Customer Reviews

Jorgensen 50 Pony 3/4-Inch Pipe Clamp Fixture

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These clamps are great and no matter how many you own you will always need one more. To make them even more usable buy pipe that is threaded on both ends. Then you can use a connector to join the pipes together if you need a longer clamp. We connected five 48" bars together once to make a 20' clamp and used it to draw up the rails on a deck.

With both ends threaded you'll need to protect the threads on the exposed end of the clamp. For 3/4" pipe I use 1" heavy rubber chair foot protectors. They are the rubber pads you often see used on the bottom of a cane or pair of crutches. You should be able to find them at any hardware or big box store sold in packs of four for a couple dollars. Just think of it as a low cost investment that may save you a lot of grief later on. The pads last almost ten years before they dry out and need to be replaced. They'll not only protect the pipe threads but if you ever stand them up on end, and we all do, they won't slip and possibly damage a job site floor. When doing a kitchen one of our guys had a clamp slip and the cost of the floor repair would have bought more pads than you and I both would have used in several lifetimes.

Additionally, you should consider putting rubber pads on the end all of your pipe clamps whether they're threaded or not. I have a crescent shaped scar on my right foot that is a constant reminder that every pipe clamp needs a rubber pad on the end. For almost 30 years I've kept pads on every 3/4" pipe clamp I own and if the pad is off or missing it does not leave the shop.

If you work with wood, you need a few sets of these. They're strong to the point of being unbreakable, they won't flex under any reasonable clamping load, and they stay upright and won't roll around.

One tip: Get some 3/4" foam pipe insulation and keep it with the clamps. You can cut pieces of foam to varuious lengths, and wrap them around the pipe. That'll keep your wood from getting dented or oily from contact with the pipe.

Pipe clamps are among the most inexpensive things you can buy for your shop. Figure that you will need to add the cost of the 3/4" pipe and you can have a pair of clamps for less than $30.00. You do have to be careful though. Using black pipe can stain wood that rests on the pipe. The handles on the Jorgensens are great, but you have to resist the temptation to pull up bad joints by over-torqueing, thus crushing the wood. If you have the money, invest in the BESSEY K-body clamps. I guarantee you that if you are serious about woodworking, you will not find anything better and you will most likely end up wanting them anyway.

There isn't much to these clamps and thats what makes them so darn useful.It seems like the race is on to see who can build a better clamp. Perhaps pipe clamps are like the mouse trap so called improvements have been made. But are they really better? granted there are some nice clamps out there but dont overlook the simplicity of the jorgenson.It's tried true and timeless not to mention very inexpensive.I choose to use galvenized pipe instead of black it tends to be cheaper and wont rust up and stain your project.Now get out there and clamp something.

The Jorgensen Clamp Fixture is the best, most versatile and practical tool I have ever found for a multitude of jobs around the house. The design and construction of the clamp is straightforward, and the price has been kept very low, in keeping with the simplicity of the tool's design concept. It's the right tool for a lot of jobs!

if you are new to woodworking and in the market for some clamps, start here. skip the 1/2" ones for one reason: all the handy little clips and stand up pads are for 3/4" clamps. keep it simple.(p) i started my collection with 6 clamps and 12 different lengths of pipe. yeah, switching the clamps from pipe to pipe got old, but it was a start. add more clamps and pipe as the budget allows and soon you will have an arsenal.(p) another thing, if you want a 36" clamp, get 42" pipe. remember to allow 6" for the clamps themselves.(p)i recommend shying away from "off" brand imitations. the quality always worried me. watch the sales and buy 'em on sale. just the today my local hardware store has them. i bought two more. (p)happy clampin'

These are basic clamps that nobody should be without. But they are extremely heavy when fitted with black pipe (which has a tendency to stain wood) and the clamps have an annoying habit of turning at the most inconvenient moment. (The clamp part also has a tendency to loosen on the threads of the pipe and roll.) BUT, as far as pipe clamps go, THESE are as good as they get. Every woodworker should have a few because of their low cost and versatility. But, for specialized applications, such as gluing panel doors or working on other delicate components, I recommend Bessey clamps (for greater precision)or aluminum bar clamps (for lighter weight).

I bought a dozen when I found them on sale that way and mounted them on three different lengths of pipe: 28", 40" and 52". That way I have 2', 3', and 4' clamping CAPACITY with each. I also threaded both ends of the pipe, so with 3/4" pipe connectors, the possibilities are expanded. I do use wood strips to pad the jaws, otherwise they can damage wood under pressure. I have mounted them backwards on the pipe and used them to spread joints a couple of times. With a simple 2x4 rack, I can glue up wide panels with them. You need a few of these in your shop, too.

These clamps are an old stand-by, and they definitely stand the test of time. I have used mine to successfully build many tables of all sizes. Using a good rigid pipe and some clamping pads gives me great results on wide panels from a relatively inexpensive clamp.

While these clamps are very nice, they are really expensive. If you are looking for pipe clamps like this, you can definitely find them cheaper. They are very handy though.

PROS

** Ease of use

** You determine length of clamp by the length of pipe.

** Undoubtedly, a lifetime tool.

CONS

** Expensive

** Longer clamps tend to get awkward due to the weight.

** Round pipe can't be held as securely as square pipe.