Matt wrote in with a tip about new Milwaukee hand clamps being carried by Home Depot. We took a look, and sure enough these are Milwaukee’s first foray into the clamping market, locking pliers and fast-release locking pliers notwithstanding.
Hart Tools, also a TTi company, recently released new clamps of their own. The new Milwaukee clamps have simpler and more traditional jaws, but a similar-looking release mechanism.
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The new Milwaukee clamps will be available in 2″ and 4″ sizes, at least at first, and have overmolded handles.
The clamps are designed for easy one-handed operation, and a Stop Lock mechanism ensures that the clamps’ jaws won’t back off of common jobsite materials.
Prices: $6 for 2″ (48-22-3002), $8 for 4″ (48-22-3004)
ETA: July 2014
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Thanks Matt, for the tip!
First Thoughts
While it’s hard to get excited over inexpensive plastic hand clamps, these are among the types of tools that are heavily relied on quite often. If a clamp backs off, or doesn’t apply enough pressure, or worse – fails unexpectedly, the time and effort required to get things done starts to climb quite quickly.
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Milwaukee’s new hand clamps look interesting, but they’re entering a tough market that’s currently well served by Irwin, Bessey, Pony, and other often-favored brands.
These clamps are priced low enough where there’s little harm in giving them a try.
Josh
My local Home Despot has replaced all of their Irwin clamps with DeWalt clamps, with a nearly identical appearance.
But its me!
They look a lot like the Bessey clamps that Lowe’s has discounted as part of their Bessey clearance. I tried a pair a couple years back, needing some simple clamps for cutting on a miter saw. They were crap to put it bluntly. While I did not expect them to be capable of herculean clamping power, they could not hold framing lumber in place on the saw. Hopefully, Milwaukee can come up with something more substantial. If so I might be tempted if the price was right.
Dennis
I noticed that Lowes is getting rid of all their Bessey clamps and now have Irwin. Also Home Depot is getting rid of all their Irwin clamps and are now getting Bessey. I assume that one or the other lost some sort of contract with the manufacturers. I don’t know how Milwaukee will enter into this, but they are exclusive to Home Depot. In the mean time I’ve gotten some great clearance deals on Bessey clamps so I’m not complaining. I like the look of these new Milwaukee clamps, but I think I’ll hold off on buying any until I get a chance to feel them in my hand.
Stuart
I hadn’t noticed that Lowes was dropping Bessey, thanks for the info! When I tried to search for “Bessey Clamps” on Lowes.com, the search came up empty and the search box suggested Irwin products.
cody
Where the article on Milwaukee new scissors?
Matt Hayward
I have similar Bessey Hand Clamps that are great but the mechanism locks at small increments on teeth. I like the way these Milwaukee ones look better because they seem to have a constant locking ability at any increment to get the perfect grip. This should come in handy as I use them primarily for woodworking and have to be careful not to mark the wood.
Jim Felt
Aaah. The race to the bottom. I try to buy First World manufactured products. So I can happily sit this “debate” out. While Lowe’s and Home Depot are both competing with Amazon they’d likely have a better chance if they invested more in their people via both training and compensation. And I mean in store people not their respective corporate drive the hardest bargain with their vendors buyer types. We know they are both highly trained and compensated. Kind of an interesting reversal of the concept of customer service. Leading where I wonder?