Now lets see, the most usless tool, when something sometimes needs to be held solid, not to move as any slip will bugger it, the human helper--------------------------
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OH no not my wife

Hey chanli51, I was surprised by your comment that you stick to Jorgensen clamps because you can't justify the cost of Besseys. The Jorgenesen 3900 and 4500 series clamps (the ones in every millwork and cabinet shop in North America) are the best clamps of their type ever made, and they ain't cheap. Hartford makes better clamps than Bessey and Jorgensons are better than Hartfords. The boys from The Adjustable Clamp Company (Chicago?) got it right. Are you perhaps using the "junior" versions with the skinny chromed beams? Those are clothespegs compared to their big brothers.

Don't count BnD out because they make a handyman level line of tools. They also make some top quality tools. Their best drywall screwgun is exactly that, the best on the market. The Milwaukee gun is too slow and the Porter Cable gun is too heavy. The Makitas and Ryobis are not even in the race.You won't get one at the local hardware emporium or at the "Depot".

Wouldheart - Are the Jorgensens you mentioned the I-bar style ones? I don't have any of them (I do have a lot of the thicker styled beam clamps from them (not the flexy beam ones.) I actually found them on sale for dirt cheap at a job-lot style store in Mass and bought out their stock.

The ones I use most now are the 3/4" pipe clamp fixtures (which I bought a lot of when Rockler had them priced wrong in the system.) I bought one set from Rockler for $8 a pair and took the receipt to Home Depot and had them beat the Rockler price by 10% (I think I ended up with ten of them.)

Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever paid full price on a clamp. Maybe it's the Bessey mystique that has me fooled.

chanli51
The 4500 series Jorgensen clamps are the typical quick release type with a fixed and a moveable end, the latter of which is slid up against the workpiece and finally tightened by turning the screw handle. They come in two throat depths (I think 5" and 8")and in beam lengths from about 10" up to 24" or so. Jorgensen clamps are distinguished by the springloaded "fingers" which are incorporated into the moving end and which give a superb grip on the beam. The beam is about a quarter inch by one and three eighths, but has no flanges like an I beam and is not chrome plated.
If you can borrow one of these and a comparable sized Bessey clamp, try any operation that causes vibration. The Bessey clamp is almost sure to loosen and fall off in minutes, while the Jorgensen will not budge. When, in time, the fingers wear (this takes about fifteen years or more of daily commercial/industrial use) simply disassemble the clamp and reverse the fingers and go clamp up another twenty thousand jobs.
The Jorgensen pipe devices are also excellent, as long as you don't use galvanized pipe, since the zinc is just like grease. The best retail market I-beam clamps I know of are made by Record out of England and they cost a fortune. Some factories have had their clamps custom made for them and these are usually almost indestructible, a great find at a liquidation auction.
America, like every industrial country, makes stuff in a whole range of qualities, but, when the toolmakers are serious about selling to the pros, the stuff is top notch.
My all metal SkilSaw wormdrive is forty one years old; my three HP Rockwell router is a couple of years younger.
Find a journeyman electrician and I'll bet the farm that he has a bunch of Klein handtools in his pouch, and some Greenlee gear in his van. Fire sprinkler mechanics? Tools from The Ridge Tool Company every time.

chanli51

Rereading your post, it sounds like you own the clamps I'm talking about. If so, my friend, don't pine after Bessey clamps. You have the best. If you have need of such a thing, the Hartford 90% picture frame or mitre clamp is one Jorgensen doesn't make, and it is a beautiful little device. We use them for pre-assembling door and window casing mostly.

I spent a lot of years in Denver, where I was reconstucting foundations on homes. Always used a Skilsaw worm drive. Came to the East coast and bought a new Skil wormdrive for my job with restoration company. Jeeze, the ribbing I took for having one! Course when one of their's burn up cutting 4x4's or such, I just smile and go on about my business.

In reply to:

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Course when one of their's burn up

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Hi gang. Yeah, bought this set of brake like open ended box wrenches for the brake line fittings from Harbor Freight. If you ever really, really, want to strip every fitting on your car brakes, please buy these from me. They are are great. They have a nice built-in spring action so that the boxed end can spread out when you apply pressure on the brake line nut.

They were more than likely made in Japan (not that Japan doesn't have some superior tools) and they aren't metric, but fit like it. I keep them around just in case I ever work on a guys or lady's car whom I don't like.

Not that anyone asked, but the best, most used tool I own: a Sears belt sander that I bought in 1977. Still works like a champ.

Harbor Freight is not exactly known for carrying a quality product line. Any tool that says "made in China" will perform to standards..........until removed from the package. After that, all bets are off.