Bessey KliKlamp CAUTION

Bessey KliKlamps have become my clamps of choice for many reasons, ALMOST one-handed operation, good feel of the clamping pressure, quickly adjustable etc BUT for any woodworker who works in a high UV environment ie EVERYONE IN AUSTRALIA these clamps have a significant flaw. The red plastic 'triggers' are NOT UV stabilised and, after only a few years, they break and always in exactly the same place.

Attachment 258075


A further problem is that they invariably break when you are trying to remove them from a job and hence both you and the job are stuck! I emailed them a few years ago to ask for spare triggers that I was happy to fit myself, but they advised that they DO NOT SELL SPARE PARTS.
I have now lost 6 of my clamps (theres only 4 in the picture because today's and an earlier one were thrown out the shed window and I still can't find them!) and I think that is far too high a percentage of the 15 I have ... or had!
in conclusion, very good clamp, very poor design flaw!
fletty

Thanks for the heads up Fletty. I only have one of those clamps (works AWESOMELY with the Gifkins jig and the associated clamp holder), but have been planning to get more for the reasons you mention.

Are yours stored in sunlight? How much UV have they had?

Very poor form from Bessey not to supply spares. :((

Nathan.

I use a few of these too - great for the Gifkins jig, and for holding work down to the bench when cutting dovetails manually.

Just to be extra-safe, I think I'll keep them inside the glue fridge from now on :D

There are a couple of cheaper copies of these clamps around now (e.g. Carbatec) - wonder if they suffer the same problem?

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Just to be extra-safe, I think I'll keep them inside the glue fridge from now on :D

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You drink glue? :doh:


Do you drink it straight or have it as a shandy? :U

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Originally Posted by Charleville

You drink glue? :doh:


Do you drink it straight or have it as a shandy? :U

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Not drink. :no:
Inhalant abuse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'll have you know.....I've laid up a delightful little 2012 Titebond III (dry, with a hint of tannins), and am saving the 2011 Techniglue for a really special occasion :oo:

I use mine on the Gifkins jig as well AND when the trigger breaks they are VERY hard to get off because the nifty little clamp holder works so well!

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Originally Posted by I_wanna_Shed

Are yours stored in sunlight? How much UV have they had?

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My shed is surrounded by trees and the clamps WERE stored on a rack near a north facing window. They would get no direct sun in the longer months and probably 2 to 3 hours per day in the shorter months. When I was preparing my case to Bessey, I put one of the broken trigger pieces out in the Sun, red side up, and the red area had reduced to grey/white in only 3 months.
I now have them well inside the shed which is away from any direct light BUT out of MY reach as well. :~
I do big glue ups outside and I am always conscious of getting the clamps off and back inside as soon as possible. A mate of mine is rebuilding a wooden boat (an excuse to spend hours afloat out of the house!) and he would have clamps out in daylight for weeks on end. He no-longer uses KliKlamps!

fletty

Sounds like you need to get an unbroken trigger to one of the CNC-heads on here, and they can start a nifty little aftermarket replacement part business, perhaps cutting replacement triggers out of metal?

Cheers,
Andrew

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Originally Posted by arose62

Sounds like you need to get an unbroken trigger to one of the CNC-heads on here, and they can start a nifty little aftermarket replacement part business, perhaps cutting replacement triggers out of metal?

Cheers,
Andrew

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FANTASTIC idea! I'll get one out and photograph it against graph paper to see if its feasible. It appears to have a long 'tail' to act as a spring which might be a problem though?
It was suggested before that maybe I could make some from cast resin so I will look at that as well.

gentlemen ... start your engines .... the market SO FAR is .... 6!

fletty

Hi Alan, Its a poor show on Bessy's behalf that they wouldn't help you out. Considering what the price here in Aus is to buy them. But then again they are German and wasn't one of them going to rule the world some time back?
Surely there will be some talented Forumite who can come to the rescue.
I wonder if they were worried you had a backyard business going in making replicas of the clamps.
Its very annoying when you buy "quality" and then you run into no after sales back up

My understanding of UV Rays is that you don't necessarily have to be exposed to the sun directly because its the light that carries the rays. So just exposing them to the natural light in the shed would be enough exposure to have a problem

Here is the villian of the piece photographed against 5mm graph paper. The cleverness of the design EXCLUDING THIS PIECE is that the components simply click together ... no fasteners at all!

Attachment 258087

The picture shows the impact of (presumably) UV light AND how predictable it is that there would be failures at the narrow neck. The design would allow that section to be thickened and with a greater radius to reduce the stress concentration. I think the spring 'tail' might make it difficult to machine from metal although aluminiun could be a possibility?

fletty

PS, these 2 pieces are from different clamps and therefore show how consistent, and therfore predictable, the failures are!

Fletty, Ken whom you have met works for All Type Plastics Victoria Rd Smithfield off Smithfield Rd next door to Mitre 10. Tooling up costs heaps but the boss maybe able to do a small run if viable.

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Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Not drink. :no:
Inhalant abuse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Ah yes - I understand. I suppose that the fridge would keep it fresh. :U

This might help:
SPF50+ Sunscreens - Cancer Council Victoria

Absolutely... When I go into our local hardware (Mum & Dad job) & the lady of the house is all rugged up with a beany on & I ask why she doesn't get some of the heaters out (they sell them too) as demo models she say she would but the cold weather helps the shelf life of the glue so the workers have to just live with it.