Over at Amazon, they have this Irwin 4pc bar clamp set on sale for $16.
Technically, this isn’t a sale, but a seasonal “special buy” type of deal, but the result is the same, you get 4 of these 6″ bar clamps for just $4 each.
Advertisement
Original Post: 11/29/2020
Update 12/5/2020: The price now $16 for the 4 clamps.
Update 12/17/2020: The price is back down to $16 for the 4-clamp set.
Update 5/25/2021: The price is back down to $16.
I bought 2 sets of these clamps a few years ago at different times, and all 8 are still working well. And, despite having better clamps at my disposal, I still use these.
These Irwin clamps good, but not great. They’re useful, but not as versatile as pricier clamps. They’re strong, but 140 pounds of clamping force (some sellers say it’s 150 lbs) isn’t really a lot when you need a lot of holding power.
I’d buy them again in a heartbeat. They come in handy those times when you need a bunch of clamps and don’t really need maximum holding strength of more premium features such as reversible jaws.
Plus, they’re smaller and lighter than bigger clamps.
Buy ’em now while they’re in stock, or you might have to wait a while to find this clamp set at the same price again.
Advertisement
Price: $19.98 $15.99
Buy Now via Amazon
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Update: Acme Tools is also offering this set at $16.
Tom D
IIRC Menards had an insane deal on these sometime last year – EIGHT clamps for like $25. Of course four were the various little squeeze ones, but it was good.
Aaron
https://www.menards.com/main/tools/hand-tools/clamps-vises/irwin-reg-quick-grip-trade-clamp-set-8-piece/4935502-15z/p-1534228091122-c-9135.htm
I just bought this bundle yesterday
Tom D
The very thing! It went down to $25 or maybe even $15 after rebate or something insane – I bought the limit. So handy to have around though I feel I’ve used them for everything BUT a woodworking project (they were holding a lamp off the ground for awhile).
Chris Wilson
I think I picked this up at lowes last year for $15
https://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/fp/525449
Stuart
Clearance deals are always YMMV (your miles might vary).
I’ve *never* seen these at clearance prices at Lowe’s – it has always been $20, $20, $20, $20, gone. Or maybe $25 just when they get them in and before the special buy’s official start date.
MoogleMan3
These are some of my most used clamps to hold down workpieces while I machine them. Small, light and enough holding power for things to not move. Showing $22.77 right now, but if they hit $19.98 again I’ll grab another set.
Koko The Talking Ape
You like them, ey? I was wondering if they would be useful. They have that ratchet mechanism that hardly magnifies hand strength at all (unlike a screw.) Even the lightest duty bar clamp with screws would be more powerful.
Also, the ratchet means you have to squeeze the pawl PAST the tooth in the ratchet. The clamp then relaxes a bit as the tooth engages the pawl. So that mechanism can never clamp at the full strength your hand is capable of. But maybe that doesn’t matter in real life?
DRT
Sure, screw clamps can produce crushing force. But these are super handy when working alone. BTW, the Irwin’s I own (a few years old) do not have a ratchet mechanism. There is no pawl or tooth and they don’t relax as they engage. The principle of these things is more like a sprag clutch. There is a plate that wedges itself onto the clamping bar. The clamping bar can slide inwards, but not outward. The force magnification comes from the length of the handle, compared to the lever arm acting on the bar. When you squeeze the handle, it moves a couple of inches, but the clamp part only moves a little bit. So yeah, I’d say that 140 or 150 lbs clamping force sounds about right.
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks, DRT. The one-handed clamps I’ve seen had small notches in the bar and a spring-loaded pair of hardened steel plates to catch the notches. So, still a ratchet, even if the teeth are tiny.
But if you say these clamps use something like a sprag clutch, that would be cool.
And you are right, your hand force is magnified, perhaps 5-10x? That’s still nowhere near what a screw can do, which I would guess is 200x or more. Also, they can’t slip or release suddenly, the way a clutch might.
Still, you and fred have persuaded me to try them. 🙂
fred
While I would not choose any quick clamp for final clamping of glue-ups – they re incredibly handy – and often use them to get glue-ups into position. For final glue-up of flatsawn pine they might actually be fine – but at the other end of the “needed clamping force spectrum” they would be useless for wood like hard maple. BTW – both wood species and grain orientation (quartersawn, flatsawn or the uncommon riftsawn) can impact how much clamping pressure is required for strong joints. Naturally, no amount of clamping pressure alone will do a lot to strengthen end-grain gluing. So when you have to join pieces end-grain to end grain toy resort to other strategies like various lap joints, scarf joints, finger joints, miter-lock joints etc. – or adding alignment and strength and added gluing surface with biscuits, dominos, dowels or splines.
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks fred!
I can see these being handy for assemby if you are a one-man shop.
But I’ve gotten used to spinning c-clamps around the handle one-handed to close up the opening while I’m holding a workpiece with the other. Then putting it on the workpiece and tightening it up is easy.
And if weak clamps release or bend, that can be bad, or even dangerous.
But they aren’t expensive. I’ll pick up a set.
alex
they were on sale for 15.99 two weeks ago on amazon and acme. but 20 dollars is still solid
Stuart
=( I’m sorry, I wish I knew!
Mopar
Yeah, I got in on that. $4 a clamp? Can’t go wrong there. Just came yesterday.
res51cue
These are now $15..99, not sure how long this price will last!
Tom D
$16 is a good deal! STUART!!!!
Joatman
“He who dies with the most clamps, wins”
I won’t win, but definitely in the race!
John
I have 300-400 clamps in my shops. All kinds, sizes and brands. Most were bought on sale to lessen the dent. I think the Harbor Freight 6″ F-style clamps are probably the best bang for buck for the regular user. But quick clamps are very helpful when one handed work comes into play.
Tom D
I love using a quick clamp to hold the workpiece so i can get a better clamp on it
Joatman
Ummm… that’s a lot. But can certainly understand how someone could use and need that many. I would have more but don’t want to sacrifice my limited storage area. Plus, I’m never in a situation where I’m pressed for time while waiting for glue to dry under the clamps I have. I have a lot of Irwin. Tried the Milwaukee hand clamps but one of them snapped the second time I used it. But yes, I agree that Harbor freight has some pretty good clamps for the cost for normal use.
Tom D
Milwaukee makes clamps?
Leo B.
I believe they make mostly deep locking plier-style clamps, with pads.
Joatman
Yep. Well, they used to. Lol.
https://www.plumbersstock.com/milwaukee-48-22-3004-4in-stop-lock-hand-clamp.html
Joatman
Maybe they still do
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-4-in-Plus-Stop-Lock-Hand-Clamp-with-Durable-Grip-48-22-3004/205017713
fred
I probably have about that many too. Many years ago I decided to build a small wooden boat – and thought that I had enough clamps. I was wrong. After that investment – a few years later I thought that a canoe build would be interesting – sure that I now had enough clamps. I was wrong again.
Norm Abrams is often quoted “you can never have too many clamps”
John
Haha, I started building a boat in 2012 and added some clamps then for it. I do wood and steel projects for restaurants and retail so needing most any style of clamp comes up.
EBElectrics
Deal Alert
Wilton 3 pack
https://www.homedepot.com/p/WILTON-Wilton-Bash-6-5-Inch-Vise-And-12-Inch-Hammer-4-Pound-16-Inch-Sledge-Hammer-143425/315523319
David
This was a heck of a deal BUT all gone now, 🙁
I am on the notify list BUT (there’s that word again) I bet they are done for or will be at a higher price when back in stock.
I missed it as I didn’t keep up on this thread. My bad!
Blocky
For me, these 6” always become makeshift hanging points for masks, earmuffs, coats, rolls of tape etc., and I have them semi-permanently all over the place.
Doresoom
Well dangit, I successfully avoided the siren call of these clamps the first time around when they were $20, but you got me with this update! 😄
Bryan
Aaaaand one more thing I just bought….lol
Clay
In for a set. Thanks, Stuart!
I use this style all the time, but less for wood projects and more for repairs. I repair alot of toys.
I used my larger ones to glue some refrigerator drawers that had come apart just a few weeks ago.
Craig Stephenson
Thanks Stuart! Just ordered a set but thinking maybe I should have got two at the price.
Stuart
If in doubt, you could always catch them next time around, but it might be Father’s Day or holiday 2021. That’s what I did – one set and then another.
Robert Adkins
I used to not be a fan of 1-handed clamps. They were too plastic-y, and the gripping power didn’t inspire me to buy them. I tried a pair of larger ones because they were dirt cheap, and liked them. If you really think about it, most clamp usage is for glue-ups, and the 1-handed clamps have the perfect pressure for it.
Merry Christmas to all!