Pony, Bessey or ?????

[Lisa Starr]

I've done without any type of parallel clamp for years. I've made due with some cheap Harbor Freight "F" type clamps and some Bessey Pipe clamps. Recently, I was fortunate enough to be in the right place, and was able to purchase one 48" Pony and two 40" Bessey Parallel Clamps for $25 total. Having used them a couple of times, I realize I need to invest in more of these. So, is one brand significantly better than the other? Are there other brands I should be looking at? How many and what sizes are most likely to work well for me?

[Mark Bolton]

Stick with your routine of avoiding parallels. Trust me. You got in on a super cheap barrier to entry. Populate your shop with clamps you can buy as economically as possible (so you have 3-4 for every parallel you would have bought) and dont buy into the hype.

Your 25 total lucky buy in likely wont get you half of a single clamp but would buy you 1.5 or more of a more well rounded clamp.

Honestly. Plow your shop chuck full of robust affordable clamps and you wont look back. Parallels look nice hanging on the wall but thats about it. Its kinda like a Gucci belt or a pair of $300 sunglasses. They all do the same job as the gas station glasses or a piece of rope but they just make you stand a bit taller. Sadly the parallels only let you stand taller in public because in private,... youll be let down. But keeping ones chin up when they've layed down thousands in clamps is imperative.

[Jim Becker]

Subjective thing. I really like my parallel clamps and have and use a "whole bunch" of them. Some folks, like Mark, don't like them. Either way is just fine and valid. Mine are all Bessey and were always bought at sale prices over time. I don't like pipe clamps, myself, but I have some because sometimes they are the right solution and they also are my overflow for really big projects.

[Steve Eure]

Lisa I lucked up on 8 Jorgensen 24" parallel clamps when they went out of business. I paid $18 each for them at the time. That was before the Chinese company bought them out. I used them quite a bit when re-doing my kitchen, but that's about it. I find myself grabbing my Rockler aluminum bar clamps most often. Even for large panel glue-ups, if your boards are jointed well, you won't need that much pressure to get good results. I bought the Rockler clamps as they went on sale. I would buy a few at a time. They work well and are light. I find myself not needing the parallel clamps much except for case work as I mentioned at first. They are great for cabinets, but heavy.

[Thomas Wilson]

I think Bessey clamps help keep work flat. They adjust quickly and give a lot of pressure. I prefer them to pipe clamps. I have a collection of pipe clamps from the Dark Ages before Bessey clamps were invented. The big advantage to pipe clamps is being able to use pipe couplings to create really long clamps.

There are glue-ups when I use every clamp I own, but the pipe clamps get pulled out last.

I don’t know about current Pony clamps. I do know the original owner got in a snit with the government of California over something and shut down the company rather than comply. Eventually the name was sold to someone else who brought the brand back. Products may have changed.

[Mitch schiffer]

I had gone through the process of deciding on a brand of parallel clamps a couple years ago. I was chosing between jet, Jorgensen, irwin and bessey. I didn't like the feel of the jets the others seemed reasonably similar. The Jorgensen and irwin have a smooth bar and bessey had a serrated bar. I untimely decided on the irwins for a couple reasons. 1 was many reviews I read talked about the smooth bar being easier to keep clear of glue squeeze out and 2 the Jorgensen and irwin side by side were pretty much identical but the irwins are a little cheaper and I can get them locally at menards. If you have a menards near you I recently picked up 10 more clamps with there 15 percent of bag sale. The price was 34$ eachif I remember correctly. I have been happy with them.

[Greg Funk]

I started with pipe clamps and then moved to Bessey parallel clamps. I still have the pipe clamps but they rarely get used.

[Mitch schiffer]

The big advantage to pipe clamps is being able to use pipe couplings to create really long clamps

Its worth noting that bessy does sell a connector to attach 2 clamps together for longer glue ups similar to pipe clamps.

[Warren Lake]

to make a longer clamp from two pipe clamps you only need to swivel the ends 90 degrees.

[Ralph Okonieski]

I have a few pipe clamps and a larger number of bessey parallel. I can not comment on the other brands you mentioned. I always reach for the parallel first until I run out, then go to the pipe. They both function well, just prefer the parallel for my process. The parallel ones have longer fingers on the ends making it easier to “overlap” in some situations, at least for the ones in my collection.

Mitch mentioned the Bessey connector that enables making a longer clamp out of two shorter parallel. Pipe clamps can similarly be connected, so no advantage to one or the other.

[Frederick Skelly]

Lisa,
The sizes you need depend on what you like to build. For me, 6 Parallel Clamps in the 48" range is enough because most projects are smaller. My long ones are a mix of BESSEY and JET. Then I have 10 of the 18" BESSEY REVO JRs. (I dont need more clamping power than they provide. YMMV.)

Around Thanksgiving there are usually package deals on JET parallels that make it a little more affordable. (They still arent cheap.)

I also have a ton of F-clamps and Dubuque bar clamps. I only really use my Parallel clamps when the Dubuques arent the "right" tool for the job. (REALLY like my Dubuques.)

Hope it helps,
Fred

[Marc Fenneuff]

I like my Bessey parallel clamps, but their current F-clamps and quick-clamps are not as nice quality as the Jorgensens. The current Jorgensen quick clamps really are superb.

The Bessey Gearklamps look intriguing but I don’t have any of those.

[Charles Coolidge]

I like Bessey K body Revo, not the Revo jr.

[Michelle Rich]

I like my Bessey and Jorgy parallels, but most days I love my rockler light aluminums . Getting old and gluing up big panels, with jorgy's added too much weight. Rockler really helps with this.

[George Bokros]

I have Besseys, Jorgensens, Jet, and pipe clamps. Which would I recommend, the ones I could get for the best price at the time. The pipe clamps had a disadvantage to them until recently..The disadvantage is the black mark they can leave on your wood. I found a solution on line, put three pieces of PVC pipe of the required size on each clamp keep one at each end and one in the middle. I myself see no reason for one in the middle since the two on each end keep the pipe off your wood.

[Michael Drew]

I have several of the original Bessey K-body clamps. They are clunky, and I often have aggressive conversations with them. But - when I need them, I need them, and any other type of clamp just won't work. Yesterday afternoon I had down time, waiting for glue to set and decided to clean off about 15 years of glue accumulation. Ended up using a 4" grinder with a SS wire wheel..... They sure work smoother now, and I'm pissed at myself for not cleaning them years ago.

I also need pipe clamps. Sometimes they are the only clamp that will work. I have moved to galvanized pipe, to reduce the staining you get from black pipe. I have both Bessey and Pony brands. The Pony sure do work smoother. Seems I have to smack the Besseys to get them to relax and move after use. When I price out the clamps, plus pipe, plus plastic pads (Pony) - they end up being only 'slightly' less than the K-body type clamps. If I have a pipe threader, price would be less, but I do not, so I get the threaded stuff from the big box stores.

Rambling aside, I think pretty much all the K-body types are large, clunky, heavy. I still need more though, but I figured I'd go to a hardware store and play with one of each brand before buying more. I would buy the less clunky/heavy of the bunch that still have the strength I want for some of those tougher glue ups where the glue set up has gotten in front of me and I need a little bit of 'persuasion'.

[Ron Selzer]

Dubuque clamps are my choice to get it done, I have Jorgenson I beam clamps and have used the others one time or another. Too heavy for me to want to handle would rather use three Dubuque than 2 I beam clamps. I do have pipe clamps for the odd use once every few years. In Dubuque's I have 8-24, 4-36, 2-48, 2-60, and 2-72. I primarily build furniture for my wife and kids. I plan on buying 4-36, 2-48 and 4-24 as money allows.
Ron

[Alex Zeller]

I have an assortment of clamps (but not as many as most and I don't think you can own enough of them). I have six 24" Bessy K-body clamps and two 48" (or maybe slightly longer) ones. The two long ones came with two 24" ones and 2 connectors as a christmas gift. Rockler had them on-sale for under $200 not that long ago. I have several pipe clamps but find that I don't use them often because of their limited range. I do have some of the Harbor Freight aluminum bar clamps and F style clamps and find them almost useless for anything other than very light clamping. They flex like crazy. I do have several brands of F clamps but with their small contact pads they can damage the wood so they only get used if I don't need much clamping force or if I can put a scrap of wood to sacrifice.

I can't comment on which brand to get. 4 of my Besssys were a gift and the other 4 were on sale as well with free shipping. If there's a seller stocks the brands you are interested I would go and try each one out. The serrated edge of the Bessey can be frustration for some. Personally I care less for which brand and more about price.

[Mike Kees]

Lisa I would personally tell you that I had and tried out the Jorgeson versions of parallel clamps for a ten year period. Had three sizes 24'' ,36'', and 40'' if I remember right. My experience is they suck. I tried to like them ,use them etc. Finally got tired of them hanging on my wall and sold them for what I had paid originally, happiest day of my woodworking life. I found them heavy, awkward ,weak, and clumsy to use. For me I have about 50 pipe clamps that I use all the time and I like them way better. Perhaps another brand such as Bessey would have been much better but I would stay far away from the Jorgy's . I may someday try one of the Bessey's out but would probably only have 2-4 of them around for applications where they might work better. This was my experience.

[Rod Wolfy]

I've had a set of Bessey Tradesmen clamps (30 piece) that I've used for 15 years (I had too many, so I sold off the second set). I have about 10 Besseys that are like 30", which I used for two complete kitchen cabinet sets, along with the Bessey KP rail & stile blocks that hold them. I use them about 1/3 as often as the Tradesmen clamps, as they are much heavier and I don't necessarily need to hold everything parallel. But, one or two of them per project definitely keeps things started straight. They have much heavier bars than the Tradesmen versions, which helps to keep the faces parallel. I have gotten glue on the threads, but a cheap wire wheel on a drill cleans them up every few years.

I had Jets and hated them, so I sold them all off and I also got (4) 48" ones to replace them with. A buddy has Irwins, that he got at Lowes and likes them, but he never tried the Besseys. I have Bessey pipe clamps on galvi pipes, much better then the junky Pony ones, as they came with pads and the hold off (keeps them off the table surface) is built in. I get a set for under $14 on Amazon and when on a pipe, there is tremendous pressure if you need it. I also have about a half dozen Bessey deep reach clamps that sometimes come in handy.

When I started woodworking over 20 years ago, I bought some screw clamps, some C clamps and about a dozen Irwin quick grip clamps. I never use the C clamps and have only used the screw clamps a couple of times in all the years. The quick grip clamps are almost as useless, as there isn't much pressure. I use them when holding drawer faces to the drawers or something where I don't have to trust the clamp to not move. The Tradesmen clamps get used on every project and they don't have a clutch clamp release, so they're about as quick to use as the quick grip clamps.

[Alex LaZella]

I couldn't imagine working without my parallel clamps. I have some of the original Bessy K- bodies which while great 20+ years ago have not aged well. I think Jet makes the absolute best but they also have the highest price. the Jet clamps are also much heavier than Bessy. I recently bought 10 of the newer Bessey Revo's and they are much better than the originals. I am happy to use them and they seem to be almost as good as the Jets. I have 4 or 5 Jet 12" clamps and I use them almost daily, stop block on a sled or bench, holding things upright or just clamping little things. The square sides and firm clamping ability make parallel clamps great in my book. I have and almost never use aluminum and steel bar clamps as well as pipe clamps. When I first started out I used them and had a heck of a time keeping everything square and straight, you can do it of course but it isn't worth the hassle to me. When buying parallel clamps make sure to check around. For my last purchase Home Depot was by far the cheapest and I bought a bunch of Bessey 50" clamps for $10 cheaper per clamp than I could find anywhere else. They have since raised their price to match others but it doesn't take much effort to beat the bushes online.

one other thing to look for, the new bessy clamps let you tighten the handles with an allen wrench which is helpful if you have smaller hands or your grip isnt what it used to be. I personally dont need that feature but it is certainly a nice thought that my Jets do not have.

good luck

[Edward Weber]

Back to the OP's question
Here a couple of articles that may help you choose
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-parallel-clamps/
https://www.woodmagazine.com/tool-reviews/clamps-clamping/tested-parallel-jaw-clamps
https://thehomewoodworker.com/best-parallel-clamps-for-woodworking/

Personally I don't use them, mainly due to method of work but also for the cost.
To me, a clamp is just that, a clamp. A device to add pressure and hold it securely. I use other methods of keeping my assemblies aligned so the clamp is not responsible for any unwanted movement during glue-ups.

To many, a clamp also needs to be an alignment tool and should keep everything just so, enter the parallel jaw clamps. This is why they're expensive, doing two jobs at once, along with a higher clamping force than many other styles.
just two different approaches

[Lisa Starr]

Thank you all for opinions and thoughts. I am definitely on the fence now. I thought the parallel clamps were the way to go, but you've give me other ideas. The three parallel clamps I have are heavy, without a doubt, and I tire easily, so it doesn't make sense to heft them around unless it ups my game. I'm going to look at some of the alternatives you've offered and will probably be back with more questions.
Thanks again.

[Ray Newman]

I also find the Bessey parallel clamps a bit cumbersome at times.

Before I bought the Besseys, I utilized the Pony #53, but never took advantage of buying more than a pair. Hoping that the new Pony Clamp Co. will re-introduce the #53. See: https://www.lumberjocks.com/topics/42460

[Christopher Charles]

Debuque clamps are about the last us made that I know of and Lee valley has the best price. Good luck on the slippery slope…

[Mark Bolton]

Thank you all for opinions and thoughts. I am definitely on the fence now. I thought the parallel clamps were the way to go, but you've give me other ideas. The three parallel clamps I have are heavy, without a doubt, and I tire easily, so it doesn't make sense to heft them around unless it ups my game. I'm going to look at some of the alternatives you've offered and will probably be back with more questions.
Thanks again.

Pay attention to the "cumbersome" posts. Im not trying to pile on to a viewpoint that supports my feeling on these clamps but literally a dozen people working with clamps through the shop over the years and parallels whether they be Jets, Bessey, Irwins, etc.. are the most avoided. Its one thing if your meticulous, keeping the bars clean/protected, lay out your clamps with a tape measure pre-glue up, etc.. Thats honestly not the real world in even a hobby shop. You want to be able to grab a set of clamps, toss them on the bench, and glue up a panel, without fighting, cursing, fidgeting in panic because you've already spread the glue.

We had the misfortune of landing on a couple of 24' besseys and I cant tell you how many employees wanted to throw them in the dumpster. The hang on the rack to this day, untouched. We have a few jets that are only used because they are 50". And a few Irwins that also collect dust.

There is nothing worse in the heat of the moment than grabbing a clamp that gives you greif and even on a hobby level having to pre-prep your clamps... bleh... utter waste of time.

[Greg Funk]

Its one thing if your meticulous, keeping the bars clean/protected, lay out your clamps with a tape measure pre-glue up, etc..I get the issue with glue on the bars (although it's never been an issue for me) but why would one use a tape measure to lay out clamps?

[Mark Bolton]

I get the issue with glue on the bars (although it's never been an issue for me) but why would one use a tape measure to lay out clamps?

Seems a lot of posts you read speak to people doing pretty precise layouts pre-glue-up I guess to get clamps to an opening that is close with enough slack for getting parts together and what I would imagine more than likely is to subsequently test that the bar in the region they will be working is not going to give them fits while trying to get the part clamped. An attempt to avoid some sort of frantic panic due to the fussiness of the parallels? Who knows. Never dealt with such a thing in the shop. Just grab clamps and go.

[Jon Endres]

I have both Bessey K-body clamps and a bunch of other assorted smaller bar clamps. For bigger projects I use the Besseys but they do suck if they get glue on the bar. I clean them off with a wire wheel and/or a heat gun depending on my mood. Still, I am always looking at auctions and estate sales for more of them. I have never tried any of the other brands, but I wouldn't turn them down if they were cheap.

[Joe Calhoon]

I’ve never been a fan of the Bessey K body clamps. Had a couple of the originals and they were not much good and recently bought a couple of the new ones. They work better but still not my go to. I like the I beam bar clamps, don’t have to worry about glue build up on those as they self clean. Also Bates glue release works for keeping glue off if you remember to apply it often. The Bessey I beam clamps are good but releasing the clutch from the bottom side takes getting used to.
I just bought a couple of the Debuque bar clamps and really liking them for a light pattern clamp. Way better than the old light Jorgenson bar clamps. Not a clamp for heavy millwork glue ups but great for furniture and cabinet work. Very light and easy to handle.
basically for any shop a assortment of many different types of clamps is a good thing.
472308

[Rod Wolfy]

I get the issue with glue on the bars (although it's never been an issue for me) but why would one use a tape measure to lay out clamps?

I often use a tape measure on a glue up, especially on cope & stile doors with floating panels. You measure the diagonals to make sure they're square. If your opposing corners are say 30½" one way and 31⅛" the other way, you know that your door is not square. Less likely to happen with a few parallel clamps in use, but it can still happen.

But like others have said, I can grab a dozen 30" Tradesmen clamps for the same weight as 4 or 5 parallel clamps.

I'm tempted to get some Bessey Uni clamps, as they're said to be lighter.

[Phillip Mitchell]

I have some of essentially all of the clamps mentioned so far in this thread and find a use for all of them at some point. It really depends on what the task at hand is and how often you find yourself doing it as to how much value certain types of clamps have. I do a fairly wide range of work it seems and I feel like you really need a wide variety of styles on hand to choose from depending on what you need.

Some random thoughts after reading this thread -

Bessey K body clamps are valuable for their parallel jaw clamping feature but are not always my go to. The clutch (lack of) operation has had me screaming at these clamps more than I care to remember because it wouldn’t grab in the moment I needed it to and required resetting, etc. They are obviously quality made and can useful but they are expensive when bought new and at quantity.

My favorite clamps for medium to heavy duty applications are the older Jorgensen steel I beams - I have several in the 36” length. They do not deflect even under tremendous pressure and I don’t really have to worry about glue build up. They are heavy which means that they’re typically reserved for flat clamping jobs. The Dubuque aluminum bar clamps are nice as well but are very easy to deflect and are reserved for light duty tasks - nicely made, though.

3/4” pipe clamps are very dependable, versatile, economical and strong, though not always parallel clamping or having enough depth of reach. I wouldn’t want to be without mine and I even have some shorter 1/2” diameter ones that I got for very cheap that come in handy for light duty tasks, though they are much easier to deflect over lengths of ~24”. I can’t understand why pipe clamps would not be an option (among many) in a woodworker’s shop. People like to rag on them in favor of parallel clamps but I find both welcome and necessary in my work.

Another all time favorite clamp style is the Wetzler steel bar F style clamp. I have a handful of lengths and depths, but the 12-18” x 5” deep ones get used often and the extra depth is very much appreciated sometimes when having to clamp things to a bench top, etc and have even used them for narrower panel glue ups if the other options were already exhausted. Top quality and incredible clamping force power.

Because someone mentioned them just above - I have (4) of the Bessey Uni Klamps in 24” length and they are great for light to mid duty work, though much lighter build than the K body. I use them a lot though and it’s nice to have the parallel clamping option in a much lighter duty package. Wouldn’t mind having more.

[Michael Schuch]

Stick with your routine of avoiding parallels. Trust me. You got in on a super cheap barrier to entry. Populate your shop with clamps you can buy as economically as possible (so you have 3-4 for every parallel you would have bought) and dont buy into the hype.

Your 25 total lucky buy in likely wont get you half of a single clamp but would buy you 1.5 or more of a more well rounded clamp.

Honestly. Plow your shop chuck full of robust affordable clamps and you wont look back. Parallels look nice hanging on the wall but thats about it. Its kinda like a Gucci belt or a pair of $300 sunglasses. They all do the same job as the gas station glasses or a piece of rope but they just make you stand a bit taller. Sadly the parallels only let you stand taller in public because in private,... youll be let down. But keeping ones chin up when they've layed down thousands in clamps is imperative.

I bought into the hype with 4 Jorgenson and 2 Bessy clamps and like Mark I don't get all that much use out of them. I have many HF clamps that I reach for before ever getting to the parallel clamps. I find the HF aluminum bar clamps work great and their light weight makes them much easier to maneuver. When I need clamping power I reach for the old pipe clamps. There are times when the high price tools do rule but I haven't found clamps to be that way.