Aldav's Parallel Clamps

[charlie250393]

A couple of weeks back I purchased four 24" parallel clamps from Aldav and have been experimenting with them. Having never used parallel clamps before I can't comment on how these clamps compare to the Bessy K bodies available from Masters and Carbatec other than to note that they are significantly cheaper. From Aldav's Ebay store they are $110 for a pair of the 24". A range of other sizes are available.

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/david_bidding/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

My impressions
-These clamps are very solid, well machined and very neat. The handle is nicely shaped making it easy to grip and tighten without slipping.

-The large base on each clamping head make the clamps very stable when laid out on the bench giving me one less thing to worry about during glue up.

-The large plastic coated head seems to do a good job at dispersing the clamping force without the use of spacers, despite applying excessive pressure at times I haven't bruised the edges of my work yet.

I have used them to glue up some medium sixed panel and assemblies and these clamps have quickly become my favourites, I grab them first and have begun to avoid doing further glue ups until they are free again. They are simply a pleasure to use and I can't wait to get my hands on some more.

[rwbuild]

If you look further the same clamps are $94-00, $164-00, $122-00 and yours @ $110-00, you tell me whats going on because I think they are probably rubbish and someone is trying to make a buck off the back of Besseys prices but time will tell. Keep up your reports on them, if they are good long term then they will be worth it.

[chambezio]

I am in agreeance with Charlie. Mine are 900 mm capacity. They are very nicely presented with a bright "chrome like" finish on the main shaft while the handle and the jaws are plastic coated. I haven't had mine long and have only used them a few times. I used them to bring together stick and coped joints on some cabinet doors. They were able to deliver enough pressure to bring the joints together well. I have a larger job for them to do when I can get to it. The cold weather is slowing down my efforts in the shed and I also have to keep an eye on the combustion heater....:roll: in the lounge room- (minus 4° over night)

[aldav]

Thanks for your positive comments on these guys. They are indeed a very good thing, well made, excellent value and a quality long term investment. As both of you are aware they can be bought for less than the Ebay prices by contacting me through the forum.

Not much I can say in reply to rwbuild, who obviously has never seen these clamps or used them and doesn't appear to understand that they are available in 6 different sizes, which accounts for the price variations. I get tired of people who make comments that are based on nothing and paint me as either a crook, an idiot or a purveyor of junk. His comments surprise me because I have seen him offer very valuable and worthwhile advise and assistance to other forum members at times. Surely it's possible to express a level of scepticism without being offensive? I don't see myself as either a crook or an idiot and simply try to pass on the benefit of good buying of quality products by dealing direct with manufacturers and cutting out the middleman. I don't sell any products that I either don't or wouldn't use myself.

Cheers,
David

[rwbuild]

I apologies Dave, I made the assumption they were a cheap knock off on ebay but going by the replies, they are ok.

[chambezio]

Just an observation of what Dave has for sale on Ebay, there are only "selected" items. By that I mean that he has gone through a suppliers inventory and only picked out a small quantity of items that are for sale. It seems he has done his "homework" and only stocks what he thinks are a viable item;re....quality and price.
I am tempted with his all carbide, up cut spiral router bits.

[aldav]

Chris Parks recently made some comments on these clamps in another thread, see here (post #13) - http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=189257

Cheers,
David

[Chris Parks]

My ears were burning. I am very happy with the clamps and I have asked Dave if he can source some others which the Dollar makes a bit hard to justify but he may have the same issue.

[aldav]

Hi Chris, Well we're all getting older but at least your ears are still working OK! :D

I got a sample order (quite a few) of those other clamps in this morning and will be listing some on EBay today. I can see why you like them, much more versatile than most clamps of that type and extremely well made. Makes the fixed opening, similar style Irwin ones look pretty ordinary by comparison. I think Lee Valley must have bought them when the US$ was low, the A$ has taken such a hiding over the past 18 months. :C

Cheers,
David

[Chris Parks]

Funny story about those clamps. I was using them and wishing they would open wider and then after a while the penny dropped, the jaws have their own adjustment!

[Tom_Cruiser]

I bought a couple of David's 600mm clamps a couple of years ago at a vintage and antique tools sale in Hawthorn, albeit they had a different brand name. The clamps are excellent the best and most useful in my collection to date. My only regret is that I didn't take enough cash to buy a couple more of a longer variety. I went to the next sale and David wasn't there. Thanks to this forum, I've tracked him down again so I can now get some more.
Tom

[aldav]

Hi Tom,

Yes, that would have been at one of the HTPAA sales at Hawthorn when I had the Stekol (Jet) clamps. As the A$ went down they got so expensive (you probably paid around $110 a pair for yours, now they would be around $160 :o) that it prompted me to look for an alternative. Hence I'm now selling Parallel Action Clamps.

I have attended the HTPAA sales on occasions, but it has proved not really worthwhile because they have so many sales, it's so far to go and the sales simply don't justify the effort and expense. However, I will be attending the annual TTTG sale at Thornleigh on 28th Feb and I would commend it to all the Sydney forum members, it's terrific! I just have to make sure I make more than I spend. :rolleyes:

Always happy to discuss or answer queries regarding any of my products with forum members and of course I offer a discount to members on all of my products. Just PM me.

Cheers,
David

[fubar]

I have been using the Stekol clamps for a while now and have enjoyed good 370154370155370157 service from them and as you can never have too many clamps I ordered a few of the parallel jaw clamps in the 600mm and 1000mm and after using them for a couple of weeks here's my impressions.
I'll start with the handles, to my hands they are smaller than the besseys and not as grippy so I've found myself using a piece of non-slip material to help grip and tighten.
The lengths of the bars are also shorter than the besseys.
These are only minor annoyances as the clamps are parallel and clamp well.
The bar is a heavier gauge and doesn't deflect as much as the Besseys.
When undoing the clamping pressure unlike Bessys the screw moves very easily.
The clamps sit nicely one on top of the other and are quite stable.
Overall very good value for the money.
I apologise for the photo placement as I cannot get them to go in correct order .
they are supposed to be pics of the packaging then contents and use.

plus David is a pleasure to deal with and delivery was prompt and with good tracking.