Introduced in 1936, the original BESSEY malleable cast iron bar clamp was the world’s first bar clamp. Clamp with traditional wood handles are still available and quite popular however, many models are now also available with composite plastic handles as well as with tommy bar (sliding pin) handles. Many of these Clamps have also been fitted with replaceable pressure pads that are easily replaced, and allow for replacement of damaged spindles.
- BESSEY anti-slip set screw is molded into the sliding arm and interlocks with the serrated rail to prevent slippage
- Corrugated malleable cast iron fixed jaw and sliding arm generate powerful, rigid clamping and the top jaw is press fitted to rail with no mechanical fasteners to loosen
- High quality profiled steel rail acts as a reliable reinforcement against torsional forces, while the serration on six faces additionally prevents the clamp from slipping
- Hardened, smooth running spindle with acme thread means quicker clamping action
- Comfortable composite plastic handle
Edyth Heidenreich (verified owner) –
I do a lot of finger joints on the router table. I have typically used a wooden screw clamp to hold the pieces being milled to the sled that rides on my fence. The problem with those clamps is they tend to pull the pieces out of alignment with the fence, the table top or both. This weekend I did finger joints for a display shelf and used this clamp to hold the pieces in place. I The clamp performed flawlessly and did an awesome job of keeping the wood firmly planted against the fence and the table top. I’ll never use wood screw clamps again for this task.As for the clamp, it is a perfect size for small jobs and the deep throat is a real plus. Adjustement is easy and I find the handle is easy on the hand.I can’t find any negatives about this clamp It’s a good addtion and certainly one that will get a good workout around the shop.
Cordelia Miller (verified owner) –
This is one honking big strong clamp. That should be expected from the 7 inch throat dimension, when a typical clamp has 3-4 inches, but I was still surprised at the size of this thing when I unpacked it. The pictures are deceiving, as the proportions are the same as a typical bar clamp, but this one is actually twice the size and several times the weight.Perfect for clamping the centers of things where other clamps won’t reach. The mechanism works just like any other bar clamp, just bigger. Some cheap bar clamps are limited in the amount of force they can generate by the flexing of the bar. Not this one, the bar is massive, it will never flex, so if you really need to crush something, this is the tool for that as well.
Greyson Hoppe (verified owner) –
I do a lot of finger joints on the router table. I have typically used a wooden screw clamp to hold the pieces being milled to the sled that rides on my fence. The problem with those clamps is they tend to pull the pieces out of alignment with the fence, the table top or both. This weekend I did finger joints for a display shelf and used this clamp to hold the pieces in place. I The clamp performed flawlessly and did an awesome job of keeping the wood firmly planted against the fence and the table top. I’ll never use wood screw clamps again for this task.As for the clamp, it is a perfect size for small jobs and the deep throat is a real plus. Adjustement is easy and I find the handle is easy on the hand.I can’t find any negatives about this clamp It’s a good addtion and certainly one that will get a good workout around the shop.
Adrien Rodriguez (verified owner) –
Great for deep clamping needs. A bit pricey but a must have for some projects. Surprisingly, Home Depot had the best price on the web.
Winifred Moen (verified owner) –
Top quality as I’ve come to know from Bessey. These clamps apply a tremendous amount of clamping force. This particular series of Bessey comprises 70% of the clamps in my shop.
Joanie Shanahan (verified owner) –
These things are hardcore. Probably overkill for most applications, but I love how deep the throat is and how strong these are. Great, big handle is easy to grip. Much easier than the smaller clamps. Oh, these things are very heavy, as you might have guessed. Easily the heaviest clamps I own. One last thing, the little “foot” on the tops of these things makes them ray level when resting them on your work surface.
Maryam Leuschke (verified owner) –
This isn’t the nice little clamp your mother-in-law got you for Christmas. This clamps are serious business. The reach of the throat and the long travel of the screw allows you to reach into places you may not have considered clamping. Also, this clamp can provide some SERIOUS pressure due to the great grip of the handle and it’s large diameter. The screw has a real acme thread pattern and it provides quick travel and serious force to the work piece. Let’s say you need to clamp something to the bottom middle portion of a toolbox or drawer, you can now do that with this clamp without touching the sides or needing to make cauls to help you apply the force where you need it.WeightThis clamp is heavy and not something you are going to casually throw in your tool belt and walk around with. The jaws are heavy enough that they often slide shut with enough force that you have to turn the screw to get them apart. Important note: don’t back the screw all they way out because when the jaws slide together you’ll have to take the clamp apart to get enough space to slide the jaws apart again! You can only do this so many times before the circular pad at the end of the screw won’t snap back into place.Recommended Uses:I used this clamp to force the bow out of long pieces of 2×10 and 2×6 during the construction of a pergola. This clamp can reach over and around large boards, then pull them together with great force. I recommend this clamp for straightening boards or clamping large items quickly and strongly to post or work benches. It’s practically like a portable vise with a really deep throat. I recommend you also wrap a piece of tape around the shaft three or four inches down from the top jaw to keep them from sliding shut and requiring disassembly to make usable again.Not Recommended For:Clamping soft wood for projects or clamping anything to nice furniture. The threads come well lubed and the large handle lets you apply so much more clamping force that you may be used to that you can ruin things that require a lighter touch.
Malika Schinner (verified owner) –
Well made clamp. Have used Bessey for many years, will continue because of their high quality.
Pete Mueller (verified owner) –
You just can never have too many clamps. This one is different from most because it has a deeper throat. It holds well, doesn’t weigh a ton, and works just like it should. Every woodworker or shop hobbyist needs at least one! Great gift for any handyman.
Timothy Bartell (verified owner) –
This clamp is great for joining heavy pieces of wood together or holding down material to the work bench, its great!
Hattie Crona (verified owner) –
The first thing to note is that this has a very large throat depth, which makes it suited to tasks more shallow clamps just couldn’t perform. However, if you don’t need it this deep, you can get a more shallow clamp for less – I’d highly recommend the others in this same line, they are all built to last and are a good price too. Personally, I got this because of the large depth, and have used it numerous times – having the right tool really makes a lot of difference.
Renee Zulauf (verified owner) –
I bought a new door for my 1924 cottage. The new door was slightly wider than the door opening, but it was the closest size I could find. I cut 1/2″ off the door width. I applied glue to the edge & attached a strip of veneer to cover my cut. I clamped this Bessy bar clamp to the door, holding the face & back, then I attached the Bessy dual spindle edge clamp attachment, to the bar clamp. I slipped a 3/4″ wood strip for even pressure distribution, between the edge clamp & veneer & tightened the edge clamp. The non-slip handles allowed me to tighten the clamps securely. I like the 7″ throat on the bar clamp. It allowed me to go deep onto the work surface. These are very heavy duty clamps & will probably last a lifetime.
Elsie Marks (verified owner) –
Another high quality Bessey clamp, works well, and is really great to have because of the unusually large throat depth.
Clementina Torp (verified owner) –
Great clamp, arrived quickly, highly recommend
Donna Stark (verified owner) –
The clamp did a fantastic job holding bathroom wall tile boards to our bathroom walls. We used liquid nails and the clamp to get the job done, and the clamp worked excellently. The clamp was easy to adjust and durable.
Mateo Kuphal (verified owner) –
This Bessey bar clamp is a solid, well-made tool that will be a welcomed addition to the garage! The 7 inch throat depth is certainly going to come in handy, as I find quite often that the usual clamps we have are not deep enough.It is made in Germany with cast iron jaws, a steel rail, and a composite handle. The pressure pads can be replaced when needed. The handle is very comfortable with areas of rubbery material for a non-slip grip. It weighs about 6 lbs. and has a clamping strength of 1320 lbs. This bar clamp is a serious, sturdy tool that I am sure will outlast any others that we have.