Best all-round clamps?

[809]

Say space is at a premium in your toolbox that you take from job to job as an industrial maintenance tech. You can only carry one clamp with you. What clamp (and size) would this be?

I think a sliding welding clamp in the 16" size range would be the best. What says you?

 

[tarbellb]

Yes, that is a excellent all around clamp

Lots of clamping pressure, big throat (capacity), durable

I would recommend some shorties as well, sometimes you need to fit them in somewhere or dont want a
big heavy piece of steel for clamping.

Surprisingly the plastic F clamp like Irwin/Dewalt etc... are super versatile with decent clamping qualities.

And yes, you will never have enough

 

[Bubba Fett]

Bessey used to be the go-to brand. I guess they are still pretty good. I like Irwin clamps. Also locking C-clamp pliers (Vise-Grip, etc.) can be darned handy.

 

[LeeG]

Specifically I would go with these:



These are the best clamps I own. They have incredible holding power, the threads are not exposed, and the moving jaw does not rotate as you tighten it. I can clamp two round pieces together about as easy as flat bar. I have four of these and they get used first. They are not cheap, but well made and smooth.

Piher 16 Inch Maxipress R Clamp 61040

Piher® Maxipress R Clamp - 16 Inch Opening X 6 Inch Throat (40cm X 16cm) 61040Genuine Piher® Maxipress R Clamp with max 16 inch (40cm) opening and 6 inch (16cm) throat is designed and manufactured in Europe to be the finest slide clamp in the world. It has a maximum clamping pressure of 2,250...

store.cyberweld.com

 

[GeoBruin]

I would love to get my hands on a set of these from fireball tool. BYO beam clamps.

Maximus Bar and Dog Clamp (2 Sets of Clamps)

fireballtool.com

 

[Ign]

16" is borderline huge for most general fab. Will the "tail" fit everywhere you need if you're only clamping, say, 3 to 4"?

I like the Bessey Morpads but I also kinda like the Strong Hands with pipe adapter. If you ever need to clamp on a radius consider those.

Here's a way to lighten your wallet and kill time you'll never get back: go search Amazon Warehouse (only Warehouse) for "clamp". I got some killer deals on 24 to 40" welding clamps that way. I'm giving away my "secret" because I MUST STOP

 

[Outwest]

I use Bessey F clamps all the time. I advise the heavy duty ones. Those Piher clamps look interesting though.

 

[Lwel9226]

I would love to get my hands on a set of these from fireball tool. BYO beam clamps.

Maximus Bar and Dog Clamp (2 Sets of Clamps)

fireballtool.com

I have never seen clamps like this before.....
I would have been all over a couple of these before I retired.... No more need for them now....

LynnW