Bessey BTB30 Tradesman 30-Piece Bar Clamp Assortment

List Price: $435.70 Discount Price: $319.99

Features:

• 30-piece assorted bar clamp set ideal for frameless construction, cabinets, and more; rack not included
• Profile rail I-beam minimizes bending; non-slip locking device
• Profiled steel and zinc-finished rail prevents black marks on wood; plastic caps; wood handles
• Includes (4) 6-inch, (6) 12-inch, (4) 18-inch, (8) 24-inch, (4) 30-inch, (4) 36-inch clamps; rack not included
• 38.35 pounds; Limited lifetime warranty

Customer Reviews:

These clamps are killer! [Posted on 2007-06-01]
I know it might seem like a lot of money for clamps, but go out and price on an individual basis! The holding power of these clamps are incredible. Worth every penny!

Outstanding Value for a Quality Product [Posted on 2007-06-07]
First, I scored this set during what was apparently a "quiet sale". The price was reduced to $225.95 for a couple of days, and I just happened to be checking my wish list at the time. It pays to check back frequently for an amazing deal like this. Oh, and the super-saver shipping was free, too!

These are excellent clamps. The I-beam cross section makes them much sturdier than most medium duty clamps out there, and the rubber pads on the jaws appear to be made in such a way that they won't slide off when they're tightened. The sliding jaw has no release lever, so they tend to slide down on their own, but with a little practice it's easy to get used to and plan accordingly, making it easy to hold workpieces together with one hand and operate the clamp with the other.

Also, there have been a lot of complaints in the reviews about the packaging, and it appears that Bessey has improved in that area as well. My set arrived neatly packed in two separate boxes with lots of packing paper, in perfect condition. I highly recommend this clamp set to anyone.

no problem with packing [Posted on 2007-06-30]
I nearly passed on the purchase of these clamps back in late 2006 due to the horror stories on arrival condition in the posted reviews - missing pads, damaged clamps, etc. - but being Bessey clamps I figured I could made do and join the ranks of the complainers. Arrival condition was excellent - in fact the larger of the two boxes they arrived in (the heaviest) is still being used for dowel storage, the smaller is used for small homemade jig storage. I was prompted into this purchase when my wife, while helping me, spoke those unbelievable words "You don't have enough clamps."

UPDATE ON CLAMPS AND PACKAGING - FEB 2008 [Posted on 2008-02-05]
I needn't review the quality of these clamps as that has been done plenty. We all know the Bessey's are top-notch.

Rather this is an update as of February 2008 of the packaging of this clamp assortment.

First, I ordered in the middle of January and received them February 5. I had them sent overnight. As a a Prime member the added cost was $3.99. They came in two boxes overnight by FedEx. Even though the two boxes were shrink wrapped at one time, they boxes were separated from the time they were shipped.

The boxes showed no damage from the outside, with no bars protruding. The boxes are pretty heavy duty. When I picked up to carry to the shop both the boxes rattled. I thought to myself, "Ok, here are the horror stories I read about, the clamps wooden handles being chipped, beat up and damaged." I'm picky and I pride myself in how I take care of my tools, and what they look like. I expected damaged.

While there was some paper packing in the larger box there was none in the shorter box. Somehow they placed those clamps in the box and were shipped to the west cost with almost no damaged!

There was a couple handles with minor marred red paint, but I can live with that.

So now they are all hanging in my shop and looking good!

As a former UPS driver I have seen first hand the punishment packages go through in the large sorting centers and the smaller local sort when going out out to there various locations and to be delivered. It's the nature of the beast. They literally go down large slides and the boxes slam into each other. Much of it is automated with hydraulic plunger pushing boxes off of belts into bins. When going into their trailers they are stacked, thrown, and suffer various abuses.

So maybe it was the overnight shipping. Or, perhaps Bessey has figured out that between packing tight and a heavy box it cures the damage problem. Nonetheless, mine show up in almost perfect condition. I was pleasantly surprised.

Good job, I'll be curious to read here if others are experiencing the same results.

Great Set of Clamps [Posted on 2008-05-13]
I haven't put these clamps to the test yet, but I am pleased with them already. You get a lot of clamps for a pretty good price. They were packaged pretty well, so I don't have a problem with that. However, Amazon screwed up on the shipping. I only recieved the 1st box on time, and the second one never came. A breif e-mail to Customer Service fixed it, and they shipped out the second box of clamps right away. I think they should have rushed the shipment, but instead it took the standard few days to arrive. Oh well, I didn't need them right away anyways. All in all, a great buy!!

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