An enthusiast woodworker understands the importance of reliable clamps in their workshop.You have already heard: You can never have enough clamps. However, this necessity shouldn’t translate into accumulating clamps that gather dust in your shop.
In this comprehensive comparison, brace yourself for the ultimate showdown: Bessey vs. Jorgensen parallel clamps. While the two brands are all unbeatable, specific features such as size, power, and building quality give one a competitive edge over the other.
The pivotal question, however, is: which clamp deserves your nod and your hard-earned coin? It’s time to settle the score.
Factors to Consider When choosing wood clamps
Clamping force
Choose clamps that provide a higher clamping force. While to much force can damage wood, generous amounts are essential for holding heavier and larger workpieces together.
Features
You want a feature-packed clamp. The right clamp should contain features like a quick release mechanism, an anti-slip jaw, sufficient force, and weight. These features will help the job task be completed faster and easier.
Construction
Choose a clamp made of high-quality material. High- quality material translates to durability and resistance to wear and tear.
Price
Clamps come in various prices. You can always get a pocket-friendly unit, but its quality and durability may not always be guaranteed. Some brands therefore manufacture durable and high quality clamps to sell at a higher price.
Bessey vs Jorgensen
Bessey Parallel Clamps
The Bessey Company has been in the trade of manufacturing clamping tools for use in several fields, and with this type of parallel clamp, they haven’t figured wrongly. The company uses high-quality materials in making clamps, thereby guaranteeing the durability and accuracy of the tools for woodworking. Bessey’s color is red.
The bar rail of the clamp, which is usually the main component of any clamp, is made of steel, which is milled right at the company’s facility. The tools have a bar made of solid plastic and a nice pad on top that offers a solid grip and prevents wood marring.
A wood clap of the right size guarantees the success of a project. The right size should not be too large or too small. The too-large clamps are hard to place, let alone maneuver, while the tiny ones often become unstable. Bessy clamps are therefore available in up to nine size models with clamping capacities of their own. These include 12′′, 18′′, 24′′, 31′′, 40′′, 50′′, 60′′, 82′′, and 98′′, with weights ranging from around 5 lbs to 13 lbs for the largest. With a clamping power of up to 1700 lbs across all Bessey clamping tools, you can effortlessly reach your desired clamping force thanks to the hex key that tightens the handle.
These clamping tools have round-shaped rubber handles for additional usability.
Jorgensen Parallel Clamps
On the other hand, Jorgensen is a Chicago, Illinois, company that has been around for over a century. Founded in 1903, this company first started manufacturing hand tools before expanding into the manufacture of clamping tools. Jorgensen Company, unlike Bessey, loves orange for their clamps. The clamp’s rail bar is made using cold-drawn steel. Its claws, on the other hand, are made of sturdy plastic without a pad like the Bessey parallel wood clamps. These clamps are heavily built such that it is impossible to bend the bar while using them, so you cannot go wrong with precise measurements.
Unlike Bessey clamps that come in nine distinct model sizes, Jorgensen clamps feature only eight model sizes, which include 12′′, 18′′, 24′′, 30′′, 36′′, 48′′, 60′′, and 72′′. All come in various weights, with the largest size, 72 inches, weighing 12.23 lbs.These clamps, such as the Cabinet Master, are easy to use because they come with a built-in clamp stand. The feature allows for ease of one-handed use.
About clamp force, the average clamping force of these tools is 600 lbs for the smaller clamps and 1000 lbs for the larger ones. This force is ideal for a myriad of applications. You use these tools in spreading mode by simply rotating the sliding claw.
Head-to-head Comparison
Jorgensen is Heavily Built
If you are looking for a heavily built clamp that’s stable while working, Jorgensen guarantees this and is more versatile than Bessey clamps. They have a larger clamping surface, letting you spread your load more evenly on their large plastic jaws and preventing tilting or bowing of the workpiece. 1000 lbs is neither too little nor too much, while Bessey’s’ 1700 lbs is enough to damage the wood piece.
Price Difference and Workability
If you are looking to save money on your clamp purchase, you’ll save more when purchasing Jorgensen clamps than Bessey clamps.
The Jorgensen is also easier and quicker to adjust the head by simply sliding it, and by reversing it on the bar, the clamp serves as a spreader. Also, Jorgensen parallel clamps deliver just the right force on the wood piece.
Bessy is a Premium Brand with high-quality clamps.
Bessey is an expensive premium brand whose products have been proven to be of high quality. Its clamps deliver more clamping force of up to 1700 lbs compared to Jorgensen’s 1000 lbs. While too much force could mar the wood, it takes less effort for Bessey to reach the minimal required force. Besides, the clamps have claws, which prevent you from applying too much pressure that could damage the wood.
Bessey Offers a Variety of Sizes
The brand offers more sizes—9 compared to Jorgensen’s 8 sizes. If your project requires more sizes, then Bessey clamps would be the right choice for all your woodworking projects.
Research Findings from Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are very important because, besides improving customer trust and loyalty in a product, they furnish them with information that might not have been stated on the manufacturer’s website. This information could help one make a sound judgment when buying. When it comes to these clamps, here are the good, bad, and ugly experiences according to customers.
Customers praise the Bessey tools for their ease of use and accuracy. They feel that these clamps are heavy-duty and hence benefit from their greater clamping force to hold heavy or large pieces together. Being heavy duty tools also means they are highly durable, and you do not have to replace parts or entire clamps over time. They are versatile and safe to use because they do not break or slide easily.Bessey tools are cleverly designed to firmly hold the wood and allow access to the areas to work on.
On the other hand, a few buyers would prefer Jorgensen clamps because these are not great for right angles. Others say that unlike Jorgensen, Bessey clamps are difficult to use on material over 1 1/8″ thick.
Jorgensen Parallel Clamps
Jorgensen clamps are easy to use, especially if you are working alone. They are very smooth, hence excellent quality work.The clamps are heavy-duty, so they provide a true parallel.
Unlike other parallel clamps, these work better on boxes, cabinet flat panels, frames, and the assembly of door panels. Thanks to their large plastic jaws, users choose them because they evenly distribute the clamping pressure over large areas without marring the wood. Jorgensen clamps’ selling point is their affordability.
Some unsatisfied buyers feel that the bars of the 12-inch Jorgensen clamps may not be parallel to the bar, requiring you to lift one side of your work piece as you tighten the clamp. This means you have to do extra work to ensure perfect squares.
Insights from Woodworking Forums
It is important to check woodworking forums to see what users, with first-hand accounts of both clamps say before you purchase your unit. From the insights, you’ll gain a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of each, pick the most appropriate free advice for various projects, and be up to speed on the latest products available.
According to the FineWoodWorking forum, some customers prefer using Bessey clamps to Jorgensen clamps because they are infinitely variable. They are tougher than their counterparts, too.
Bessey clamps have more flat, square surfaces, so you have many options for odd clamping opportunities.
Users attest that the Jorgensen clamps don’t have a problem with the bite. Their longer tightening screw allows you to apply more pressure before the screw is fully exhausted. With Bessey, you have to back out the screw and start tightening all over again, which is tiring.
Conclusion
Above are both high-quality clamp brands. Bessey clamps, in particular, are made of high-quality material. They are more durable and offer a higher clamping force. Unfortunately, they are more expensive than Jorgensen clamps.
On the other hand, Jorgensen clamps are easy to use and have a built-in clamp stand, so they can stand upright for easy, one-handed use. To adjust them, only slide the head. It is quicker and easier.
Before you purchase one, check out these features and differences, workability, affordability, and your preferences to select one that suits your needs.