BESSEY IBEAM60, 60 In. Heavy Duty IBEAM Clamp

Prompt, timely and accurate.

I've always used the pistol grip squeeze type clamps for my wood working projects. They are light weight and easy to handle, but don't have the ability to squeeze panels and other pieces of wood into place during glue ups. I recently started on some end grain cutting boards and was struggling to get the 2x2 hardwood strips to close up completely during the gluing process. I bought 4 of the 24" Ibeam clamps and was immediately blown away by how heavy they are and how much clamping force they generate. I found that very little torque was needed to adequately close up any lingering gaps, and that the force used was way below the max force the clamp could apply (ie you can really wring them down and crush the wood, but what's the point of that? Torque until the gaps close up and you're Bob's nephew.)As one would imagine, the cast iron faces are not super friendly to finished wood surfaces. You can get away w/ it on hardwoods, but any soft wood would benefit from some cauls to keep the jaws off the work surface. The faces of the castings are a little rough too - a few strokes w/a file to knock off the flash is helpful. The overall action of the screws and sliding jaw is great, and the plated I beam is plenty heavy to support HD clamping jobs.Overall I still like the light duty clamps for regular work, but the Ibeam models are a welcome addition to my shop and will find lots of use.

Really nice! industrial grade. Worth it!

These clamps gets the job done. I usually use mines to clamps cabinet doors and they work great

This is a sturdily built clamp and adjusting it is very easy.

Side by side, the Bessey I-bar clamp and Jorgensen’s I-bar appear identical but for the color of the paint on the heads and cams. They both have wide enough bearing surfaces to keep them flat and upright on a level surface while clamping. The clamping power is excellent and takes less hand strength to tighten than the parallel clamps that both makers offer, although the screw on the Jorgensen is significantly thinner in diameter. Both clamps will last a lifetime, so it makes more sense to invest in them if you are just starting woodworking. I’ve given the nod to the Bessey because the sizes seem to be more readily available than the Pony.

The chromed shaft makes it so easy to pop glue off. And the slide-lock action seems to grab way better than the much older Jorgenson equivalent. The price is nice too, especially if you can catch them on sale. The only con is that Amazon sends them in a cheap box that self destructs by the time you receive them. Make sure and note the damage if you see the UPS driver. If they drop them on your porch and any are missing through the holes in the box, call Amazon right away. In my case the package arrived when I wasn't there, but a quick count assured me that all had survived the journey. Oh and Bessey warranty support is top notch! I had one clamp handle slide off of the shaft as it wasn't attached well enough. So I called Bessey and they asked my address and proof of purchase, and then they sent me a brand new replacement within a week.

You only Get one, shows 2 in the add. But really sturdy, would buy again, but need to show only getting 1 item not 2