drewvdw
Well-known member
Does anyone make any good, strong C clamps anymore or am I better off buying old ones?
C Clamps old vs. new
- Thread starter drewvdw
- Start date
http://www.mscdirect.com/FlyerView?...08091449&contentPath=/sales-catalogs/big-book
You pays your money and makes your choice. Good quality is going to cost you. Old cheap stuff is no better than new cheap stuff.
lg
no neat sig line
You pays your money and makes your choice. Good quality is going to cost you. Old cheap stuff is no better than new cheap stuff.
lg
no neat sig line
cbacres
Well-known member
If your not particular about having matched clamps, still a lot to be found at garage and estate sales for fairy cheap prices. I'm talking Armstrong, a Wilton, Williams and a lot of the good old iron.
You can also buy the pads to replace missing ones.
I probably have 30- 40 clamps I've bought over the years, all USA made.
You can also buy the pads to replace missing ones.
I probably have 30- 40 clamps I've bought over the years, all USA made.
Teenager with old tools
Well-known member
I have a proto 6 inch that seems massive compared to my other six inch clamp. Just find old ones that say USA on them at yard sales etc
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rlitman
Well-known member
If you want the best C clamps, don't look for USA. Look for "drop forged".
Malleable iron is ok too, for lighter duty (fine for clamping wood, not fine for pressing ball joints, etc).
Yes, forged clamps are still made. A few years ago, Wilton had a promotion where they gave away a C clamp if you posted a picture of your Wilton vise. I got a beautiful new 6" 400 series C clamp with a copper plated screw that is at least as good as any comparable C clamp made in years past. lf you want to pay the price, yes, good stuff is still made.
Wilton's website shows that they also still make the 100 series clamps (I've got an old 106 that I think is inferior to the current crop) that are a close match to my Williams Agripps clamps, and even a 0 series C clamp that's just a total beast.
cbacres
Well-known member
Good point, I forgot to mention I'm rolling over my supply to mostley forged, can't beat the forged for really cranking down on.
I'd suggest looking for clamps that say both "USA" and "drop forged". They can usually be found cheap at swap meets and some estate sales. I generally pay $1 to $3 for clamps up to 6", more for larger. Good names include Cincinnati Tool, Hargrave, Armstrong, Wilton, Jorgensen, Williams. Here's the main GJ Clamp thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293054&highlight=show+clamps
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293054&highlight=show+clamps
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bob15
Well-known member
Old USA will typically be cheap in price, but you need to look at them first. Some can be abused badly. Even older companies like Bonney and Billings would suite 99% of the users out there.
The other option is Kant Twist. They are also very nice & handy to use:
The other option is Kant Twist. They are also very nice & handy to use:
Cope
Well-known member
Thirty years ago I picked up a pair of used New Strong 6" clamps. They are made in Tokyo, Japan and are drop forged. They appear to be as well made as my Wilton and other USA brands.
myboylito2008
Member
I would really appreciate it if someone can answer what the difference is between a C clamp that has UNBREAKABLE MADE IN USA on one side and MALLEABLE IRON on the other side and then a C clamp that only has 3 MALLEABLE on one side and MADE IN USA on the other but on that side also has a 6 at the top of the clamp and a F at the bottom of it? I want to sell them so I need to know how to list them. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Attachments
Most clamps that I have seen have the distance in inches that the screw can span on them, 4, 6, 8 etc. I have seen a few that have a model # on them that may or may not equate to the size in inches. Your "4" looks like an "A" to me. "UNBREAKABLE" seems to be a brand, it certainly is not "unbendable".
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-C-...a=0&pg=2499334&_trksid=p2499334.c100625.m3682
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-C-...a=0&pg=2499334&_trksid=p2499334.c100625.m3682
Farmall450
Well-known member
Bretny
Well-known member
Older craftsman have served me well but I'm sure there going for to high dollar now. I also have a pair of late 1990s Bessy bar clamps that litteraly pulled the walls together on my father's garage. We are talking one bar clamp over each wall below the roof and a come along in between.
Kant-twist are also a good clamp. There a dif design that people are use to but can clamp things in odd places that C or bar clamps can't.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QRKBWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Kant-twist are also a good clamp. There a dif design that people are use to but can clamp things in odd places that C or bar clamps can't.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QRKBWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
davethorik
Well-known member
It's funny, most c-clamps do look very similar, and they have a standardized numbering system, sort of. Some of the vintage clamps are given arbitrary numbers. For instance I have Armstrong, Proto, and Wilton 6" forged c-clamps, all with part number 406. They all look about the same.
Then, I have an Armstrong #3 that is a 6" heavy duty clamp with hardened spindle and square shank for wrench tightening. I have a Columbian #3 which is a light duty 3" clamp with "Mickey mouse ears" thumb screw.
C-clamps are ideally bought in quantity to get best per piece price. I picked up this bundle last year for $50. Wilton 4", 6", and a pair of 8", a Brink & Cotton 5", and a Hargrave 8".
