Based on one afternoon of using both brands side by side, I think I like my JETs a little better than my BESSEYs. My observations/opinions are below. Your Mileage May Vary.
(Please note: I am comparing 31" clamps of both brands here.)
BESSEY REVO
Likes
1. Slides easily on rail (also see dislikes)
2. Easy to configure as a spreader
3. Has a pad on both faces of the fixed “head”. (Useful when “spreading”)
4. Easy to find locally (BORG, other places)
Dislikes
1. Head slides on rail when you don’t want it to.
(Gave me a blood blister when it slammed shut on my palm while moving it to the bench. Also, keeping it from sliding around when gluing-up in an odd position was distracting, at a time I didn’t want to be distracted. Both of these were big negatives for me.)
2. Feels a little more cheaply built
(See “likes” for JET – the Bessey was opposite in most of the things said there.)
JET
Likes
1. Head is locked in place by a lever
(It doesn’t pinch your hand and it stays put when clamping in odd positions. To me, this is worth the slight inconvenience it presents - eg, having to keep glue off the rails.)
2. Shape and size of handle provides better grip
(Handle is hexagonal on JET vs round on BESSEY. Handle diameter is 1 7/16” on JET vs 1¼” for BESSEY. Yes, I noticed the difference.)
3. Feels well/better built.
(Fit/finish, materials, the foot on which the clamp can sit is trapezoidal and very solid, the stop at the end of rail has a screw to lock in place, etc)
Dislikes
1. More tedious to configure as a spreader.
(I know you can do it, but I gave up trying.)
2. There are no pads on either side of either “head”.
(Easier to mar wood and I did so.)
3. Not readily available (to me) locally
(On the day I need one and can’t wait for delivery, I'm gonna have to go buy a Bessey. YMMV.)
Fred
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