So are these Clamps any good

Rob Keeble

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12,633
Location
GTA Ontario Canada
I heard the Groz was a good parallel clamp but that was the first batch as i understood it with the yellow in them somewhere.
http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-guide/product-finder/gross-stabil-pc2-parallel-jaw-clamp.aspx

Now Glenn got the juices in me all stirred up to finally take the plunge on buying some parallel clamps, had settled on buying Bessey or Jorgies but then Glen pointed out this deal.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2085883/42523/Groz-Parallel-Clamp-Set.aspx

So i wondered anyone got any of these exact versions and what they like. I been down the road of cheap clamps so i am more than once bitten twice shy.

Thanks in advance.
 
Rob,

I have a bunch of the Gros-Stabil line. I like them a lot.

However, Bessey bought the company and killed the G+S clamps. If you want some, you need to come here to London and visit http://www.federatedtool.com/. They bought out a truckload (or more) of them when Bessey was getting rid of the stock. Their prices are comparable to that woodcraft link. I think they still have tons, but you would be advised to call the store first and ask if you really want some. Some sizes are more plentiful than others.

Not familiar with the Groz line.

I can say that I really do NOT care for the Irwin Parallel clamps -- they're very heavy, and I don't like how they bite into the bars. (but I know someone who likes them for precisely those two reasons.)

...art
 
Rob, Gros-Stabil is not Groz. Two separate companies. I love my Gros-Stabil clamps, and will use them instead of my Besseys any day of the week. Much better product, IMO. If you can still get your hands on the Gros-Stabil clamps, do it. And I have no experience at all with the Groz clamps.
 
I'd check this out if I were on your side of the border: http://www.federatedtool.com/2012-Open-House.pdf. I have several of the original Bessey K-Bodys. I also have a selection of the Groz knock-offs. The Groz are not of the quality of the original K-Bodys but, they are dimensionally identical and so I can use them mixed together without issue; same height off the bench, same lengths etc. If I didn't have a base selection of clamps to consider (and I could get them) I would be all over that Gross-Stabil offer; four of each would be a good start.

The Gross-Stabil, Bessey, Jorgie and Jets all get pretty high marks. The Irwin parallel clamps at my local BORG are poorly made with heads that do not align which makes them questionable as a parallel clamp. I find the Jorgies and Jets to be a bit clunky but, that is probably just because I have used the relatively smaller K-Bodys for so long; I find the Revo's clunky too :dunno:. Like anything we get used to, similar items that are subtly different sometimes seem more different than they are :thumb:.
 
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Thanks all just what i thought was happening. I missed the subtlety of the Stabil part but i caught them on the color.:D Thank you all for the input saved my bacon i figure. I will go the route of the tried and tested such that i can supplement the stock over time rather than end up with odds and ends. I can relate to what you describe Glenn in more ways than one. Thanks i appreciate the feedback. Yippee managed to get one over on the cheap gene again. :rofl:
 
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