New Yankee Vice Grip style Clamp

[Shawn Campbell]

Does anyone know what brand of clamp Norm Abrams uses on the New Yankee Workshop? It is a form of sliding clamp like a Quick Grip but it locks like a pair of Vice Grip pliers.

TIA

[Dennis Meek]

They are Bessey's. Model # is GRZ 20. I have 2 of them and I use them all the time on my drill press.


Dennis

[Al Killian]

Visegrip makes a pair similar to what you tare talking about.

[Ken Shoemaker]

Anybody see them for less tha $50.00??????????????/

[Don Abele]

I just order a set of these from Grizzly:

http://www.grizzly.com/images/pics/jpeg500/g/g9025.jpg

G9025 - $11.95 each.

The biggest difference I can see is that the Bessey and Vise-Grip model both have notches on the bar and act just like any other bar clamp. These appear to have a thumb screw to secure them.

As soon as I get them and test them out, I'll let you know (a week or two).

Be well,

Doc

[Fred Floyd]

The ones Norm uses have rubber pads on them to keep from marring the wood. I bought two of the Bessey clamps on a Rockler closeout that didn't have the rubber pads. It cost me almost $20.00 to get the pads from another vendor.

[Don Abele]

Hmmm...didn't notice that there are no rubber pads on them. :(

I did find that Toolking sells the pads for the Bessey version for $15.99 (more than the actual Grizzly clamp).

I also found that the Bessey model number is SG-4 (4 inch) or SG-8 (8 inch) for those in the US. The Bessey GRZ-10 is a 100 mm version (4 inch) and the GRZ-20 is a 200 mm version (8 inch) sold in the UK (though available in the US).

From what I could find, most of the 4 inch models don't have the pads, while the 8 inch one do - go figure. :confused:

I think I'll be calling Grizzly to find out if they have pads for these. Otherwise, I'm sure I can come up with something for cheaper than $15 a set.

Be well,

Doc

[Mike Null]

Think about fabricating your own pads from leather. There is usually some leather item laying around the house or you can buy some fairly cheap and laminate it to fit. Think old belts.

[Pete Stack]

Anybody ever try this stuff? Or a product like it?
http://www.plastidip.com/inc/displayImage.php?src=plastidip.jpg&w=250&h=250
Seems like it might be a very quick fix. Although I wonder how durable it would be on a clamping surface under pressure.

[Steve Kolbe]

Anybody ever try this stuff? Or a product like it?
http://www.plastidip.com/inc/displayImage.php?src=plastidip.jpg&w=250&h=250
Seems like it might be a very quick fix. Although I wonder how durable it would be on a clamping surface under pressure.


I was just going to mention this stuff! I love it!
I use it quite a bit for when I need a soft and / or "grippy" pad on things.

[Shawn Campbell]

Thanks all.

I did just stop into Rockler and they had the 8" version with plastic tips for $58. Still a little pricey for me, but I'll think about it.

[Dick Rowe]

Grizzly also sells the 8" Bessey Supergrip (with the pads) for $51.95.

I just bought 2 .. Grizzly part #H3810 .. they work great.

[Bob Levy]

Even though I thought these clamps were way too expensive when I bought them several years ago, they are the first clamps I reach for almost every time. You'll LOVE them if you get them. I can't tell you how useful they are. The plastic tips on the ends lets you use them on wood and not mar anything. I use these to clamp things on my 3" workbench top all the time because of the wide opening. Bottom line...they are worth it!

[Bob Feeser]

Norm started using the Powergrips, so I bought a pair of them
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YBTP93TNL._AA280_.jpg
I highly UN-recommend them. It seems like a great idea, a quick squeeze clamp, then a turning knob, and as Bessey claims, they give you up to 1000 pounds of pressure. The problem is that they can wind up locking closed. Here is the scenario, you loosen the turning handle, spread the opening, then tighten them on something, so when it is time to release, you undo the screw. Then go back and tighten them using the squeeze handle on something else. Then release undoing the screw. After a while unless you are careful, you unscrew them to the point of not having any screw left. So next time you clamp them down, you do not have any unscrewing to do to release them. I heard in the wind that Bessey put a rib somewhere to stop the problem, but I have not verified that. What you want is the Super Grips that Norm uses instead. I thought avoiding the vise grip problem of having to keep releasing, and tightening until you finally get the proper setting, something critical when you are clamping something as soft as wood, but due to the engineering anomalie mentioned above, put up with the vice grip Super Grips model instead.
I keep oogling that one, haven't made the plunge yet for it though. I keep using the ones that I have, making sure that I leave enough threaded rod available to loosen them. I have heard of people who have had to cut them off with a hack saw. Amazon featured my review (http://www.amazon.com/Bessey-PG4-012-12-Inch-Powergrip-Clamp/dp/B0000224BD/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1200371439&sr=8-22)on them if you want to read a lot. Here are the Super Grips on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Bessey-SG-8WP-SuperGrip-Capacity-Gripping/dp/B0002FSISY/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1200372105&sr=8-34), they come with the protective pads. (PS: As usual, those are not affiliate loaded links, just the generic URL on the items page address.)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41896VFRHGL._AA280_.jpg
SuperGrips come with the protective pads.

[Don Abele]

Well, I got my locking F clamps in today from Grizzly. The finish on them reminds me of a tool you'd get from Harbor Freight - it's rough. Everything works smooth and it clamps TIGHT. The sliding portion does have a thumb screw to lock it into position at the desired opening size, but is not really necessary. The sliding mechanism works like a bar clamp and angles slightly under pressure locking it into position.

The clamping teeth are just like those on regular vise grips and left some serious bite marks in the pine I clamped it to. I bought some of the plasti-dip and will put a couple of coats on them this weekend and see how that helps.

All in all, they appear to be well worth the $11.95.

Be well,

Doc