Jorgensen 3712 12-Inch Steel Bar Clamp
From Jorgensen
12" Steel Bar Clamp, 2.5" Reach Features A Sliding Head Design, Most Popular Light Duty Steel Bar Clamps, Made In USA.
- Amazon Sales Rank: #56759 in Home Improvement
- Brand: Jorgensen
- Model: 3712
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 4.50" h x 1.00" w x 16.25" l, 1.83 pounds
Perfect for fixtures or small boxes, the 12-inch steel bar clamp has a 2-1/2-inch reach and a sliding head design. The sliding head is threaded to accommodate the screw. All adjustments are made in the movable sliding head, making this style easy to open and close and suitable for close-quarters clamping. A multiple-disc clutch permits instant adjustment, secure hold, and easy release. The strong yet lightweight bars are rust-resistant. Constructed of 1/4-by-3/4-inch plated steel with a 3/8-inch-diameter steel screw. 600-pound clamping pressure.
Good light-duty clamp
Jorgensen 3712 12" Steel Bar Clamp
I've been using the Jorgensen 12", 24", and 30" clamps, for 20 years. They are good quality and have not rusted or otherwise deteriorated.. The 12" has been the most useful to me. The shorter length is easier to deal with (when it fits the work), and they seem to clamp with greater force than the longer clamps. The bar on the 24" and up size bends quite a bit towards the work if you really tighten the screw handle. There's nothing wrong with that as long as you realize these are not heavy duty; e.g., for my drawer construction, these are strong enough. Light duty also means a lot less weight to deal with than heavier bar clamps.
The principle feature of these clamps is that when the movable end is slid into position, it stays there on its own; because of the metal disk clutch design. This allows for one handed operation, whereas clamp designs without the clutch are more difficult to set with one hand. For woodworking, the rubber tip protectors provide some protection against denting the wood, although dents are still possible on some woods if excessive force is used. (Ensure that the pads are grease-free on first use.) One issue is the pads sometimes slip off the clamp ends. I also use these clamps in construction jobs (where those protective pads aren't really needed), and they have worked well. A well-equipped shop should have a wide variety of clamp types, weights, and lengths; and this model fills an important need. E.g., my shop has about 60 clamps, with 16 of them being various sizes of this model.
Jorgensen Bar Clamps
What's not to like from a company that makes clamps in many different configurations? They perform just as you would expect them to, and the quality control is appropriate - each of the clamps worked just fine. Amazon would sell a maximum of three per customer which makes no sense whatsoever; unless there is a new government luxury tax on purchases of four or more, I couldn't understand this limitation.
And why Amazon? Well, it seems that no one in my home city of Salem, Oregon carries American-made clamps any more. Amazon's shipping was free (over a $25.00 order) and the glue-ups for these bedroom sets could wait the few days for the packages to arrive.
have plenty
One of the essentials when setting up a shop. You need multiples of all sizes. The Jorgensen along with the Pony pipe clamps are my favorites. They are easy to set up and use, they hold the piece tight and with the rubber pads they don't mar the wood. They also make a 24" and above with a ratcheting system (very nice). You can't go wrong with Jorgensen.
