Bessey Parallel Clamps score!

[tarbellb]

I found a honeyhole and jumped on these!

All Original Bessey Parallel clamps, excellent working condition, I can only assume made in Germany?

36 total, average price per pc is 1/2 the cost of the shortest one new

Most of these are the 48" model, some 24", some 60"...

There are some other items I got from the same guys, but that is for a later post.

 

[78C-10]

Wow!!! Great score!

 

[cheechi]

yeah, but is it enough?

 

[rlitman]

Nice clamps. I’ve got 30 of those. Picked them up on CL about 8 years ago for $10 each. Some guy was selling off stuff from a cabinet shop. Yes, I believe they were made in Germany.

Some of the newer stuff has some better features, but these are still top shelf tools.

I’m not quite sure about the sizes though. I think they’re metric.

 

[PFSard]

Nice. I just bought a couple of 24" Bessey clamps at an estate sale. Good stuff.

 

[Corndoggeh]

Not enough clamps.

 

[SRSemenza]

Yes, Germany for sure. Great score! About $20 each?

 

[volunteers]

I think it is made in China, from long time ago

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[dutchgray]

Nice clamps, worth their new prices so good used for cheap is a great find, especially in quantity.

 

[Stooge]

Wow those look brand new! Nice find for sure!

Im not sure about that era/style of clamp, but i have probably 20 bessey clamps in a handful of different styles and they are all made in Germany. They were also all made in the last 10yrs though.

yeah, but is it enough?

Thats not a thing!

 

[jimreed2160]

 

[rlitman]

I think it is made in China, from long time ago

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Not those. But current ones are Chinese.

 

[catron44]

That's a nice score!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[R_einan]

You sir, are a lucky.... congrats, I’m so jealous!

 

[tarbellb]

Thanks guys.

No where else do you get props for clamp scores!
------
As the old saying goes "you can never have too many clamps".

Here are my Besssy F-clamps to compliment my parallels.

 

[tarbellb]

I wonder if these old ones can be retro fitted for the newer accessories like work supports and anti-tip at the end of the bar?

Anybody have info if they are compatible?

 

[rlitman]

I wonder if these old ones can be retro fitted for the newer accessories like work supports and anti-tip at the end of the bar?

Anybody have info if they are compatible?

Unfortunately. they are not compatible as-is. I believe that if you were to grind the retention pinches off of the end, you could make them take the newer accessories. Back in the day they were made, nobody planned to make clamps that could be reversed for spreading, so they have no provision for removing the movable jaw (so preventing the jaw from falling off was a feature).

I picked up some Craftsman parts (for pennies on the dollar) that look like they'll fit the bar, if I only ground off those pinches. I can't bring myself to do it.

Funny thing is, I had plans for cutting some of the bars, ever since I got them. The guy selling my set had a few more. He was selling them all for the same price, regardless of the size, but just wanted to keep a few for himself. So started by taking all of the longest ones, working my way down to the shortest, and left him a few short ones. I figured that if I ever needed shorter ones, they're just a bandsaw cut away, but the thought of doing that makes me sick...

You could do this awesome retrofit though:

 

[tarbellb]

That guy rules, you can just see the gears spinning in his head. Ive watched his other videos, ive got a lot of respect for him.

Back to retro fitting, assuming the bar is the same dimensions it looks like the newer style uses a hole/removable block at the end to stop the head.

If I ground down the pinches and add the hole would that plastic piece with a pin work? Might have to order some to find out.

And yeah I paid <$20/ea, super happy about it.

 

[tarbellb]

Update: built a mobile rack!

One sheet of 3/4" ACX ply and some casters I had laying around. Used some 2x4" steel tube cut at a angle for the top retention pieces.

Kept the heads low to keep the center of gravity down low, these things really add up, probably 200-250lbs of clamps there. There is 38 clamps totally, the tallest at 5'

Simple but effective, and expandable!

 

[royce]

Nice find tarrbellb,
And a great rack you built.
Well done

Royce

 

[Empty Pockets]

By the way, you can never have enough clamps. My basement wood shop has clamps across the entire width of the house, on both sides. I still run out of clamps.

 

[jimreed2160]

Tar--I love your rack. Years ago I built a mobile box for my Leigh jig that is almost exactly the same size. I retired the jig and was planning to pitch the box UNTIL I saw your rack. Looks like my box is getting flipped into a rack like yours. Thanks for the GREAT idea!!!!

 

[SRSemenza]

Update: built a mobile rack!

One sheet of 3/4" ACX ply and some casters I had laying around. Used some 2x4" steel tube cut at a angle for the top retention pieces.

Kept the heads low to keep the center of gravity down low, these things really add up, probably 200-250lbs of clamps there. There is 38 clamps totally, the tallest at 5'

Simple but effective, and expandable!

Nice idea. Rather than hanging them just keeping the top in. Swing in / out from the bottom.

Did you make the upper holders?

Seth

 

[tarbellb]

Thanks guys! I have found lots of good ideas here, I hope this inspires others.

Nice idea. Rather than hanging them just keeping the top in. Swing in / out from the bottom.
Did you make the upper holders?

Exactly, there is plenty of room to swing it out. I did make the uppers. Super simple, just 5"x2" steel rectangular tube cut at 30º.

Those heads like to slide down the bar and pinch fingers, this way they cant do that.

 

[bubinga]

They don't often come up for sale used, cheap...................

 

[thooks]

Yes those are all old school and German made. Well worth $40/ ea on the street today.

I have about 150 of them and about that many Tradesman F-Clamps.

 

[SRSemenza]

Yes those are all old school and German made. Well worth $40/ ea on the street today.

I have about 150 of them and about that many Tradesman F-Clamps.

And here I thought I had a lot at 100!

I like the new Revo ones too. Quality seems fine. I have a mix of old and new.

Here is a link to a review That I did comparing the old and new.

http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/reviews/2053-k-body-revo-review.html

Seth

 

[thooks]

Sorry, but I wouldn’t give a dollar for a new one. I’ve passed up plenty at 1/2 price. I’ll never pass up a deal on the originals.

 

[SRSemenza]

Sorry, but I wouldn’t give a dollar for a new one. I’ve passed up plenty at 1/2 price. I’ll never pass up a deal on the originals.

I am curious as to what you find wrong with the new ones?



Seth

 

[rlitman]

I am curious as to what you find wrong with the new ones?







Seth

Same here. I’ve got only the old ones, but the new ones have all sorts of improvements.

 

[Git]

Same here. I’ve got only the old ones, but the new ones have all sorts of improvements.

Same here

 

[thooks]

I am curious as to what you find wrong with the new ones?

Seth

Do you have any of the old style? Have you used both?

I have. I prefer the old style. In fact, no one that I know that does woodworking that has the older K-bodys prefers the Revo models.

If you like the new ones, that's great.

 

[jimreed2160]

Tar--Thanks again for your post. I just repurposed a rolling box I had based on your concept. All I did was remove the top. I am going to use it for awhile and change things that come up.

But I already love having the clamps out in the open where I can see them. Thanks again for your cool post.

 

[tarbellb]

Good! Glad to help.

Having them on wheels is super nice.

 

[SRSemenza]

Do you have any of the old style? Have you used both?

I have. I prefer the old style. In fact, no one that I know that does woodworking that has the older K-bodys prefers the Revo models.

If you like the new ones, that's great.

I have both. Use both.


Seth