3/4" Pipe Clamps: which ones are the best?

[glenn bradley]

I have a dozen ponys or so. They always work. Use galvanized pipe to avoid staining. Some folks say their clamps slip on galv-pipe but mine never have.

I do wish they had the larger foot like the Rocklers or the Bessys. If the clamp is as good I would be tempted. The trouble is if you shop around, you can find pony 3/4" for $100 a dozen. The Bessy's run a little more and I don't have any hands on opinion but assume they are good:
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/12500

[Bart Leetch]

Right now, my pipe clamps are the POS from Harbor Freight, but if I was shopping today I would probably go with Rockler's (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17397), and I'd probably spring for their EZ-Clutch system as well (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16530). If you're not in a hurry, they do put them on sale periodically.

They also put their aluminum clamps on sale periodically (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10819). I have some 3' and 4' and am pretty happy with them.

Charles

Which style HF pipe clamps do you have?

I have this style & have never had any problem with them.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46828

I have 30 or more Sears with the lever on the sliding end that were my Dad's a couple of Jorgy's & several HF's I am going to cut several pieces of plywood & build a small jig for my drill-press & make pads that will extend & raise the clamps like the Rockler clamps cost about 15 cents per pair for the material. Actually free if I can get scrap material off a construction site.

[Charles Wiggins]

Bart,

Those appear to be they. My biggest issue with them is that the clamping faces aren't flat. On some of mine I can even see the parting ridgeline from the mold. I use shop-made clamping pads with them and they do alright, but I don't go to them until I've used all my Rockler clamps. As soon as I can afford to, I'll ditch them and get Rockler sure-foots to replace them. As a stop-gap I might invest in some Rockler conversion pads, but they were designed for Ponys and I'm not sure if they'll work.

[Jim W. White]

I have several different makes including Jorgies but my favorites by far are the 4 sets of Rockler sure-foots.

My long term goal is to replace all mine with the new wider/taller base models. Rockler does put them on sale fairly often; but but look around as I noticed the other day that Bessey has now copied the design also.

Jim in Idaho

[Rick Cicciarelli]

I LOOOOOVE my Bessey 3/4" pipe clamps. I just purchased four more for my slowly growing collection. I also splurge and buy some galvanized pipe for them. Very very nice clamps.

[Larry James]

I don't own any of these, but I like looks and features of the Bessey H-Series Pipe Clamps.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=20169

Larry

[Rick Cicciarelli]

I don't own any of these, but I like looks and features of the Bessey H-Series Pipe Clamps.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=20169

Larry

Those are the ones I got...and I got them on sale. VERY nice...rubber pad, smooth action...tight holding power. I love 'em.

[James Gillespie, Jr.]

Harbor Freight has their own version of the sure-foot pipe clamp. It is item number 94053. I haven't used mine much, but so far, no issues with them and the price was quite reasonable.

Cheers,
James

[Lance Norris]

I made the mistake of buying some of these also.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46828

As Charles Wiggins said...the clamping faces arent flat. Not even close. Also, out of the 8 sets I bought, 3 of the handles have fallen off. I originally bought 4 sets and then 4 more. The second group of 4 wouldnt thread on the pipe. I made 2 trips back and forth to HF after exchanging the bad ones for more bad ones and finally made the manager open all the ones he had in stock and still didnt find any that would thread. I ended up just throwing away the 4 that wouldnt thread, and havent been in a HF since and never will step foot in one again.

Here are the pipe clamps I have been buying lately and am VERY happy with them.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...parallel+clamp

[Brandon Shew]

Orange Jorgie Ponies are what I use. I bought the heads at Harbor Freight for a little less than HD or Lowes. If you use them with the pipe above the work, they have a very slight tendency to lift under high clamping pressures.

[Denny Rice]

I have had my 3/4" pony clamps forever, they are a very good clamp. (stay away anything 1/2" in size). If I were purchasing bar clamps today I would probably opt for the Rockler, I like the way they are designed and they have received very good ratings.

[glenn bradley]

Bart,

Those appear to be they. My biggest issue with them is that the clamping faces aren't flat. On some of mine I can even see the parting ridgeline from the mold.

This is where most discount clamps come from. I picked up some PSI "4 for 1 sale" clamps and they are great for the price but they sure aren't 'first' quality.

[Larry Prince]

Jorgenson Pony's but instead of using black/galvanazied pipe, get some 3/4" thick-wall aluminum conduit from an electrical supply place.

The alum. is plenty strong enough but its several orders of magnitude lighter, making the clamps much eashier to use/transport/store.

[Dennis Kelly]

I have the Bessey's with the large feet. I feel they offer great stability that some of the other brands I've tried do not.

Dennis

[Kevin Beitz]

Any time I buy a clamp and it has galvanized pipe on it I'll take it off and put it in the trash. Galvanized pipe slips. Black pipe does not.