gamblin_man's Full Review: Jorgensen 3706 6 Steel Bar Clamp
A woodworker, whether hobbiest or professional, can never have too many clamps. Most of us have clamps in various sizes, configurations, and quality levels. When I do a count of my clamp collection, the 6" size comes out on top in quantity. I used to buy longer clamps and struggle to use them on smaller projects. I thought this was good economics. It isn't if time and frustration count.
The Jorgensen 6 in. Steel Bar Clamp 3706
One of the brands that Jorgenson trade marks is "Pony". Most woodworkers will recognize the orange clamp in this picture more readily under that trade name. This clamp is a rather simple concept that works quite well.
The heart of the clamp is an iron bar. It has serrations on its rounded edges. On one end a clamp, also of cast steel, is permanently fixed. Aligned with it is a moveable clamp. It moves easily toward the other half, but three leaves, set at an angle, press into the edge serrations when the clamp is moved away from the fixed half, effectively holding it in place. The more pressure that is applied, the more force that is exerted against the serrations in the rod. The moveable half also has a screw through it with rather coarse and deep threads. On the end facing the other, fixed half, is a round flat steel cylinder that is affixed so that it can swivel about 15 degrees in a 360 degree arc. The other end has a wooden handle.
To use the clamp, you hold the fixed half against one edge of the pieces to be clamped, slide the other half until it lightly touches the opposite edge, then screw the handle clockwise until the joint between the two (or more) pieces is tight. When you wish to remove the clamping pressure, the spring loaded leaves can be rotated forward and the pressure is instantly released. These clamps are often called glue clamps because their main function is in giving enough compression to a joint to make a strong glue bond.
Although these clamps are most frequently used to join pieces that have flat edges at 90 degree angles, jigs can be made to allow use with many odd angled joints. The slight movement of the round clamp face on the end of the screw both allows a joint that is not quite straight to be pulled into alignment and allows some flexibility away from the optimum 90 degree angle.
My Thoughts
I have tried to save some money by buying look-alike clamps. I haven't been successful. About a year ago, I bought seven knock-offs for about the price of three of the Pony style. I now have two left. Three wouldn't hold due to both poor serrations and only having two leaves instead of three. Two more came apart in use. My five Jorgenson clamps are still intact after three years of service.
These Jorgenson clamps are an excellent value and the most often used clamps in my arsenal. I have them in several lengths and in to different throat depths. The concept is simple. The attention to detail and quality control makes them superior.
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