS-ABAR.XX
http://thebestthings.com/newtools/screwclamps.htm

Woodpeckers
http://www.woodpeck.com/boxclampm2.html
http://www.woodpeck.com/boxclamp.html

http://www.stackclamp.com/

http://www.jackclamp.com/BigDogofClamps.html

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html

[whit richardson]

thanks for the info. on Wetzler two things I see 1) wow expensive and 2) you can't put anything in a cart so no sale friend.

Nice to find the USA clamp and the Universal clamp too. looks like they have US made and no so pricey bar clamps. Anyone know where Bessey clamps are made? One of my resolutions (not new year) is to make the effort to support ever US based business I can and my local businesses whenever I can.

anyone needs good car/truck mats check out WeatherTech products and website. Their CEO is a man who is proving American "can" work and be competative even today.
s

[rick sawyers]

I ordered some more of them last year and the wait was about two weeks, but well worth it. These clamps are a bit expensive compared to other clamps but the quality is superior. You can be sure these clamps can take a lot of abuse and will last a long time. You can also put a lot of pressure with them if you need to and slam the ends of them with a hammer to make joints fit if you need to. Can't say enough good things about them.

[whit richardson]

As far as I can tell you can't order anything from their website. I sent an email four days ago about the problem and have not gotten any reply so far. Even if you are a custom shop that can't handle all the business it'd be nice to get an answer.

[Brian Tymchak]

Anyone know where Bessey clamps are made?

Germany, I'm pretty sure. Although for some reason I think they might also be made in Canada...

[John Coloccia]

I've tried to order from Wetzler a couple of times. They've never pickup up the phone, and they're never returned my phone calls. Bah... I'm sure they're wonderful people, and likely I caught them at a bad time, but I don't have time to waste with a company that doesn't have time for it's customers.

[Andrew Joiner]

Germany, I'm pretty sure. Although for some reason I think they might also be made in Canada...
All the new Bessey I've seen say made in china, but it's printed in tiny letters.

[Larry Edgerton]

I picked up a Kant-Twist a while ago that is made in the USA. I have seen them in prototype shops, so I finally got one to try. Its my new favorite.....

http://www.clampmfg.com/

John, you may find these particularly usefull with your guitar work. The rotating heads have different notches on the four sides for holding odd pieces and they will conform to anything. I am using the one I have on my jobsite workbench to hold router jigs, and it does not push like almost all clamps. Very cool.

Larry

[whit richardson]

so here's a reply from the guy who "was" their webmaster...

Hi Whit,

I designed the site for them ten years ago but Wetzler has not been doing business, as far as I know, for at least the past 5 or 6 years. You will have to try to contact them by some other means. They are/were located in Portland, PA.. Maybe you can get a phone number. I am in no way associated with them anymore.

Sorry.

Ellis Walentine, Host
WoodCentral.com


for me there's no driving reason to try to give somebody my money and wait as I'm not expecting my sons to be drooling over my clamp collection. Maybe fighting over the nice planes and chisels or saws (maybe). some of these other made to order folks have good websites, return emails and let you know when they are over subscribed. As nice as anyone's work is it's not worth the effort to me. I'll buy more Bowclamps and some other US made clamps.

[Ira Matheny]

Wetzler Clamps are Aw-Some. Yes, the company is not built on service, but their product is great. Prices are fair [i.e.....not cheap, but very fair]. I ordered about $500 worth and waited about 3 weeks for delivery. Not bad. But not like Amazon!
The Wetzler bar clamps are my favotires, and I would throw away almost every other clamp on my rack, if I had a Wetzler with which to replace them.
Ira

[John Coloccia]

I picked up a Kant-Twist a while ago that is made in the USA. I have seen them in prototype shops, so I finally got one to try. Its my new favorite.....

http://www.clampmfg.com/

John, you may find these particularly usefull with your guitar work. The rotating heads have different notches on the four sides for holding odd pieces and they will conform to anything. I am using the one I have on my jobsite workbench to hold router jigs, and it does not push like almost all clamps. Very cool.

Larry

I may need to pick one up and play with it. Thanks, Larry.

[Van Huskey]

so here's a reply from the guy who "was" their webmaster...

Hi Whit,

I designed the site for them ten years ago but Wetzler has not been doing business, as far as I know, for at least the past 5 or 6 years. You will have to try to contact them by some other means. They are/were located in Portland, PA.. Maybe you can get a phone number. I am in no way associated with them anymore.

Sorry.

Ellis Walentine, Host
WoodCentral.com


for me there's no driving reason to try to give somebody my money and wait as I'm not expecting my sons to be drooling over my clamp collection. Maybe fighting over the nice planes and chisels or saws (maybe). some of these other made to order folks have good websites, return emails and let you know when they are over subscribed. As nice as anyone's work is it's not worth the effort to me. I'll buy more Bowclamps and some other US made clamps.

People have ordered an gotten clamps in the last 5 years, BUT it may be accurate in that they haven't done business like a "normal" company in that time.

I have no idea if this is the case but you see smaller companies like this get really "weird" when the owner gets older, they often run most everything and do a great deal of the work so health issues and just slowing down take a toll. It is a real shame that companies like this just disappear.

[Brian Tymchak]

All the new Bessey I've seen say made in china, but it's printed in tiny letters.

Well, that's a bummer. I found the page on the North America Bessey website (http://www.besseytools.com/en/category.php?ASIMOID_MC=000000000001f3f000030023)t hat says they are made in Germany, which is where I remember that from when I was shopping clamps. But, I noticed the copyright date is 2009, so I guess, maybe the inevitable has occurred.

[Larry Edgerton]

Well, I guess my slow collection of Bessey clamps will stop at twelve. I don't buy Chinese.

Larry

[William Adams]

The small Bessey clamp I bought the other week at the orange big box store was made in Germany.

[John Rutherford]

Wetzler is closed.

[Thom Porterfield]

They sure look open to me.

[Myk Rian]

MIT in Michigan makes Tekton clamps. I have a bunch of many sizes.
Made in Grand Rapids. http://www.tektontools.com/

[whit richardson]

Thanks everyone with links and suggestions for American made clamps. On Wetzler itself again I'm not that concerned if they are open or closed. I am willing to spend a bit extra to buy American but I don't have tons of cash for custom made tools like $1500 planes and $200 chisels or weeks to wait for clamps I may need in a day or two. Yesterday I spent a few extra minutes looking for an inexpensive combination square at the home store and found one made in Mequon, WI by Johnson Tool Co., hooray for WI. Most of the larger rules and levels were made in China but I found another company's squares and levels that are also made in WI. The stuff is out there (sometimes) just takes some reading first.


Happy woodworking....

[Dave Bower]

The small Bessey clamp I bought the other week at the orange big box store was made in Germany.I've not looked at any new Bessey's but all (40 some) of mine say Germany. They are a really good clamp maker.

[Jerome Hanby]

Just to throw a fly in the ointment, I was at HF last weekend. They had their small f clamps (http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-bar-clamp-96210.html) on sale for $2.99. I'm not too fond of the 4 HF F Clamps I already had, I use them a good bit because they are the longest F clamps I have, but they always seem a little flimsy to me. These 6" clamps looked and felt pretty good. I've got three f clamps about this size and I always wish I had more, so I picked up 6 of these. So far so good. They have a new model of pipe clamp too. They have feet like the Rockler pipe clamps. I bought four of them when they first came out, got them one at a time using a 20% off coupon each time <g>. Just played with them, not really used them, but they seem pretty sturdy.

[Ira Matheny]

I purchased about 20 Wetzler clamps several years ago. Absolutley the best clamps I've had the opportunity to use. Strongest and best made clamps I own. [BTW, I have over 75 clamps].
And Yes, I too had to wait and call several time. They are a very high quality small company. Just lean back and enjoy the ride. They will make the clamp and ship them out.
Ira
Modesto CA

[Jim Andrew]

Does anyone have and use the usa aluminum bar clamps? They look reasonably priced, can anyone recommend them? I've had to replace the pipes in my bar clamps from over tightening, can you bend the usa bar clamps?

[Larry Edgerton]

Does anyone have and use the usa aluminum bar clamps? They look reasonably priced, can anyone recommend them? I've had to replace the pipes in my bar clamps from over tightening, can you bend the usa bar clamps?

I have not tried the aluminum ones but have quite a few of the cast Jorgensons, and they are definately the go to clamp when you need power. Heavy, but are very usefull.

Larry

[Carol Reed]

I use the aluminum clamps almost exclusively. That said, they, like any clamp, are not designed for super cranking. They are for well made joinery. I like them because they are light and do not rack the project due to their own weight, as can pipe clamps. BTDT and learned.

[Paul Johnstone]

Are there any Menards near Indianopolis.. They put the Jorgenson clamps on sale at great prices several times a year during thier "made in the USA" sales. I can't remember the exact sale price, but it's a very good deal.

[Van Huskey]

Are there any Menards near Indianopolis.. They put the Jorgenson clamps on sale at great prices several times a year during thier "made in the USA" sales. I can't remember the exact sale price, but it's a very good deal.

Yep, they have Menards. I don't have them here but travel to Indy a couple of times a year and it has worked out I have been able to hit the Made in USA sale a couple of times and loaded up on Jorgy Cabinet Master clamps.

[Jim Andrew]

That sale is right now. Ends Sunday. The 24" cabinet masters are 27.50, and the 48" are 37.50. Picked up some this morning. They were out of 36". Also have jorgenson c clamps on sale.

[Tony Zaffuto]

I use the aluminum clamps almost exclusively. That said, they, like any clamp, are not designed for super cranking. They are for well made joinery. I like them because they are light and do not rack the project due to their own weight, as can pipe clamps. BTDT and learned.

These are available, very reasonably, from "Tools for Working Wood", "The Best Things" and "Highland Hardware". I really like these for the same reasons Carol mentions--for example, try lowering a 72" steel bar or pipe clamp over the carcass of the sideboard you building and then try one of these in a similar size. Incidentally, I have no connection with any of the vendors mentioned, just a satisfied customer.

[Steve Roxberg]

R&R Clamps out of Wisconsin has some nice clamps that work very well for panels and glue-ups, probabllyless so for assembly. I use the R&R and love them.