Customer Reviews for BESSEY TGJ Series 36 in. Bar Clamp with Composite Plastic Handle and 2-1/2 in. Throat Depth

This is my second order for the Bessey TGJ series clamps and I love them. What most impresses me are the materials used in the construction of these clamps. The zinc finished beam feels very sturdy and has minimal flexing when under pressure. I typically buy inexpensive tools, but when I compared the quality, fit and finish of my first Bessey clamp to the HF clamps I was sold on Bessey. The composite handles are a great upgrade from the wooden handle and the serrated bar allows for quick positioning of clamp. I am definitely buying Bessey from now on.

I don't think any woodworker enjoys paying for clamps but we can all agree that you can never have too many. There have been times where I've had every one of my clamps tied up, so I just keep adding to the collection every now and again. I like this style and have several sizes in my shop. I wish the depth were better, but I have a couple of options for deeper clamping to handle those situations. I built myself a wall hanger for all my clamps and let me tell you that it is a real joy to be able to grab a clamp from the rack with no slow down on the task at hand. These clamps are a standard design and I have no complaints about that design. Sure, it's hard to one-hand-it, but that's the nature. You can use a quick clamp for the initial clamping and then build these up around the quick clamp, removing it along the way. They give great clamping pressure without any difficulty. Note that Bessey makes monster versions of this clamp which are much more expensive and have much better depth. ADVICE: You might be tempted to not spend the cash on 12" clamps and go with more 18" clamps. While that's a more versatile approach, I highly recommend both. There are times where an 18" clamp is just too bug and cumbersome. Also, having a half dozen 18" bars sticking out on a small box is unpleasant work.

I don't think any woodworker enjoys paying for clamps but we can all agree that you can never have too many. There have been times where I've had every one of my clamps tied up, so I just keep adding to the collection every now and again. I like this style and have several sizes in my shop. I wish the depth were better, but I have a couple of options for deeper clamping to handle those situations. I built myself a wall hanger for all my clamps and let me tell you that it is a real joy to be able to grab a clamp from the rack with no slow down on the task at hand. These clamps are a standard design and I have no complaints about that design. Sure, it's hard to one-hand-it, but that's the nature. You can use a quick clamp for the initial clamping and then build these up around the quick clamp, removing it along the way. They give great clamping pressure without any difficulty. Note that Bessey makes monster versions of this clamp which are much more expensive and have much better depth.

I immediately put this clamp to use on a set of end tables I was building and it worked great. I wanted this size because my other clamps were longer or shorter and this was the perfect size for my project. It's sturdy and high quality; I really appreciate the composite handle which gives you a much better grip than some of my older wood handled clamps. The soft plastic covers on the clamp ends are really great; I usually have to hassle with some piece of wood or something to keep from denting the project (see photo). Also the handle is much larger than my old clamps which is great (see photo). Don't get me wrong, my old clamps are fine, but this one is just much better. You really can't do any better than this series of clamps; highly recommended.

This clamp worked well holding wood pieces together while the glue dried on my last project, before installing the screws. Quickly adjusts to needed size.

This bar clamp has a larger reach than most of the clamps, and still has the protective plastic to keep from marring the material you are working on.

Arrive half out of the box. Missing several plastic clamp covers

I've been using Bessey clamps for decades. It's well built, and I expect the metal portion to last. At some point the plastic caps will need to be replaced, but those snap right off.

Not my first Bessey clamps and they are good for what they are designed to do. I find them easy for light glue ups and other holding needs. 24 inch opening. Only issue I had was was of the four I ordered was missing it red plastic nose cover, either was not on when packaged or lost in shipment since there was some damage to the box with a hole, but not a reflection on the clamp itself

Bessey makes the best clamps, period! I am always looking to add to my collection when the price is right.

I have a lot of different brand clamps and Bessey is always my go to clamps. Well made and just work.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

These 12” clamps are easy to use for glue-ups once broken in. The composite handles are even better feeling than the wood ones with my decreasing hand strength.....have had Bessey clamps for many years. The Tradesman clamps (made in Germany) are well worth the extra cost versus the Oriental imports or clutch-disc type clamps as they are so durable and easy to use.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Great clamp for the money.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Very high quality product that works fantastic!! Don't hesitate to add this Bessy Bar Clamp to your building arsenal..

The statement is true "You can never have too many clamps". As a first time woodworker, having these extra set of "hands" have been great. Good quality product.

Clamp is great, I like the cushion handle because you can get a really good grip to crank in tight. I would like the delivery from Home Depot to be somewhat faster.

Commercially used by our company. Much better hold (and cheaper) that other clutch-only clamps. The handle adds the extra torque we need for our heavy stone products.

Ready to use light duty clamps. Comfortable gripable handles.

I love these brand of clamps. They are indispensable in my workshop. They are very easy to adjust and tighten. They really grip tight, and are always very reliable. They will also last forever. There's no improvement needed.

Great, heavy duty clamp. Unfortunately for me, I bought the clamp to hold up an undermount sink to the granite countertop while the silicone cured. I got it home, and removed the packaging and realized that the sliding side of the clamp does not come off of the end of the bar as some others do. This could be advantageous for some, but for me it was a deal breaker. Just something to note.

This is cast-iron construction so it is very sturdy. The long reach and great clamping ability, plus the protected ends make this product a great addition to your shop. This should last a long time!

this is the heaviest duty bar clamp in my shop i wish i had more

The best clamp is one that's easy to use and grips tight. This is excellent on both. I constantly use clamps for glue ups on wood working projects. They are a necessity you just cannot do without. This is nice and heavy, well built, and easy to use. What more can I say?

These are the best! They are good looking clamps and perform flawlessly. Easy to use. Very comfortable handles and easy to set in place. Protective covers at both ends is a plus. Solid!

This is a great clamp at a great price. I have a few of these that I have used on various wood working projects and they work great. Plenty of clamping force. These lack some of the nicer features of a parallel clamp, most importantly they don't stand up on their own. However, they are also half the price of a parallel clamp. So, unless you really need those features, these are a much better deal.

I've got numerous clamps in this series, and they're all excellent - solid materials that are very sturdy and durable without being terribly heavy, easy to use & adjustable. There are a number of different lengths and throat depths in this product line, so if this isn't quite the right size for you, check out the others. The removable non-marking plastic tips on both clamp arms are very nice and work well, you can definitely clamp very hard without cracking the plastic. Some of the Bessey clamps have a wooden handle, others come with the plastic handle - the wood is definitely nice and sturdy, but the plastic does have a textured (rubberized, I think) grip though that is a little easier to keep a grip on,m especially when you've tightened down the clamp pretty tight. The plastic seems plenty rugged and durable, I thought I'd prefer the wood handles but I've come to appreciate the advantages of plastic.