Bessey Auto-Adjust Toggle Clamp Review

by Rick Underhill on 10/03/13

Having been chosen to be a "Bessey Toggle Clamp" tester, I have to say that I felt a bit honored to have made the grade, so to speak.  Over the next month or so, I eagerly awaited the delivery.  Having used the gamut of Bessey clamps over the years in different woodshops across the country and during the last twenty years in my own shop, I have come to depend on the versatility and solid construction to accomplish my work.  The other brands of clamps that I have used sometimes fell short by slipping or just generally being aggravating to use as I secured a part or scrambled to get the joints tightened before the glue began to set up.  Time and time again the Besseys were spot on, especially my favorite, the "Red Heads". 

Anyway, when the opportunity came to test the new Toggle Clamps, I applied right away.  I had been using another brand of toggle clamps that were solid enough, but a bit finicky to get adjusted properly and the rubber tips never seem to get a good bite without slightly moving the work piece.

When the Bessey's arrived I opened up the box and found the four pairs of clamps that I had chosen to test, each having a different configuration, two pair for flat mounting and two pair for side mounting.  Each of the two mounting pairs of clamps had both a vertical and a horizontal clamping direction.  The kind of versatility that a custom fabrication shop needs.

I started out as a Tool & Die maker back in the day in order to work my way through college and I developed a critical eye for manufactured tools, always comparing to the precision of my machinist tools; as I suspected they would be, these new toggle clamps are very well made and handled everything that I have thrown at them.  I especially like the small hard plastic cap that covers the clamping surface, it has just enough texture to hold and not slip, but was just the right size, without getting into the way.  The tips on these Toggle clamps do not deform like my previous rubber tipped toggles did.  The clamping handles work well and have a low profile which doesn't get in the way as you handle your jig or fixture.  The really cool feature was the “Auto-adjust”, which allowed the clamping tip to pivot as the clamp is tightened.  The old toggles had the rubber which deformed and pushed the material, yet did not truly secure it as the rubber has some give to it.

My assessment after having used them for a few projects is that they are keepers and make a great addition to my shop.  Any tool that can increase the fabrication productivity and function smoothly in the work flow, is always welcomed and appreciated.

Great work Bessey, another set of winners!!!!

 

Rick Underhill