Woodpeckers have come out with what they’re calling finest mobile clamp storage solution on the market. Judging by its looks and how much it can hold, I think they’re on-target with that claim.
The new Woodpeckers Clamp Rack-It Mobile is a clamp rack with a ~6 square feet footprint and 500 pound capacity. It’s equipped with Woodpeckers’ clamp racks and can hold as many as 114 woodworking clamps.
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There are 4 casters (2 swivel and 2 fixed) and 2 extended handle bars.
The Woodpeckers Clamp-It Mobile is made with 11 gauge cold-rolled steel for the base, and 13 gauge for the arms, uprights, and stretchers. There’s a large shelf on the bottom, and a small shelf on top.
Price: $800 (clamps not included)
One Time Tool Ordering Deadline: 6/17/2019
ETA: 9/30/2019
More Info(via Woodpeckers)
Compare(Rockler Clamp Rack)
Discussion
Let’s talk about the price. $800 is a heck of a lot for a clamp rack. Let’s say it’s fully loaded. There looks to be 4 parallel clamp racks on each side, which each able to hold 6 clamps. So, that’s 48 parallel clamps, valued at around $2000 if you consider the lowest prices for Bessey clamps. Add in a couple (of a couple of dozen) of other woodworking bar clamps, and that’s a lot of value.
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The Clamp Rack-It Mobile looks to have ~$360 in their Rack-It storage arms and brackets.
I haven’t seen these racks in person, but I did see the larger wall-mounting racks at a Woodworking Show, and they’re far beefier and heavy-duty than I thought from online photos alone.
Is the Woodpeckers Clamp Rack-It Mobile worth $800? With ~$360 in value going towards the racks (by my estimate), and ~$440 towards the base, I don’t think it’s too unreasonable. They’re not setup to mass produce tools like this. If they’re contracting it out, it’s a one-time contract given the One Time Tool nature of the product. That’s going to add to the cost.
How much would it cost you to build something like this (that also looks like this)?
That said, you must have a lot of clamps for this to be worth it. Sure, you *could* load it up partially, but then you’re spending a lot for functionality and capacity you don’t need.
I own a Rockler Pack Rack clamp rack. Its footprint is ~5.2 square feet, from specs, and it’s a little flimsy. I bought a parallel clamp bar that mounted to the top, and it’s okay. I haven’t added a plywood base or shelves to it yet. At the time of this posting, the Rockler rack is on sale for $135.
I bough the Rockler clamp rack thinking that I could use it in my workshop, and if I didn’t use it very much it’d go into the basement. So far, I don’t have any regrets, but there’s no ignoring that the Woodpeckers is in a whole different league of quality.
Is the Woodpeckers solution worth 6X the current sale price of the Rockler Pack Rack? That depends on the user. For those with bigger workshops? Maybe. For someone who can say they’ve been searching unsuccessfully for a heavy duty mobile clamp rack solution that can hold their dozens of clamps? Yes. For the beginner woodworker, more casual woodworkers, or anyone that has a dozen or two clamps at most? No.
It’s important to remember that Woodpeckers’ One Time Tools aren’t for everyone.
I am tempted to say that maybe Woodpeckers should have dialed back the design a little, for the sake of pricing. But if they made the rack less sturdy, or lowered its capacity, what would be the point? It would then be a little better than existing models, but still considerably pricier.
Size-wise, a 24″ width makes sense, and is in the middle of what’s available in their Clamp Rack-It range. The length is simply the twice the length of their Rack-it system arms and the width of their uprights, which look to be strong and sturdy.
Although the design appeals to me, it offers way too much clamp storage capacity for my needs. But, I can see some potential. The uprights look to have holes for mounting… something. If the footprint was smaller, the Rack-It arms not quite as long, and one side was designed for modular tool and parts storage… I’d find it more personally appealing, but it would still be priced too far above the “just okay” solution I found in Rockler’s rack.
I like store-bought solutions that save me the time and effort of having to build elaborate DIY solutions to common workshop needs. But in this case, given the excessive capacity of the Rack-It Mobile (which is good for bigger workshops, not so much for single users like myself), and the price tag, I see this more as a source of DIY inspiration than as something to add to my shopping list.
I think that the Woodpeckers Clamp Rack-It Mobile looks to be an excellent yet simply designed and adaptable clamp cart. As-shown, it’s holding maybe $2500 in clamps?
As it is, the Clamp Rack-It Mobile is a solution to problems and needs I don’t have. And if I did, I would probably have built my own clamp rack using their Rack-It clamp arms and 80/20 as framing, or construction lumber and plywood if on a tighter budget.
In other words, I think it’s a neat product and of interest to post about, although it’s not something I would personally buy.
I’d like to see Woodpeckers delve deeper into mobile tool storage products. This isn’t something I could use, its high pricing notwithstanding, but maybe their next “what if we…” product might be.
Here’s their promo video:
Jim Felt
Agreed.
And honestly every single version of this magnitude I’ve ever seen in a commercial wood shop setting was wood. Wood’s the best use of both the shop’s ingenuity and scrape materials.
Oh. Steel is obviously stronger for its size but also far noisier. And can eventually rust.
So not so much? Is my take.
Chance
Yes, Woodpeckers tools are expensive ( overpriced??), but I own many of them. Even expecting the price to be high I was blown away when I saw the $800 price tag. That’s insane. Many years ago I made a stupid simple mobile clamp rack with plywood and 2x4s. I didn’t even use dadoes or any fancy joinery, just some bevels and long miters because it leans back to keep the clamps in place. My rack holds more clamps than the Woodpeckers rack, rolls around great, and since I had the casters laying around it basically cost me nothing. At 8 square feet mine does take up a bit more space than the Woodpeckers rack, but again, it holds more clamps. I have about 140 clamps on it, about 60 or more are parallel clamps, and the bulk of the rest are bar clamps, with places for some quick-grip style clamps and spring clamps. All my large heavy duty bar clamps pipe clamps, and lesser used smaller bar clamps I keep on a rack on the wall, which again, I made in the shop out of hickory for about $10. If you have that many clamps you should know what you are doing, and you should be capable of making a rack to hold them.
Stuart
I was also shocked. Before I looked, I thought to myself “it probably costs $500.
Bob
I would love to see your design can you send me detailed pictures or close and measurements so I can get an idea. I’m not interested in sailing the idea thats your choice this is just for me I’m just curious to see if your idea is better than mine witch I haven’t built yet. Just curious! Thanks!
Aaron
IN FOR 3
Frank D
I have two old retail display racks, large open metal grid type, that I picked up at a clearance / emptied storage units / permanent flea market type business.
$25.
Added scrap plywood to the bottom H shape legs ( makes for a nice weighted platform if you throw some spare boxes of coiled nails or 5 gallon paint buckets on it )
Added four cheapie casters each.
Add various size S-hooks for other odds and ends, maybe a couple remnant pvc pipe pieces for storage tubes, … and Bob’s your uncle.
Note: I don’t have $$$$ let alone multiple $$$$ in clamps, which might benefit from / require such a rack … to keep them more pristine and organized.
Kevin
I agree with Chance virtually word-for-word! It sounds like we have similar solutions to the clamp storage ‘problem’
https://ncwoodworker.net/forums/index.php?threads/where-to-put-my-clamps-a-solution.54974/#lg=post-503985&slide=0
I fail to understand how Woodpeckers can’t distinguish between a finally-machined tool and objects like this clamp rack. The former MAY justify the price—emphasis on “may” for some of their tools—but a simple stamped metal rack? completely usurious pricing!
Stuart
That’s one of the spirits behind One Time Tools. If there’s demand, they’ll make enough to meet it. If there’s future demand, they might relaunch it in a few years, sometimes with improvements. If not, they won’t.
I’d rather Woodpeckers experiment with high-premium woodworking tools or accessories that are beyond my needs and above my budget than to compromise and sacrifice on quality.
I wouldn’t call it usurious pricing. “Prohibitive” would be more appropriate. There are lots of prohibitively-pricey tools.
Frank D
I really don’t even see it being all that sturdy or weight tolerant … I particularly don’t like how the wheels are attached and how the upper “ structure “ depends on two simple little lip flanges that are bent up …
The more I think about it, the more I find it a disappointing build and wouldn’t pay more than $100 for it.
ToolGuyDan
Pricing aside (if you can believe it), I think it’s also a functional swing-and-miss. Unless you have the “right” number of each size of clamp—at which point the design is a handy “clamp dispenser”—you end up digging out multiple clamps to get at the one you need in the back. The solid bottom tray is also a mistake; clamps shed bits of tape, glue, etc., no matter how well maintained, to say nothing of the caul collection traditionally kept in the base of a clamp rack. Either Swiss-cheese that bottom plate a bit, or give the bottom a vee shape and provide a flat rectangular piece to slot atop that for those who need flat storage. That also gives you the option to leave the sides of the “vee” open for storage of and access to a few common needs, like tape and replacement clamp faces and surrounds. Lastly, stick a magnet strip on there somewhere. Doesn’t even need to be affixed if you don’t want it to be, but provide it by default. Utility knife and scissors then have a place to live.
fred
I would hazard a guess that like me – our clamp collections have grown organically over the years (mine started in the 1960’s) such that fitting what we have onto this cart might not work quite like what they picture. While this is way better looking than say a $67 Steelex (D3605) cart from Grizzly it might not be as customizable as what one might build using the various plans that are out there on the internet or from sources like Infinity Cutting Tools, Woodsmith, Woodcraft etc. For me – I have an “assembly bench” – for want of a better description – that is somewhat (its become rather heavy) mobile (via 6 inch casters) – and most of my bar clamps are stored resting on or clamped to 3/8 and 1/2 inch lengths of pipe and wood that makeup racks below its top.
John
I have easily over 300 clamps in my workshop of all kinds, for wood and metal work. There is really no good solution made by anyone that accommodates real world clamp collections. I’d rather spend $800 on good clamps and make racks from wood or weld one for my own needs.
What some of these companies need to do is design and sell the CAD files for interesting shop solutions for those of us who can make things on our own. The price should be between DIY and full blown products but it would save me time to design things to a mature state. I have a wood CNC, a plasma CNC and a 3D printer. I make what I need from free files on the web and design basic things too. But for more sophisticated shop solutions, I would gladly pay small reasonable fees for design files and produce them myself.
Altan
Nicht Amerikanisch ? Dann nein!
MacLean
$800 and I probably have to lean over to grab a clamp? No thanks. I have a 10′ 3/4″ ancient water pipe filled with iron sediment chained in three spots to the ceiling. Holds all my clamps and a roll of shop towels.
I could make something similar for less than $100 in scrap steel…and I would at least put a butcher block top on it…
Garrick
Like a lot of woodworking tools you can buy, a clamp rack is more easily made from wood, to suit each individual woodworkers particular needs. A wooden one can be made the right size, it can be readily altered to add odds and ends that go with glue ups, and it could look better, and be another proud addition showing off a woodworkers skill and eccentricities.
Buying one, with an over the top price, shows something about a person too of course.
Stuart
The DIY route is not necessarily easier. I for one tend to be immobilized by indecision. If I need a clamp rack, the best solution might be DIY, but the best approach would be to buy.
fred
In our pipe/metal fabrication business we had both shop-made and “store-bought” carts for rolling around bar stock, shapes, rod and pipe – plus ones for small bits of plate. Making your own – when you had some periods of downtime seemed like an appealing idea. But in one case I recall – we needed an extra cart because we were going full tilt – so we bought one from Grainger with next-day delivery. Probably could have fabricated our own for less than the $1000 or so what we bought cost – but it would have cost us production time that we didn’t have to spare.
Chase
Let’s be honest, everything they make is overpriced. This clamp rack though, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the $800 price tag. I design one-off custom machines every day (a lot of sheet metal design) and that only looks to be around $150-$200 worth of formed sheet metal and that’s if they only made one. Even if they sold a dozen of those the price goes down quite a bit from a manufacturing standpoint. Don’t get me started on the lead times that have for their one-time tools.
Stuart
That’s unfair. There’s no doubt that Woodpeckers’ One Time Tools are too often exorbitantly priced these days, but many of their regular tools and accessories are well-made and very much worth their price.
Chase
I ordered a pocket square back in January and am still waiting on it to arrive. It will be my first Woodpeckers tool so I will save my judgement until then. But, many of their tools looks great and admittedly I would love to own more of them, but it is hard for me to get past the price on many of them.
Stuart
My first “real” Woodpeckers purchase (I’m excluding T-track accessories) was for a 24″ T-square from Sears that I bought on sale and partially paid for with a gift card. Around the same time I also bought a Woodpeckers-made Pinnacle drill press table from Woodcraft.
I bought the tool that provided the most unique functionality compared to other options, and saw it as a way to gauge Woodpeckers quality. At the time, I didn’t anticipate buying any more T-squares, but eventually bought a 12″ that I now use very often.
After that initial purchase I slowly bought a couple of more Woodpeckers tools over the course of a few years. I bought a bunch of tools at their Woodworking Show booth as well, where they usually have some “show specials,” and a $10 off $100 coupon.
Their pricing is high, and on some things there are less expensive alternatives, such as from Lee Valley/Veritas.
JoeM
WOO!!! VERITAS: MADE IN CANADA!!!
Sorry. Proud Canadian. All this “Made in the USA” sentiment usually makes my country seem insignificant. It’s just exciting to be mentioned!!
Shutting up now. Carry on. Ignore the crazy cannuck in the corner here.
The What?
This is a ripoff in every sense of the word. No single person owns that many bar clamps and I doubt that they would buy something like this if they did. Even worse is that it can’t even be used as a cart or anything that has a useful purpose. All it does is hold clamps. I bet that the entire thing is pop riveted because they were too fkn cheap to use nuts and bolts with the exception of the casters. This is your everyday 18 gage stamped steel. I doubt that it’s even an eighth of an inch thick and I bet that the clamp hanging parts are all plastic. This might cost at the very most $130 to build (and that’s being generous) likely closer to $100. The price of metal is the cheapest it has ever been and I bet the plastic parts cost more than the metal parts. Woodpecker is definitely one of those companies that exploits everything about made in the USA and it is very obvious that the price of their products is a reflection of that. Only a village idiot would pay that much money for a clamp rack with wheels.
Stuart
John wrote: “I have easily over 300 clamps in my workshop of all kinds, for wood and metal work.”
Looking at the larger images on their site, the construction looks to be bolt-together.
In the post, I wrote: “The Woodpeckers Clamp-It Mobile is made with 11 gauge cold-rolled steel for the base, and 13 gauge for the arms, uprights, and stretchers.” It’s not 18 gauge steel, I don’t see any pop rivets, and there’s no plastic I can see except maybe for the handle grips.
Hoser
How’s that proverb go again? Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and prove them right? Just a random thought for the evening. . . . . .
I, a single person, have over 300 clamps, and I continue to buy more.
And in all seriousness, like Chase alluded to, I doubt they’ve got $100 into that thing. That doesn’t mean I think they need to sell it for $100, or even $250, because they need to make a profit, that’s why they do this, but as I already stated, $800 is insane.
I actually came across this on Woodpeckers site last night while looking for some other products and I saw the $800 price and I chuckled just thinking it was some crazy number as a “placeholder” since the product hadn’t been announced yet. I was shocked when I checked it this morning and saw that was indeed the price.
bingus
why two swivel casters instead of four?
are they being cheap, or do they actually think that two fixed casters are advantageous?
for something heavy like that with stuff i’d want to access from all 4 sides, i think i’d prefer to be able to grab/push/pull/turn it any which way.
John
Not in defense of Woodpeckers but for really heavy tables, carts and even a heavy clamp rack I have in the shop, 4 swivel casters can be a challenge to control when you get into the 250-500+ lbs, whereas two fixed wheels help in that control. Just a real world experience I have. But to fit anything with casters into a tight corner, all swivel casters can be necessary. No perfect scenario.
@fultonfinewoodworks
I had the opportunity to see the clamp rack prototype in person at Woodpeckers, although it has a steep price, it was impressive. Note- Woodpeckers calculated they had over $4000 in Bessey clamps on the rack for the picture. I imagine most of the buyers for this will be larger commercial shops.
James
https://us.feldershop.com/en-US/en-US/en-US/Workshop/Clamps/FELDER-Clamp-Trolley.html
You can get a Felder clamp trolley for just over $400. Who knew someone could be double the price of Felder.
Kevin
(with tongue FIRMLY in cheek) To be fair, the Felder IS on SALE. It’s retail price is over $500.00… But seriously, that is an excellent barometer, and the keen eyed among you who looked at the link to my clamp rack will note a Felder slider sitting right behind it, lest one think that I have an axe to grind with Felder.
When a company chooses a price that is close to double Felder—for ANYTHING—then that product is elevated into rare air indeed. FWIW the rack that I made, which holds more clamps than any of the ones in question, took me about 8-10 hours to design and make, and would have cost maybe $150 if I had purchased all of the materials at retail (which, as a proud scrounger, I NEVER do…)
I also think that the Venn diagram with ‘people who have more than 36 bar clamps’ on one side, and ‘people who do not have the knowhow to build their own rack’ on the other, has very little overlap between those two circles! In a commercial atmosphere, I do understand the ‘time’ argument, but Woodpeckers really lives in that prosumer high-end hobbyist market; I don’t see much of their stuff advertised on WoodWeb or in Woodshop News…
Frank D
More reasonably priced and looks more practical.
JoeM
Honestly? I don’t think $800 US is too much for this, considering the capacity.
But you HAVE to consider the capacity before buying it, or it IS overpriced. Wanna know how many bar clamps I’ve got around to buying in my life? 8. I want more, if money were no object, I’d have somewhere closer to 800, not 8. At THAT point, this storage rack becomes worth it. When it has a real need.
The downside: Woodpeckers. As mentioned by Stuart, they will only make so many due to their size. So, although I do have a heart telling me it’s a good product, I DON’T have a brain telling me I actually need one in the scope of time it will be made. Therefore, it’s less likely for me to own this, or recommend it to anyone who doesn’t own a lot of bar clamps RIGHT NOW. If they’re upwardly mobile enough, and they can see themselves buying enough to fill the rack? Sure, I won’t stop them.
The key is the capacity. The Capacity is what makes it either a huge waste of money, or a huge waste of time between getting off your keester and buying one immediately. It’s one or the other, there’s very little middle ground with such a limited time to buy one.
Kurt
By coincidence, I happened to finally get my act together and make a cart for my clamp collection a few weeks ago. It is made of welded square tube, some scrap particle board, a set of casters and some hardware. I don’t think it was much more than $ 100 and serves my needs quite nicely.
Here are some photos if anyone is interested:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219663679043013&set=pcb.10219663688483249&type=3&theater
When I got the email about Woodpecker’s version, my first thought was that it would be way nicer than mine, but also several hundred dollars more.
Well, I was half right LOL
Stuart
That looks great, thank you for sharing!
Frank D
Very well executed and multi function.
Love the metal frame, thin clamp rods and internal shelves.
Somebody had their thinking cap on!
Some day I need to learn & practice welding 🙂
Kurt
Thanks! That is the fourth project I have welded. I’m really just starting out, and my technique needs a lot of work, but I have found if you are willing to grind it out and redo things get done with enough structural strength to do the job.
And Bondo helps…LOL
Kent
No significant number of hobbyist woodworkers will buy this; the price is a joke. A pro shop might buy one – but only if the cost of labor to build one is pretty high.
If you estimate that a mid level guy in a cabinet shop may cost the company $50/hr, and they can build one in a day… I don’t see this being a big seller. Certainly not in my shop.