Customer Reviews

Bessey VAS23 Vario Angle Strap Clamp

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This clamp has come to my rescue several times when building boxes, bookshelves, or anything where I need even pressure all around an object. The mechanism for tightening the clamp tightens very well -- first you turn a gear to get the straps snug, then you turn a thumbscrew to firm it up all the way. The corner braces are great when you are tightening a box and you want to make sure the corners don't get damaged. Yes, even though it is a vinyl strap, the clamp can still make indentations in the wood if you tighten it enough.

I gave the clamp 4 stars instead of 5 only because the gear mechanism is a little awkward to use. I emphasize that it is a minor problem. Sometimes, when you are trying to turn the gear, the clamp feels a little off-balance. But once it's tight, and you turn the thumbscrew, it's fine. With better positioning of the gear, these clamps would get 5 stars, no doubt.

DEC 2004 ENTRY: I can't believe how nice this stap clamp from Bessey is. Because it's designed so well, the product worked easily right out of the box ... no instructions needed. Two things make this device work well: 1. corner/angle plates and 2. the tensioner. First the angle plates have unique swivel pads so they fit up to the frame and provide even pressure without damaging the frame. Second, the tensioner is so easy to use, yet extremely powerful - can really ratchet down on the frame to close up the not so perfect miter joints. DEC 2005 UPDATE: I'd give this clamp a 6 if I could. This is the only clamp that's designed to clamp more than 4 corners/sides. I was able to so successfully glue an 8-sided octagon frame together. To my amazement, all the joints were perfect when I took the clamp off the next day [see my picture of a in-laid granite lazy-susan]. I really love this clamp. Does what a million other corner clamps can't ... turn out perfect frames every time. I was so impressed with the value of this clamp that I bought my brother one. Again see my posted picture - notice the seamless joints.

This is a nice strap clamp kit. The key is the adjusting system. At first I thought, why not just use a strapping tie down assembly available at the local home center, at a third of the price. After all, it is a nylon web strap and it has a tightening and releasing system. The problem is that it gives you tighteness in a racheting fashion. So you are either at one click or the next one. No fine adjustment. Additionally, without the corner braces that comes with the Vario kit, you would be catching the corners, and creating a less than equal pressure.
All told this Bessey kit is a very nice unit, and does a good job. For the money it would be hard to beat. Highly recommended.

I recently purchased two of these clamps to try out. I purchased two of them because I needed more than the 4 corner clips that come with it. Most stores do not carry the VAC-6 extra package of six clamps. I am sure that slows down sale of that clamp. I have several other Bessey clamps and they are wonderful and very useful.

If you have ever struggled with clamping frames or boxes together, you will love this clamp. The adjustable angle corner brackets are easy to place in the desired location and when pressure is applied, it is applied evenly on all the brackets. Speaking of pressure, this clamp can apply alot of it, I mean tight, without slipping at all. The wheel next to handle is ideal because it stores any extra band not in use. The band is made of what appears to be polyester, but it definately has my confidence that it will not tear or break. Of all my clamps in the shop, this is one of my favorites. It just plain works well and turns what used to be a hard job into and easy one.

I have been crafting serving trays and never found a good way to clamp a side cut at a 30 degree angle. This does the job beautifully. I now own two.

While the strap has approx. 1100 lbs. of tensile strength, the crank mechanism is inadequate to produce much clamping force at all.

I found this product to be very useful. I created 4 cabinet doors with it and it performed quite well. The only issue I had was that one or two of the pieces of wood that I used had slight warping and the tension produced by these clamps was not sufficient to overcome the defects in the wood.

I needed a band clamp for gluing up picture frames, and it performed very well!! I thought the woven strap would not be able to provide enough clamping pressure on the miters, but after giving it a try, it felt very strong and secure. It's very easy to use without reading the instructions. One thing to remember is make sure that the miters are centered in the clamp or else it will not provide even clamping pressure and your miters will have a small gap.

...You are clamping something larger than a picture frame. I bought this clamp to hold the four corners of some 1x picture frames I made last summer.
The clamp blocks are too large to hold the frame material flat and kept twisting the corners.
If you were trying to clamp something bigger, like a chair or small table, the clamp would be great. It has great pressure and Bessey always makes great products.