Dewalt has 2 new ToughSeries hybrid bar clamps, in 12″ and 24″ sizes.
The premise of the Dewalt hybrid clamps is simple. Squeeze the trigger to exert up to 300 lbs of clamping force, or use the screw handle to increase the holding force up to 825 lbs.
Both clamps feature a removable fixed jaw, which can be attached to the opposite side of the bar for use as a spreader.
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The screw handle also has a through-hole for use with a screwdriver or other type of solid bar for exerting higher torque.
Additionally, two hybrid clamps can be attached together for extended length. The necessary coupling fasteners are included with the clamps.
Price: $42-50 for 12-inch (DWHT83600), $45-55 for 24-inch (DWHT83601)
At this time, Acme’s pricing is better for both sizes.
Discussion
I think I like the concept. Use the squeeze-trigger for quick clamping tasks, and the screw handle for when greater clamping pressure is needed. This seems simple and convenient.
The clamps seem a little pricey, but you get 2-in-1 handle styles, plus the ability to couple two clamps together without needing to buy additional hardware.
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For some users, it might be worthwhile to buy separate trigger or screw-style clamps. The Dewalt clamps look to give you the functionality of both.
There could be benefit in buying separate trigger and screw-style clamps if you need more than 825 lbs of pressure, or want smaller and less-featured trigger-style bar clamps.
It looks like the same release clutch is used regardless of how the clamping pressure is applied.
Mike
Great idea here. Surprised no one thought of this sooner. Pricing on the other hand is a bit high. Maybe there will be some deals for the holiday season.
Mopar
Neat idea. I see it more as a both than an either/or use.
Use the trigger to get everything lined up and clamped in place, and then tighten the screw to the required pressure. There are times now when I will start with a squeeze clamp and then add a screw clamp. This is not only more convenient, I can fit “both” clamps in the same location.
Downsides are they seem pricey and bulky, though.
MM
They are definitely pricey, at least at full MSRP. Whether or not they are bulky depends on what you compare them to.
Compared to a typical trigger bar clamp the fixed jaw on the hybrid is much smaller, the trigger mechanism is about average size, and the moveable jaw is in effect larger because of the screw handle.
Compared to a screw bar clamp everything is about the same except the Dewalt has the trigger mechanism added to it.
I wish they’d have made marketing photos putting these next to traditional bar clamps and trigger clamps so you can better judge the size. They look bigger in the photos than they actually are. I think it’s the screw handle that creates the illusion, if you assume that to be a full-size screwdriver grip then it makes the clamp seem very big, but they are not that large.
MM
I bought four of these a few weeks ago, 2x 12″ and 2×24″ and I was just about to write a review of them on the Forum, so this is auspicious timing.
The appeal to me is a one-handed clamp that also has the control and the added force of a screw type clamp. I often find myself clamping something with a trigger clamp since I can do that with just one hand, and then later coming back and swapping the trigger clamp out for something with a screw that can hold tighter before proceeding with the work. I was hoping these could do those jobs without having to change clamps. Once I got my hands on them I discovered another benefit is that the stationary jaw is much smaller than that on normal trigger style clamps so these can fit into places where those clamps would not fit. And as you mentioned it is possible to join multiple clamps together without the need for extra adapters you have to buy separately, so that’s a nice bonus.
Build quality is good, they feel solid and nice quality. The jaws are metal and screws have acme threads. There is a bronze wear insert on the most critical part of the moveable jaw where it rides against the bar. There is also a well designed rubber collar on the moveable jaw. This holds the swivel pad “square” when the clamping screw is loosened all the way. That’s a nice touch because it stops the swivel pad moving around when you don’t want it to. However, I do feel they could be a bit heavier built for the money. For comparison, the Bessey EHKXL series bar clamps, which can often be found for around $25 in the 12″ and 24″ sizes, are rated 600 lbs yet the steel bars on those clamps are larger in both width and thickness compared to these Dewalts. With a higher pressure rating I expect stronger construction.
I bought these as part of the sale Acme had last month so I ended up paying less than their full asking price, which I feel is pretty steep. These are good clamps but I’m not so sure they’re $50 good, especially in these lengths. I’d like it if they came out with longer ones.
These also appear to be sold under the Irwin branding, and with a slightly higher price?
Mike
Nice review. I’m having a hard time gauging Irwin these days. Is DeWalt Stanleys premium brand or is Irwin. They seem to be priced the same for many items.
Bonnie
I think DeWalt vs Irwin depends on the exact product line. Irwin has always been pretty well known for their quick clamps, and own Vise-Grip, so it makes sense for them to charge a decent price these.
Stuart
I’ve got a post on the Irwin’s prepped for tomorrow.
As far as I can tell, they’re cosmetically different, but there could be more to it.
Big Richard
Similarly, DeWalt also has the construction jacks that were on here the other day. With those, however, the Dewalt are the premium offering, in both price and function, though marginally. The DeWalts are rated at 340 lbs vs. the Irwins 330 lb, and the release levers are positioned differently with DeWalts seeming more user friendly.
MM
Nice, it looks like the Dewalt version has the levers at the back of the trigger grip a lot more like the Viking Arm design. Strange how the jacks are quite a bit different while the hybrid clamps are so similar.
Nate
Okay, the wear insert justifies the price, IMHO. These are clearly built for the long haul, and that’s a precious rare trait anymore.
Jared
Thanks for sharing the extra details. I think these look pretty great. It seems like an intuitive idea. I’m going to keep an eye out for when they appear in Canada.
Bonnie
Quick F-style. Makes perfect sense, can’t believe nobody made this 20 years ago!
rob masek
Is this an april fools joke?
Stuart
No.
rob masek
Well, I ordered two for curbside because if this is a joke, I am going to make a low level home depot employee confused
jake
Nice to see. Dual clamping approach is kind of similar to the Bessey PG-24.
https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-PG4-024-24-Inch-Powergrip-Clamp/dp/B0000224BE
fred
Wow – they have jumped up in price. I bought some in 2021 for $43 each for the 24 inch ones and $42 for the 12 inch ones. Bessey had slightly different models with the same concept (PG 4.024 and PG 4.012) in Y2K
jake
I should have thought more about the price before posting the link above and taken the time to look around.
A quick search for and the 12-inch version yields more reasonable pricing:
https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-PowerGrip-Clamp-12-Piece/dp/B00WGXX3VC
jake
How do you like them. Do you use them often?
fred
place holder for 404 error
Ernest Feland
I would like to buy four, they are over priced.
Jesse
I just picked up a rusty 24″ pony-jorgensen clamp at a flea market that had some aftermarket quickgrip advancing handle added on….looked like it was at least from the 80s all stamped steel construction
Can’t find anything about it online
JR Ramos
That wouldn’t be the “Easy Grip II” would it? Inline quick grip trigger with stamped jaw arms. Trigger and housing were plastic, bar was typical plated steel. I think those came out in the mid-90s, didn’t last too many years before they nixed them. Good clamps but at the time they weren’t as good as the Irwin quick clamps for power. They may have been the first to offer a reversible spreading option, though, which was why I bought mine. Probably the least used clamps I have and better spreader options appeared later. I think the only thing similar now is the inline gear twist handle that Bessey has…and those are not that good really (durability and clearance issues). I can’t remember Jorgensen having something all-steel in a quick grip style but I’d love to see what you found! They are a fizzled shell of a company now and I think their customer service is probably outsourced to one of those perfunctory agencies, but you might try emailing them some photos to see if they know what you have.
Plaingrainy
Just some thoughts; Menards carries many Irwin tools, so you might find these clamps there. Also they have a 15% off bag sale(once or twice a year). The clamps can stick out of bag top, and still qualify for the 15% off(same day discount, no rebate needed). If clamps happen to be on sale during bag sale,, you get 15% off of current sale price!—— Are the Dewalt clamp rails exactly the same size , and configuration as the Irwin clamps?——- Another hybrid clamp, Woodpeckers Godzilla 4 way panel clamp. They have been tested to 6500# clamping pressure 50” ($200 each, $750 for four). 38”(170.00 each).
JR Ramos
These seem to be attempting to fill a niche middle ground for clamps…maybe it’s useful for framing or stubborn cabinets or something where you need a bit more force to pull bad wood into submission but still want a quick grip for one handed use? I like the look of the DeWalt castings better than the Irwin but that may be inconsequential no matter the quality of the casting metal.
If one-handed use isn’t paramount, I’d go for a heavy duty clamp (f- or otherwise) instead. Given the good choice of bar here, and considering the price, it would have been nice if they made these with a 3-1/2″ throat depth. I can kind of foresee these having some failure returns/warranty claims with that hex bolster…you know darn well a lot of people will try to crank these down beyond what they’re made for and it looks like the casting threads would fail before the handle does, if the arm doesn’t crack instead…and with only 800 pound rating that seems likely even with a reduced safety factor or whatever. Maybe a recessed hex socket on the end of the handle would have been smarter.
If these are on a good sale sometime I might pick up a pair or two but right now they don’t seem to improve too much over a good 600 pound medium duty plain quick grip style and they aren’t as robust as any of the heavy duty quick grip or f-clamp styles out there.