Old Wood Hand Screw Clamps Question

[jonshonda]

Found some old Wood Handscrew Clamps and was wondering if you guys could give me some advice. I know the ones with metal threaded rods are proven, but what about the ones with wooden threaded rods? Guy want's $5/pc for the small ones, and $10/pc for the bigger ones. So right around $120 for all of them.

Will they still be good users, or should I pass?

What should I look for when inspecting them?

 

[Cooter Brown]

I'd probably pass on the ones with wooden screws unless I wanted them for display. The old ones can be pretty dried out and delicate.

There are some in the pic with metal screws that appear to be Jorgensens or copies. These are by far the most versatile of all woodworking clamps and I snag as many as I can. I use them far more than F style clamps.

Not only are the Jorgensen type far tougher than the old ones with wooden screws, they are designed to allow off-parallel clamping.

In case you didn't know Jorgensen is out of business. A company called Dubuque Clamp Co. still makes nice handscrews.

 

[MoonRise]

+1 on pretty much what Cooter said.

The metal screw wooden jaw clamps are proven and very handy. They can't clamp everything though.

The wooden screw ones might be ok, but those screw diameters don't look all that big for wood. And the price is not great IMHO for 'antique ' tools if you are looking to actually use them.

 

[rlitman]

Considering the thickness of the rust on those threads, I'd say the price isn't that great at all (it would be fair if the threads looked reasonably clean). And I agree that the wooden screw clamps are just wall hangers.

I do very much like my steel screw wooden jaw clamps. I have Jorgenson, Pony, and Wetzler (and have seen Craftsman and some other names on them). On that note, the Wetzler clamps are head and shoulders better than their competition!

 

[Cooter Brown]

On that note, the Wetzler clamps are head and shoulders better than their competition!

You are a man who knows his clamps. I've never had my hands on a Wetzler handscrew, but Wetzler is without a doubt best of breed in all categories of clamps in my experience.

 

[jonshonda]

I looked around for Wetzler clamps...found none! Thanks for giving me another very difficult challenge of finding a SPECIFIC type of hand screw clamp...much less finding ANY decent older hand screw clamp!! haha

 

[rlitman]

I looked around for Wetzler clamps...found none! Thanks for giving me another very difficult challenge of finding a SPECIFIC type of hand screw clamp...much less finding ANY decent older hand screw clamp!! haha

Yeah, good luck on that quest.
Wetzler was a small premium brand that came to a sad end due to cheaper competition. I've got a few examples of their products, and I hold onto them as tightly as they hold onto other things.

Hey, I'm also a sucker for Williams Agrippa C clamps. They're another sure keeper along the never-ending search for "enough" clamps.

 

[exmaxima1]

Found some old Wood Handscrew Clamps and was wondering if you guys could give me some advice.....

Will they still be good users, or should I pass?

I would give MAYBE $2 each for the larger clamps with the metal threads. Would pass on everything else.

If you are getting into woodworking, treat yourself to some parallel-jaw style clamps (Bessey, Jet, Pony, etc). Much faster to adjust, pulls everything square, easy to clean, no pinched fingers (unlike the wood clamps). While I have a stack of wooden clamps, I rarely use them except when I need a long reach. Parallel jaws are my first option.

 

[rlitman]

I would give MAYBE $2 each for the larger clamps with the metal threads. Would pass on everything else.

If you are getting into woodworking, treat yourself to some parallel-jaw style clamps (Bessey, Jet, Pony, etc). Much faster to adjust, pulls everything square, easy to clean, no pinched fingers (unlike the wood clamps). While I have a stack of wooden clamps, I rarely use them except when I need a long reach. Parallel jaws are my first option.

That long reach is exactly why I keep them around. I can't say that I've ever pinched a finger with one either. I'm not even sure how you'd manage that.

I've got 30 Bessey K body parallel clamps, and do use them more, but they're very clunky for clamping smaller things, and are not a substitute for wood jaw clamps. They are however better in almost every way than my F clamps.

 

[exmaxima1]

That long reach is exactly why I keep them around. I can't say that I've ever pinched a finger with one either. I'm not even sure how you'd manage that.

Sometimes when I pick one up the wrong way, especially a larger one, the jaws shift and pinch my fingers into the threads. It's happen so many times that it is now a reflex for me to be careful with them.