Idiot proof strap clamp?

[David Ragan]

Yesterday on my way to The Bathurst Estate, I stopped in @ Highland WW and picked up some stuff.

Please observe the picture below

You will see 4 strap clamps.

The two blue ones on the left cost less than $1 each (included for sake of discussion).

The middle one is what I normally use.

The one on the right is what this post is really about (on sale yesterday ~$18)-the little handle is hard to turn to reel the strap back in-is easier just to grab the reel by the edge and turn that instead.
Anyone else have that clamp, and find the handle hard to turn?

It holds good pressure when tightening the long vertical red bar.

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[Frank Ashmore]

I have some like that they wind very easily.

[John C Bush]

I have the Bessey and the winding crank is hard to turn when reeling in slack but the tightening handle turns easily. I have the econo models as well and use a nut driver to tighten--faster and easier than the little wrench.

[glenn bradley]

I also have the Bessey and it is not difficult to turn. I do wish the handle was an inch longer but, I just went out and pulled out 20-odd inches of strap and rewound it a few times without issue. I would exchange it and try the replacement at the store to be sure the one you have now is defective. That is; they may just be like that now ;-( With two of us responding with no issue I would make the effort. Otherwise it will bug you every time you use it ;-)

[Kent A Bathurst]

David - The Cosmic Rule on Tools expressly prohibits walking out of Highland with only one thing.

Either show us the rest of the haul, or you are going on report - you'll have to empty the DC collection bins of all Atlanta-area Creekers for 6 months as penance.

[David Ragan]

David - The Cosmic Rule on Tools expressly prohibits walking out of Highland with only one thing.

Either show us the rest of the haul, or you are going on report - you'll have to empty the DC collection bins of all Atlanta-area Creekers for 6 months as penance.

OK, ready or not. I am bored with TV for now-so out went the cat from my la.... I've had my nap, so........

First, the rust preventive paper that I saved this time from the LN stuff (takes me some time to catch on):

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Then, the extra blades for my #4, and 5 1/2:

(no-I oil them up so they don't need to be kept in above paper:rolleyes:):
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Next, after reading some back threads about waxing tops, I thought a few more chemicals were in order, and the layout dye:




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Then, this is obvious to all:
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Next, the unneeded waterstone holder. The tip of the screwdriver points out some O-rings to ensure the middle block stays centered.... Also, in the frame are my pliers I use to manage the knobs on the MKII jig.

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And, bringing up the tail end is the Camillia Oil thing and an angle gauge setter that was on sale for $8. It's not what I thought when I wrote it on the list (the list I gave Sidney @ HWW-who then went and retrieved all the stuff). When I got home, I discovered it.....what is it good for?

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Probably the rest of this should be in the Dye and stain thread:

Then, the ongoing science experiment since Kent's instillation of some confidence in me.......

the first picture is the scale used to weigh the TransFast, the second is really cool....the magnetic stirrer going to town in the boiling hot water after a load of TransFast this AM314137314136

Samples are being run now.

[Kent A Bathurst]

And, bringing up the tail end is the Camillia Oil thing

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the scale used to cut and weigh legal powder for the first time [the TransFast],

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The Camillia Oil Thing is great, IMO.

Fixed the rest of the post for you..........

[David Ragan]

What is the angle gauge for? Put in screw threads?

[Bill Huber]

The Bessey I had was hard to crank, didn't keep it long.
I think at one time or the other I have had all of those, now I have sold them and just have the one handed type, Wolfcraft and a few other sell them, Menards, Sears Outlet, Rockler, and Amazon from Wolfcraft.
They would with just one hand and they are great. The strap is spring loaded and when you pull the little trigger it will retract the strap, then all you have to do to get it tight is to squeeze the handles

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[Mike Heidrick]

No issue using the strap on the bessie. I do use the crank with the wooden handle loose though.

[Art Mann]

Yes, I have the Bessey band clamp in your photo and yes, I found the strap a little hard to retract. I still like it fairly well though. Now, I am interested in the clamp Bill Huber mentioned. He has recommended a few things that I eventually bought and liked.

[Gene Takae]

I don't have any issues with cranking my Bessey strap clamp but it does irritate me the way the corners always fall over.

[ken masoumi]

I have a couple of these strap clamps, one by Wolfcraft is easy to work with , has a 1.5'' Nylon strap but the other one with a crank handle has a metal strap that is a pain to use, when I'm done with a project I always have to wrestle with it to put it back in the closed/rewound position, the crank handle keeps fighting back and wants to unwind.
It wasn't cheap either.

[Roger Pozzi]

The Bessey I had was hard to crank, didn't keep it long.
I think at one time or the other I have had all of those, now I have sold them and just have the one handed type, Wolfcraft and a few other sell them, Menards, Sears Outlet, Rockler, and Amazon from Wolfcraft.
They would with just one hand and they are great. The strap is spring loaded and when you pull the little trigger it will retract the strap, then all you have to do to get it tight is to squeeze the handles

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I'm with Bill, these are great and, bought from the right source, inexpensive.

[Gene Takae]

the other one with a crank handle has a metal strap that is a pain to use, when I'm done with a project I always have to wrestle with it to put it back in the closed/rewound position, the crank handle keeps fighting back and wants to unwind.
It wasn't cheap either.

Ken,
Is that one a Merle clamp? I have considered getting one.
Thanks,
Gene

[Mike Chalmers]

I have one of the fabric versions (no name but the same idea as the middle one). I don't use it. Strap stretches and locking mechanism isn't very secure. I also have one with a metal strap (again no name that I know of). It works great. Only issue is that the winding mechanism to coil the strap broke and I have to coil it up by hand when done with it.