I have the Milescraft small pocket hole jig that I got years ago. I bought it instead of the equivalent (and slightly more costly) Kreg jig because it has a magnet on top which sticks to your face clamp. That little feature is a life saver when you are trying to hold two pieces together and set the pocket hole jig.
Some great stuff there. The righty/lefty tape. My issue with it was vision. I'm old now and I can't see them little numbers unless I get really close to it. I love the idea but it doesn't work for me. I much prefer the Milescraft one. It's my go to. I asked Santa for a second one. I've seen people use two while running boards across a jointer and it looked like a good idea. I make my own bench cookies using those no-slip sheets and scrap 2x. And I just made a 2x2 pointed and cut off the end to make little triangle stand offs for painting. I like using up leftover scraps.
great information, well stated, and thought out. for the haters of hf products, i liken them to the same bunch of guys that still see hyundai in the light of their 1987 excel offering. both have come a long way and have gotten better. you discussed the faults and flaws with the hf units, and although i have the standard pipe clamps for my larger projects, i like the idea of having more clamps that are lighter. as previously stated, over tightening is a huge issue, and one that i still struggle with. that being said, i can see myself looking at acquiring some soon. one can never have too many clamps.... wishing you and your family a very merry christmas and happy, safe new year.
I have had great luck with Harbor Freight clamps and for $15 that’s a great deal but clamp face is so small. I recently got the fast cap tape measure and what a deal breaker for me, having dimensions on both sides is amazing anytime that I write a measurement I always double/triple check it and I am constantly dulling pencils during use so find I use the pencil sharpener nearly every time.
As for the clamps most of us have a tendency to over tighten, me well I’m really bad about that did not like the HF clamps. 3/4” pipe clamps are great and if you need a 10’+ clamp 👍, just keep the wood with glue on it away from the pipe. I also dislike the righty lefty his style tape measures, my preferred tape measure is the Fastcap Flat Back as it lays flat on the surface. Tools from HF range from dumpster fill to extremely good buys.
The Harbor Freight Bremen parallel clamps have gotten good reviews and are quite a bit cheaper than Bessey, although I don't have any. I do have the IGauging square set and really like them as well. I like the idea of the Kreg blocks, but bought a lot of the Rockler ones so many years ago, I can't see myself getting others anytime soon. - Chris
Thanks for sharing Chris! I have a pair of the Bremen as well! Definitely another good option compared to the Bessey! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
@@DebtFreeDIYthe Bremen trigger clamps are also a great buy. I have several 12” and 24” and I find that I grab them much more often than the Irwin ones. The Bremen are bigger though, so the only time I go back to the Irwin’s is when I need to clamp up something small or when I need multiple the shape of the piece I’m clamping requires multiple heads being close together.
Yeah I've actually got the Bremen as well. It's a great clamp. I've done a comparison video on it and the Bessey. I still turn to the aluminum ones though, 5:1.
Ugg, those alum clamps suck, for the same $ can get actual pipe clamps. The 1/2” harbor freight pipe clamps are WAY better than those alum flexi things!
It really depends on what you're using the clamps for. The aluminium clamps are great for light to medium duty tasks. The pipe clamps excel when you need a lot of clamping force, but they are heavy. Often, the lighter weight of the aluminium clamps is a real advantage. I have both types of clamps in my shop. I use the aluminium clamps when I don't need the extras clamping force that the pipe clamps can provide.
@@DKWalser yup, but again.. I'm talking 1/2 inch pipe clamps! they aren't near as heavy as the more common 3/4. plus you can cut to what ever length so can actually be lighter. anything over a foot honestly and those alum clamps are sorta useless. a regular F clamp is just as good, honestly, likely better.
I like some of the suggestions and I too find Woodpeckers items overpriced (I am however willing to pay a REASONABLE premium for a product made in the USA, the Woodpeckers “red tax” however is NOT reasonable. I do, however, find it funny that a man wearing a hat with the American flag in the word freedom on it tells you to buy woodworking squares made in China and not to buy the ones made in the United States. I will leave it at that.
Wow you are doing a disservice to viewers. Smart folks save up and wait and buy quality. The HF is completely different than the K Body clamp. You want people to buy cheap Chinese junk, no wonder high quality manufacturing jobs are hard to find in America
I think you missed the point, Simon. I own both of these clamps. Love them both. I build a ton of cabinets and over the last 13 or 14 years, I grab the aluminum ones way more than the Bessey.
I'm sorry, but you lost me at the beginning by saying those Harbor Freight clamps are just as good and do the same job as the Bessey clamps. I have some of both. Those HF clamps twist under light pressure, slip badly, and have such a small clamping face. Sorry, Bud, you blew this one. Now HF does have some decent clamps at a great price. I like their "F" style clamps fine. But these aluminum bar clamps are garbage.
We're all entitled to our opinion. 😁 I have both. I also have the Bremen from Harbor Freight (the Bessey style) . But I build TONS of cabinets and over the last 10 years I still find I grab the aluminum ones more. Just my preference. And yes, I totally agree... their F style clamps are excellent.
I have the Milescraft small pocket hole jig that I got years ago. I bought it instead of the equivalent (and slightly more costly) Kreg jig because it has a magnet on top which sticks to your face clamp. That little feature is a life saver when you are trying to hold two pieces together and set the pocket hole jig.
Ever since the Milescraft block came out, the Grippr has dropped drastically in price. Thankfully. I've both and love both. 😊
I've noticed that too! Even after making this video I noticed it was marked down.
Thanks for the tips! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and yours too!
Some great stuff there.
The righty/lefty tape. My issue with it was vision. I'm old now and I can't see them little numbers unless I get really close to it. I love the idea but it doesn't work for me.
I much prefer the Milescraft one. It's my go to. I asked Santa for a second one. I've seen people use two while running boards across a jointer and it looked like a good idea.
I make my own bench cookies using those no-slip sheets and scrap 2x. And I just made a 2x2 pointed and cut off the end to make little triangle stand offs for painting.
I like using up leftover scraps.
Thanks! I like that homemade bench cookie idea! Appreciate the input!
great information, well stated, and thought out. for the haters of hf products, i liken them to the same bunch of guys that still see hyundai in the light of their 1987 excel offering. both have come a long way and have gotten better. you discussed the faults and flaws with the hf units, and although i have the standard pipe clamps for my larger projects, i like the idea of having more clamps that are lighter. as previously stated, over tightening is a huge issue, and one that i still struggle with. that being said, i can see myself looking at acquiring some soon. one can never have too many clamps....
wishing you and your family a very merry christmas and happy, safe new year.
Couldn't agree more! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas!
I'm always looking for a deal. Merry Christmas!!!
These days you've gotta be! 😅
Merry Christmas!
Can steal plates be welded on clamps for more area? Also rubber pads?
I have had great luck with Harbor Freight clamps and for $15 that’s a great deal but clamp face is so small. I recently got the fast cap tape measure and what a deal breaker for me, having dimensions on both sides is amazing anytime that I write a measurement I always double/triple check it and I am constantly dulling pencils during use so find I use the pencil sharpener nearly every time.
In a pinch, I bought that HF aluminum clamp for a large carcass glue-up. Blew apart.
I'd say you either got a dud or you just had way too much pressure on it. I primarily build cabinets and I use those aluminum ones almost exclusively.
As for the clamps most of us have a tendency to over tighten, me well I’m really bad about that did not like the HF clamps. 3/4” pipe clamps are great and if you need a 10’+ clamp 👍, just keep the wood with glue on it away from the pipe.
I also dislike the righty lefty his style tape measures, my preferred tape measure is the Fastcap Flat Back as it lays flat on the surface.
Tools from HF range from dumpster fill to extremely good buys.
Totally agree with you on overtightened clamps, it's not necessary.
The Harbor Freight Bremen parallel clamps have gotten good reviews and are quite a bit cheaper than Bessey, although I don't have any. I do have the IGauging square set and really like them as well. I like the idea of the Kreg blocks, but bought a lot of the Rockler ones so many years ago, I can't see myself getting others anytime soon. - Chris
Thanks for sharing Chris! I have a pair of the Bremen as well! Definitely another good option compared to the Bessey! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
@@DebtFreeDIYthe Bremen trigger clamps are also a great buy. I have several 12” and 24” and I find that I grab them much more often than the Irwin ones.
The Bremen are bigger though, so the only time I go back to the Irwin’s is when I need to clamp up something small or when I need multiple the shape of the piece I’m clamping requires multiple heads being close together.
HF sells a parallel clamp that easily competes with the Bessey, and the brand is Bremen. Try it and see what I’m talking about.
Yeah I've actually got the Bremen as well. It's a great clamp. I've done a comparison video on it and the Bessey. I still turn to the aluminum ones though, 5:1.
the righty lefty tape measure they have one that is just normal tape !
Ugg, those alum clamps suck, for the same $ can get actual pipe clamps. The 1/2” harbor freight pipe clamps are WAY better than those alum flexi things!
It really depends on what you're using the clamps for. The aluminium clamps are great for light to medium duty tasks. The pipe clamps excel when you need a lot of clamping force, but they are heavy. Often, the lighter weight of the aluminium clamps is a real advantage. I have both types of clamps in my shop. I use the aluminium clamps when I don't need the extras clamping force that the pipe clamps can provide.
@@DKWalser yup, but again.. I'm talking 1/2 inch pipe clamps! they aren't near as heavy as the more common 3/4. plus you can cut to what ever length so can actually be lighter. anything over a foot honestly and those alum clamps are sorta useless. a regular F clamp is just as good, honestly, likely better.
Any clamp has parts of plastic on it is not a clamp!
I like some of the suggestions and I too find Woodpeckers items overpriced (I am however willing to pay a REASONABLE premium for a product made in the USA, the Woodpeckers “red tax” however is NOT reasonable. I do, however, find it funny that a man wearing a hat with the American flag in the word freedom on it tells you to buy woodworking squares made in China and not to buy the ones made in the United States. I will leave it at that.
This
Wow you are doing a disservice to viewers. Smart folks save up and wait and buy quality. The HF is completely different than the K Body clamp. You want people to buy cheap Chinese junk, no wonder high quality manufacturing jobs are hard to find in America
I think you missed the point, Simon. I own both of these clamps. Love them both. I build a ton of cabinets and over the last 13 or 14 years, I grab the aluminum ones way more than the Bessey.
I'm sorry, but you lost me at the beginning by saying those Harbor Freight clamps are just as good and do the same job as the Bessey clamps. I have some of both. Those HF clamps twist under light pressure, slip badly, and have such a small clamping face. Sorry, Bud, you blew this one. Now HF does have some decent clamps at a great price. I like their "F" style clamps fine. But these aluminum bar clamps are garbage.
We're all entitled to our opinion. 😁 I have both. I also have the Bremen from Harbor Freight (the Bessey style) . But I build TONS of cabinets and over the last 10 years I still find I grab the aluminum ones more. Just my preference. And yes, I totally agree... their F style clamps are excellent.