Customer Reviews

Irwin Industrial Tools 512QC546DT 12-Inch Quick-Grip Bar Clamp

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went out and bought a 12" 512QC Quick-Grip Bar clamp/spreader just a few days ago and felt I should have bought it a long time ago. I can do most of the clamping with one hand now. I am not a professional but this tool let me do my work much x faster. The grip is very strong. In one click you can loosen it and the other handle on top tightens it. The Rubber grips protects wood from being damaged. You don't need to insert anything between wood and the grip. I want to buy the bigger length ones when the need arise. Also this is very lightweight and strong. I think every wood working enthusiast or pro should have it

The big benefit to these is that you get true mobility out of them. While holding a piece of work, lined up, in one hand, you use these quick grips in the other hand to secure the work. If it slips while clamping, it is still a one handed tool to release it, and reclamp it again. Enables you to maintain a professional flow to your work. I feel awkward when using regular clamps in comparison. They require two hands. You could use a spring clamp to hold it together, then get another clamp to give it a final hold, but the quick grip saves you from having to do that.
Having these clamps in a few different sizes is beneficial as well. Small ones are more frequently used, and don't get in the way. The 33 1/2" is great when you need to hold larger projects together, and you can't effectively use two smaller ones to substitute. Additionally the macro clamps give you deeper jaws for a farther reach, enabling you to use them for securing work, to your radial arm saw table for example. They are fast enough to be used for almost any application. Sometimes I use them to secure work when sanding with a power sander. A couple squeezes and they are on, and one squeeze and they pop off.
After getting the smaller ones, and using them, I immediately order two of the 33 1/2" for larger projects, and for tie downs on equipment, including the drill press, and occasionally the radial arm saw.
Their is a small rubber stopper, which you can readily remove, in order to reverse the end, and make it a spreader as well. Something not needed very often, but difficult to achieve without one of these.
One note is that these have built in rubber pads, that completely cover the metal internal end. That is an advantage when you do not want to mar the wood. That and the fact that you can squeeze these with one hand, creates a mechanism that is easy to use, but not something that you would want to use for strength clamping. As a safety measure, these clamp sufficiently for most operations, but a threaded bar clamp, is stronger. So for those operations where extreme strength is needed, these are not the clamps to use. You sacrifice mountain holding strength for the ease of use. For example if I was using a large bit on the drill press, and drilling into metal, I would clamp it with something more. Even the slightest movement in an operation like that, could cause a snag, sending the piece into movement. If you are using just one of them, at the end of a 24" board, and decide to rout the other end, it will move on you. Securing it with two of them, and it is super tied down. You get my drift.
The big advantage of quick grip clamps, is that they handle wood beautifully, even for glue up operations. Hold workpieces more than securely to do the job in most applications, and are so handy that they deserve more than 5 stars. I would feel lost without them. It is another tool in the must have category.

I am a handyman / residential contractor / woodworker. I own several Irwin QuickGrip clamps in various lengths from 10" to 36". I use them on occasion but, because other clamps I own I perfer, the Irwins get only light use.

I have found the 12" size is useful as an "extra hand" during the temporary positioning and holding of piece work. For example, the short versions are OK for holding boards down for sawing, or checking clearences in a partially constructed assembly.

But, as a class, I have found these clamps to have weak clamping power. I don't believe they can squeese much more than 40 pounds before the head slips on the smooth rail. The result is I can't use them for two common tasks I have: gluing, or forcing warped items into alignment prior to fastening. These Irwins are just are not strong or reliable enough for those jobs.

Another minor, but troublesome, characteristic of the longer versions of these clamps is this: if you hold the clamp vertically head-down and press the release lever the jaw instantaneously drops open and the head hits the floor -- or your foot. Ouch!

So the short 12" size gets my luke-warm endorsement (3 stars). I would not repurchase any longer QuickQrip as there are much better clamps available for similar money.

As with the entire quick grip products the features that should entice you to buy and use the Quick-Grip 512QC Bar Clamp/Spreader are the ease of adjustment and the fact that it won't mar even the softest of wood yet still provide ample force for your project. Being able to use it as both a clamp and a spreader is a major Plus over the other clamps available. People with low hand strength or hand pain can use the trigger ratchet used for the adjustment with ease. It only requires a firm squeeze just over the pressure used for scissors.

I am a proud and happy IRWIN products owner. Quick grip, circular saw blades, pipe clams.
I do not live in the U.S. which makes my live as a craftsman much more complicated, since I do not always get the ideal support to the products I purchase or have hard times finding what I need.
IRWIN has given me a new perspective. The other day I added a few more clams (quick grip 512QC) to my collection. Sadly one o the clams I purchased was defective (it happens, I see no problem in that). Where my little problem turned into a rather uncomfortable issue was when the store that I had purchased these from claimed not to be able to provide me with a replacement one. I wrote to IRWIN immediately searching for help. To my pleasent surprise, the IRWIN representative that took my case wrote back to please provide an address to send the replacement clam. As I asked IRWIN how to get the defective one to them since living in Costa Rica does not make such shipments easy, the answer was to not worry about the damaged good, that all IRWIN was concerned about was to get the replacement to me the quickest way possible.
IRWIN proved themselves not only to have great quality tools, but also an outstanding customer service.
I am glad I had this experience. IRWIN has gained a loyal customer. I strongly suggest anybody to use this brand, a good product with an extraordinary customer serivice is not something I am used to deal will on a daily basis. THANK YOU IRWIN for standing behind your product no matter where it was purchased.

Pros:
1.Perfect length for most applications, especially for clamping material to saw horses.
2.Strong, but not extremely strong.
3.Very fast and easy to apply.
4.Can be used with one hand. (the longer quick grips are more difficult to operate with one hand)
5.Lightweight.
6.Spreading aplication can be helpfull in some situations.

Cons:
1.Looks like it could fall appart, but it never has happened to me.

Can't ask for better than that, right? Easy to use and perfect for their suitable tasks. Don't call on them to do more or you will be disappointed. Needed a bunch of these when I started my first wood laminating project. They were perfect in that they were not overkill nor overpriced. Would buy again. What I recall vividly about the delivery was that there were many large 18"x36"x6" boxes waiting for me upon my returning home from the office. Amazon packers put one clamp each in a separate box along with several cubic feet of protective plastic air pouches. I thought that was unnecessary.

I purchased two Irwin Quick Grip clamps and received as a bonus two 6" clamps. I had previously purchased four other Irwin clamps that I found invaluable in my DIY projects.

The product does all that it is touted and is an excellent third hand for any project. I did find the 12" size that I ordered not as handy as the bonus 6". However, having claps available to handle most gripping needs makes life a lot easier for the average DIYer...

Great product and a good value...

I bought a number of these Irwin clamps and use them extensively. For most jobs they are OK, but if you need real clamping force, a c-clamp is a better option. These things are easy to use with one handed operation. I bought the improved version of these Irwin clamps for my son. They have a metal body and seem to exert more clamping pressure. All in all, these are excellent tools from a respected manufacturer.

these clamps are super. granted i have not tried other brands to compare them with. with that in mind however, if you don't have a third arm coming out of your chest you will certainly find these guys very handy. the only con i can mention is that at times i wish they had a larger surface area. in some situations they can't take a deep enough bite to get a proper grip.