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GearKlamp

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Has anyone used a Bessey GearKlamp (or similar?) - it’s kind of like a F clamp where the handle for rotating the screw is in line with and wraps the bar so that it’s very compact. If so, did you like it?
 
Never heard of them so, no I haven't used them. However, the concept sounded familiar: Axminster do the same sort of thing:


I've never used them either though so I can't comment on what they're like. Seems a good idea for some awkward access spots.

I've got a couple of the Otoro clamps which have an alternative approach to what is perhaps the same problem. They work okay, although the clamping pad plastic is much too hard (compared to my Axminster F-clamps) so you need to use some bits of wood to protect the thing you're clamping.
 
I don’t own any gearklamps but I have tried them at a couple of shows & they seem very good indeed. I didn’t buy any as I can’t see them doing anything I can’t do with the varied selection of clamps I already have.
I’m going to Harrogate with the intention of getting a few Bessey one handed clamps with the rotating handle as I can definitely see those being very useful.
 
I don’t own any gearklamps but I have tried them at a couple of shows & they seem very good indeed. I didn’t buy any as I can’t see them doing anything I can’t do with the varied selection of clamps I already have.
I’m going to Harrogate with the intention of getting a few Bessey one handed clamps with the rotating handle as I can definitely see those being very useful.
I'd never heard of those rotating handle clamps and I see what you mean.

These look like a good idea too:


For now at least, I think I've got enough clamps! No doubt that will change at some point.
 
I have a pair of the 150mm long gear clamps, and have a bit bit of love hate relationship with them, they work brilliantly in some situations but not all, and can be a bit tricky to set up as I find the need to use both hands to position them, so I am selective as to where and how I use them.
 
I have 4 of them. They are of good quality and do as promised (as is usual for Bessey). But I find myself using them only in situations where normal clamps don't fit. I don't use them as general purpose clamps. Think of how often you would really have needed such clamps in your last projects. If it isn't that often, then maybe reconsider. These clamps are not exactly cheap. I like them. But I don't think I would actually miss them if they were gone.
 
This is a lot of excellent information. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and alternatives.

The Ax one looks better to my eyes than the Bessey with the Ax one having a larger movable jaw. The Bessey one looks like it might have been over complicated so it would be patentable? Hard to know without hands on.

The Bessey 360 quick clamps are appealing.

The Otoro is perhaps better still with the control mechanism attached to the fixed jaw.

I quite frequently like to clamp to a horizontal surface with limited room for manoeuvre below (because my bench is actually a mitre saw stand) but don’t want a clamp that projects too far above the surface either so the bar needs to point down. Having the controls at the top would be convenient.

Is it straightforward to buy stuff from Dieter Schmid?
 
I don't have that type of clamp from them, but I do have other clamps from Otoro and I can vouch for their quality. They make good stuff.

As for Dieter Schmidt: they are very easy to deal with and whenever I had some issue (not often) they always took care of it. Their site is easy to use and international orders are not problem at all. I ordered from them from both NL and SE and both the payment and the delivery were a breeze.

HTH
 
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