For all you Christmas shoppers looking for a gift idea for a fellow woodworker, please do not buy him/her a QUICK-GRIP “handi-clamp. These things are manufactured by American Tool; part no.59200. They are small, yellow colored hand clamps, with black plastic swiveling jaw pads. The clamp is operated by squeezing together 2 handles ( similar to small spring clamps). There is a ratchet type mechanism that is to suppose to keep pressure on the handles and will continue to do so until the lever on this rachet mechanism is released.
Everyone may remember Quick-Grip for manufacturing the long bar clamps that could be tightened and loosened with one hand. They made this particular clamp in several different lengths. These clamps were all black with removable, yellow rubber jaw pads. This clamp, I dearly liked. Soooo, when I received a set of these small spring type clamps as a birthday present, I was looking forward to using them. Well, I have used them….and simply put, they don’t work!
No matter how hard you squeeze, the pressure exerted by the clamping jaws are simply not enough to hold anything in place. The idea of a clamp is to hold something firm in position….this particular clamp can’t hold anything…least not tight enough to keep things in proper alignment. I even tried using the clamp as a simple stop block that I could butt wood against when making cuts with my radial arm saw. Forget that too. The slightest bump by the wood, and the clamping jaws move; making it unsuitable as a fence stop block.
Had I bought these, I would have returned them by now. Since they were a gift, I’ll be glad to give them away to anyone who wants them. I can tell you right now that they will not be used for anything in my shop.
IMHO, whatever amount they cost, even 10 cents, they simply are not worth the money! Sadly, they are made right here in America. Woodworkers contend with enough crap coming from Mexico, Taiwan, and China. We don’t need the USA to start following suit. All I can say is…..”Quality Control Dept…You dropped the ball!”
Merry Christmas to all.
Davo
Replies
You should send your post to the company.
Bear
I should send this post to the manufacturer....only, alas I am lazy, and I'm hoping they ( manufacturer) will read it here in Breaktime instead. Anybody who's anybody logs on to Breaktime, right? ha! ha!
Merry Christmas.
Davo
It's true. I've tried the things out. You'd have a hard time mashing your finger with those things. Neil Youngs tune 'Piece of Crap' fits them perfectly.
Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Hey rez,
You must have been reading my mind, cause I even tried that too! I figured if the clamps couldn't grip anything, what the heck, maybe they could at least grab onto my finger. I pulled my finger free every time. I even clamped my shirt sleeve to it, again I could work my shirt sleeve free of the clamp. Pretty worthless.
Merry Christmas.
Davo
I agree. Small plastic paper clips have more clamping ability than those morphodite things you're speaking so eloquently of.
But I'm not fond of the quik grip bar clamps either. I'm spoiled by having a set of old old bar clamps with a large thumbscrew and a bar stiff enough to actually do something with. And pipe clamps are a relatively inexpensive way to build a clamp inventory and they have some advantages too, like being able to offset the clamping surfaces.
And there's an assortment of vise grip pliers with various end to seriously tackle the kind of thing you might want to do with one of those hand-held things.
Jules Quaver for President 2004
Hi Notchman.
Well, I do like the bar clamps, because at least I could temporarily clamp something one handed ( hold onto the wood with one hand and clamp it with the other...where's that darn helper when you need him eh?) and the clamp would hold well enough until I was able to put a beefier pipe clamp or C clamp on it as well.
I tried clamping a piece of 1/2 inch ply to a 2X2 the other day with those new-fangled clamps and it became comical.....I locked the clamp on, walked 2 steps away to retrieve a second clamp, and watched the plywood fall to the floor. I went back over, readjusted the whole thing, squeezed harder on the clamp; walked away, and it happened again. This time, I muttered a few good cuss words, squeezed on the darn lil clamp till my knuckles were turning white....and lo and behold ....same thing happened again.
Later that evening, I started to get an inferiority complex. Over at the local shopping mall, I just had to try my luck with one of those 25 cent machines that test your gripping strength. Well, I only used one hand and I was able to light up all the red lights on the machine. Got the top score possible...I think it said I had a "GORILLA GRIP" or something . Made me feel better...least I knew for sure it was the clamps and not me. Heck, I even tried using those clamps by squeezing it with both of my hands and the darn thing still wouldn't hold nothing.
It surely is a piece of junk!
Merry Christmas.
Davo
The Quick-Grip bar clamps are useful, in my experience, for two things: a) holding boards still while doing something to them (e.g., routing an edge), and b) clamping some items that would slip and slide if clamped by a regular clamp. Example: I recently had to clamp a dutchman on the corner of the lower rail of my porch balustrade. Any other form of clamp, except maybe wooden handscrews, would have slipped; the quick-grip clamps have enough flex to accommodate to the off-center pressure needed. A wooden handscrew might have done the job too, but holding all those bits and operating a handscrew would be past my capacity -- not enough hands.
But as a bar clamp? Forget it. Even the Jorgensen "Pony" clamps, not my favorite, are superior.
I tend to agree with you, as I do use the quick grip bars occasionally as a 3rd hand. But I don't particularly like them. The slick plastic, the cheesy little rubber tips that are soon history....I think the basic clamp could be improved some.
And the original poster is right...those little hand clamps are about as useful as the factory jack that came with my diesel pickup.Jules Quaver for President 2004
Tell us how you really feel Davo?
Hi Novy.
I guess you could say I'm on a tirade....but actually I'm on a crusade!
My fellow Americans...blah blah blah.....It's time we put the word PRIDE back into our vocabulary! blah blah blah....
It's way overdue to start holding Corporate America; specifically Corporate CEO's personally responsible for fettering away all our hard earned values pertaining to fairness, good craftsmenship, family values, jobs, and environmental practices, all for the sake of making another dollar; which ultimately never ends up in the working man's pocket anyway...blah blah blah.
It's time we take the word NAFTA and turn it into a dirty word! blah blah blah
It's time we take anyone and everyone who promotes NAFTA, and the concept that "money comes before all else in this world, and the working man be damned", and throw those greedy corporate mongers out of office. Tar and feather them. and bannish them to work as professional diswashers for Emeral Live, BAM! Bam!...er...I mean Blah, blah blah.
It's time we reintroduce the concept that our tooling for machinery should not all go to Taiwan and that if it's not American made ( you Canadians can object anytime...) then it's not worth buying. blah blah blah...
In conclusion, I hereby volunteer for the measely salary of 3 Million Dollars per year ( plus stock options of course and don't forget my Million Dollar, untaxable GOLDEN PARACHUTE CLAUSE, which goes into effect immediately after working just 1 hour on my first day on the job, and is payable in full to me should I say something derrogatory and you all should fire my butt before I finish the 2nd hour of my first day on the job) to be your NATIONAL QUALITY CONTROL CZAR.
As the new NQC Czar, My first priority will be to throw in jail all corporate heads who moved their companies abroad and helped in the laying off of the American masses. I will reclaim all tooling sent to China, Taiwan, Mexico, India, Vietnam, Japan, and anywhere else I deem appropiate and confiscate his and put it back into the hands of the commomn working man. Woodworking machinery will once again be made from cast iron and no longer contain any plastic parts. Tennis shoes will no longer be made for pennies in South America and sold back here for $100 a pair. Instead, tennis shoes will be made here in the States and will only cost you $35 a pair, and "YOU'LL GONNA LIKE EM!" blah blah blah
In conclusion, my fellow Americans, remember to....don't spit into the wind, don't tug on superman's cape, don't mess with Leroy Brown, and or Slim, and...........
Have a Merry Christmas!!!!!
Davo
As a proud Canadian, I might object, but .......
You WERE having a little fun, were you?
By any chance did you go to the Milton Freedman School of Economics?
At my age, my fingers & knees arrive at work an hour after I do.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
"you were having a little fun were you..."
ABSOLUTELY!
As for the Milton Freedman School of Economics...I'm sorry, but I don't know who Milton Freedman is. I was always partial to Keynes...."you got to spend money in order to make money."
Only trouble with that philosophy is....I keep on spending...but I'm sure not making any! Oh well.
And By The Way....Iv'e only traveled to Canada twice, but loved it both times....and...when the steel mill I worked for was in a Strike/Lock-out battle that lasted a few days shy of a full 1 year, we were visited several times and given aide by our Union Brothers from Canada.
If I can't be a Damn Yankee, then make me a Crazy Canuck for sure!
Merry Christmas
Davo
OLD COLLEGE PROVERB:
"The more I study, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I know. The more I know, the more I forget,...............SO WHY STUDY!!!"
Hey Davo - Haven't you ever heard of the expression "The right tool for the right job"? What you have there is not a tool for clamping at all, oh no. What you have been given by mistake is a stage prop.
You see, here in Canada (and from what I see it's the same in the States) stage props are a HUGE market. In fact, we even have a gigantic and hugely successful national chain of stores, (known as C#@%&Y Tire) who's business is based entirely on the massive sales of stage props. And while some fine stage props are made domestically, the best ones are imported from all around the world!!
So what you actually have there is not a piece of cr@pp at all, but a perfectly good prop for anyone who wants to play the role of a tradesman !!!!!
: ) - Brian
Milton Freedman, Nobel Prize winner in Economics in the 70s I think, University of Chicago.
BTW, I love going to the Excited States of Amigo except it's too damn expensive!At my age, my fingers & knees arrive at work an hour after I do.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Aaron
Thats why I'm going skiing in Canada next week....I get so much more for my US buck....Nice skiing too
HAppy holidays
Namaste
AndyOne works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Or tell beLowes and homecrappo to quit selling the sh+t. Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
Or tell beLowes and homecrappo to quit selling the sh+t.
Rez
that was the first thing I thought as well,but I'll bet you ten to one they invested in the manufacturer. seems right up their alley.
aOne works on oneself, always. That's the greatest gift you can give to community because the more you extricate your mind from that which defines separateness, that defines community. The first thing is to become community. "Ram Dass"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Hear hear! You have my vote...
Levis just moved out of the US to Bangladesh or someplace where workers get paid 12 cents an hour in unsafe conditions, and ifn they ask for 13 cents an hour, Levi Co will promptly move to somewhere the slaves get paid 9 cents an hour...
NAFTA was one of the worst things that ever happened to our economy...It wasn't a Democrats, idea, was it?
Jennifer
"Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results" "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" A. Einstein
Hi Jen.
Unfortunately, I think NAFTA was universally voted in by the Democrats and Republicans alike. NAFTA was presented and encouraged by the Clinton Administration...but both parties approved it into law.
Actually, Levis was one of the first companies to offer free education to children in their factories. Yes, they work long hours, and it is dangerous, but we can't compare life and work in 3rd world countries with ours. The kid's alternatives for work are very few and worse. Welding shops and prostitution are the 2 most common.
We in the US work hard to make a better life for our children, hoping that they will live easier then we do. Saddly, it is not so common in many 3rd world countries. If the family can't make money off their children then, in many times, they are put on the street.
If Levi or any other multi-national moves out of a country or area, it is a huge lose to the community. Funny, it's not the non-government organizations that are building the infrastructure in these countries. Multi-nationals, though for their own benefit, build roads, harbors, bring electric and water in,and so much more that we take for granted. There's a spill over effect, now the roads are in the farmer can bring his produce to the city, somebody needs to make shoes for all the new workers, and so on.
I know it is not ideal, but it is the most effective way to bring a country out of poverty.
Davo,........In the last three months I have attended two focus group discussions sponsored by American Tools. The local Manufacture/Rep asked a few of the tradesmen in the area to attend and get paid to discuss clamps. At these meetings I suggested dropping posts on this board. But they wanted to talk face to face with real people. I seems that American tool has been taken over by a young and aggresive management team that is trying very hard to improve and upgrade all of the products they have. If you have a suggestion or a way to improve the Qwick Grip clamp, I'm sure they would be interested. They are very friendly, open, and generous.
I personally own a couple of those clamps. But don't expect much out of them other than to hold something tempoarily, which comes in handywhen I only have one hand free. They [American Tool] also offer a version of the Quick Grip Clamp that has a screw handle to tighten the clamp for added security.
I Still think these boards would be a good source of information for their company.
InTheCleftOfHisHand
ford
Yup, they missed with that clamp. Looks good though, that's why I tried a pair when I first saw them. Worked okay for a while but all of a sudden I can't get them to bite at all. I thought it was the racheting bar thing between the handles, or I just wasn't bright enough to figure out what was wrong.
A couple weeks ago I went to JLCLive in Portland and there was a booth there virtually giving those things away. I have a small but growing collection of the black, bar type, Quick-clamps, and I really like them (danged things are expensive!), use them all the time in the shop, but those quick-grips and I don't seem to have any common ground.
Good try fellas, but that tool needs a little refinement.
I wonder if those clamps could be reworked by the owners and put to a good funtional use? Retool the notches? Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
I just send them an email asking them to look up this thread. Interesting to see what they do (or if they will read it, but not comment).
Checking their home page I see that they make/own, Irwin, Hanson, Record, Mapples, Speedbore, Vise-Grips and a number of other tools brands.
They are now owned by RubberMaid.
do not waste your time trying to explain the wonders of dear "Uncle Miltie" to a Keynesian- your time would be better spent explaining Adam Smith to Lenin
you must be lonely in the land of "free" health care-
m
Hi Ford.
What is PRIMARILY wrong with this specific clamp that is being manufactured by American Tool is......it simply doesn't work! I personally agree with Jim Blodgett that the ratcheting mechanism may be in need of refinement. I also feel the black (pad) swivel jaws are a real problem. There is just enough backlash in the swiveling jaws to allow the piece being clamped to shift and work itself free of the clamping pressure.
If the American Tool Co is soooo agressive as you say, then I would think they would persue ALL AVENUES when seeking input involving their product. They should at least review what is being said in this post...although they will not like the results....for I believe everyone here except you have given this particular clamp a flunking grade.
As for the fact that American Tool manufactures other types of clamps that may work better.....I needn't remind you that I am aware of some of those products and indeed use and whole hearted support their use in my everyday work. HOWEVER, this particular clamp (Quick Grip Handi-Clamp) should work as it was intended, or else be taken off the market. The fact that American manufactures several clamp varieties does not excuse them from faults found with the Handi-Clamp.
To American Tool....if you by chance read this post...I would say....pull the stock from the shelves and rework this design until it actually works....Anything less than a refund simply proves that this company is out to make a buck...even when the product they are selling is useless.
Davo
Just a quick clarification here so that American Clamping is not confused with American Tools. American Clamping distributes the Besey Powergrip clamp, which is made in Germany and is, in my opinion, the best one-hand bar clamp on the market. I wrote a positive review of the Powergrip in FHB #130. The black and yellow thing that Davo describes is not worth what the cat covers.