I've got the same clamps and noticed that the long ones do flex when using the full length, but they seem to still hold. For the price its not bad to have a few extra along with the pipe clamps. The shorter clamps have worked great.
Yea that’s exactly what I was going to say, they pretty much do the same exact thing but cost is the different. I’m sure the $$$ clamps may use a different metal
Before video even started I gotta say, yes, harbor freight clamps are worth it. They have saved my butt many times as a mechanic that works solo, from holding a timing belt in place with the black plastic scissor style or being justified by price of bigger ones to modify into a new tool to press things into place or even building planter boxes and other medium scale projects they are worth the price. I would say 90-95% of the stuff in harbor freight is worth it and actually made by the big name companies and rebranded for them just like every other tool on the market. 30 years as a mechanic and the tool companies are a giant pyramid scheme, especially those overpriced trucks.
I would agree with you 100%! Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. I appreciate it! Got a cool video about an awesome tape measure coming out tomorrow. Hope you watch
I’ve got some Bessey f style clamps and some harbor freight ones. I’ll reach for the harbor freight ones first, simply because the twist grip on the Bessey’s are slick as snot and the Pittsburg ones have rubber over mold and are easier to grip.
I have noticed bowing on all the harbor freight clamps, from the 36" to 12" clamps. Other issues I have found is the grey pads get destroyed really quick.
Hey! Nice to meet you too. Yeah Zach is great. I just had lunch with him to day. It’s funny cause I was just going to check your channel out. I love the paranormal.
When the 30" HF bar clamp flexes like that, is the clamp's contact pad still making full contact with the edge of the work piece? It almost looks like the contact patch might not be square to the face anymore and is applying more pressure at the top of the piece than at the bottom? But like you said, pipe clamps won't flex like that for the larger pieces.
I use HF clamps mostly. I have seen the same issue with flexing but I shim up under the clamp between the work piece and the bar in the middle and the flex is reduced significantly. Any way an extra step to save lots of $$ is nice. Like you said in a production environment it makes sense to have the stronger clamps
Yeah I agree. Around Halloween we stay in uncertain Tx at the Johnson Ranch Marina. Really cool cabins. My next videos thumbnail will actually have a picture from there.
90% of my clamps are from HF. They work fine. I do have 1 issue. I was making a 36” x 36” table top so I bought 4 36” aluminum bar clamps at HF. Turns out they are a hair over 35”.
I have the smaller ones and they work well. For the smaller F-clamps you can catch them on sale at HD in a bundle for the same price and they are bessey ones. I bought a few bundles last year, but the smaller HF ones are fine. If you use cauls on your glue up to keep things aligned and the bow won't be that big of a deal. I ripped a could small pieces of 2x4 for that and covered the face I put against the glue up in packing tape. The HF parallel clamps (blue and sliver ones) with the aluminum bars are OK, but flex even worse. They are a Rockler knock off. You can rip a chunk of 2x4 to fit in the clamp to fix the twisting. After that they do OK. I use them for glue ups and have made some nice thick 2x4 shelves with them. This is the guide I used for the HF parallel clamps...... paulsellers.com/2011/11/4473/ He also has a video on it somewhere. I see you post on our Neighborhood or city FB page. I dabble a bit in wood working.
