[LeeBarker]

As important, I think, is to buy the ones with the stacked-disc type brake. I have had a few of the other ones, with the toothed dog, and they don't hold as well IME. Got rid of them.
Go big orange!

Kindly,

Lee

 

[manglum]

Thanks Tom and Lee for that insight.

And Lee, GO BIG ORANGE right back at you!

 

[BentheViking]

I think if I was starting from scratch I wouldn't even consider the 1/2" only the 3/4"

 

[paxorion]

I went with only 3/4" pipe clamps. They're not that much more expensive and my HF pipe clamps fixtures work just as well as my Orange ones

 

[mojapitt]

If you were going only one direction or the other, I would go with 3/4" just for the additional strength. I always opt for more capabilities.

 

[MrRon]

1/2" pipe clamps are more than adequate in applying clamping pressure.
Basswood: Those are absolutely the best saw horses I have ever seen. I'm going to make a set for myself.

 

[basswood]

MrRon,

Thanks for the compliment on the sawhorses.

If you click on my signature line it will take you to the plans for them (if you hadn't already figured that out). Of course, many LJ folks here can probably build something like them just by looking at the photos I posted. Let me know if you have any questions.

All the best, Brian

 

[Kryptic]

I agree with Clint, a 1/2 pipe will do everything that needs doing, if in this perfect world, we make all our joints….perfect.

 

[Whiskers]

A note and warning on the pipes. Lowes and probably HD will cut and thread pipe for you for free, where other places cannot, or will charge a lot for it. They will also have pieces of pipe already precut, but DO NOT buy it! A precut piece of pipe will cost more than a full 10' long piece you can have cut any way you want. While there look around for the little orange plastic pieces that come on the ends of the pipe to protect it, grab any you see laying around and make sure the ones on the pipes your buying don't escape, they are kind of nice to have to protect the thread on the end of the clamp that has the sliding part in case later you need to join pipes to make a longer clamp. Oh, and if it wasn't implied already, make sure you have both ends of any piece of pipe you have cut threaded for the purpose of joining pipes.

 

[pintodeluxe]

What is the difference between 3/4" pipes and 1/2" pipes? About 1/4" I would say.

I use 1/2" pipe clamps. I usually use 3-4' pipes, but occasionally link two pipes together with a threaded connector. The pipes will deflect some, but the deflection occurs towards the workpiece. Simply place a scrap block between the pipe and your project. This will keep the pipe from bending much.

I like the 1/2" size because they are lighter, easier to handle, and probably less expensive.

I can recommend the Bessey "H" Body clamps. They are a good value, and work great for panel glueups and general clamping needs.

Good luck

 

[Whiskers]

+1 on the H style, it nice to be able to stand them up and lay your work in it if needed. HF has H style as well and they get good reviews but I went with all Bessey's when I bought mine cause they were on sale at peachtree for only $1 or so more each than HF and Bessey's come with the rubber glove on the business ends to protect the surface, you have to buy that separately at HF or do without or use wood blocks etc. For some reason HF doesn't put their pipe clamps on sale much, I know cause I spent several months watching for them to and I still get all their spams and go thru them. You recently missed out on the big Jet sale on clamps, they had their pipe clamps on sale at HF prices as well, and those are also good clamps.

 

[manglum]

@ Whiskers, thanks for the insight. I had heard that already (from another thread) not to buy the pre-cut pipe, but to let the store cut and thread it for me.

I have received some great advice/opinions on this subject from all of you.

From what I am gathering the primary issue is the potential for the 1/2" to flex.I am not sure if that is true for both the galvanized and the black iron pipe, or just the galvanized. I believe that I'll be going with the black iron from reading other's comments around the interwebs. Cost is negligible, so I am more inclined to go with the 3/4". But I may change my mind after slogging around a 6' 3/4" pipe on a surface that I dont want to get scratched. I guess I'll just have to handle them at the Lowes and figure out exactly how much difference there really is.

Thanks again guys for all your help.

 

[reedwood]

no one has mentioned the handles on the 3/4" can be cranked where as the 1/2 inch has a sliding bar thingy.

if you are gluing up door panels, the 3/4" pipe clamps sit up high enough to turn the handles easy.

The flat spot where it touches the wood is more stable as a right angle compared to the 1/2" clamp. I have several 1/2" under 30" but only use them when I run out of 3/4" clamps.

32 posts for pipe clamps!.... geez guys! you think he got it?

 

[manglum]

Hey Mark, thanks! And… 32 posts about pipe clamps is exactly why I love this website! This is so much more entertaining and informative than reading product reviews.

 

[Pezking7p]

3/4" pipe is 5 times stiffer than 1/2" pipe. In theory, it will deflect 1/5th as much as the 1/2" at the same clamping force.

 

[manglum]

that s a considerable difference, more than I would have expected.

 

[paxorion]

5x sounds a like a large jump in stiffness, but not unreasonable considering the increase in the amount of material. Granted, manufacturing quality could play a role in skewing the numbers, I think the marginal jump in price (10-20%?) is very small in the grand scheme of things

 

[bbc557ci]

My thought…. either will flex with length and pressure which is why when doing a glue up, I put clamps on the top and bottom sides of the panel, to equalize the pressure as bast as reasonably possible. Mine are 3/4 but 1/2 would prolly be ok too. Never thought of using 1/2 but if I found some cheap I wouldn't be afraid to give them a whirl !!

 

[bonesbr549]

I've got a lot of the 3/4" and I did one or two 1/2". In my applicaitons I wanted good strength with out flex. On the shortones 12-24 ok, but on longer ones, had too much flex bowing piece and paring. I've found the 3/4" much better, but again thats in my application. Light duty, don't see it mattering. I've bought lots of diff brands too. From cheapon HF to the only ones I will buy now. I get the bessy's. Great value at less than 15$ + pipe. I love the stands and they feet act as a great wall hanger.

 

[manglum]

I ended up going with all 3/4" black iron pipe.

Once I handled them in the store they ended up not being nearly as heavy as I expected.

And the gentleman at the HD was more than happy to cut up 3 ten foot pipes for me. I ended up with two each of 6',4',3',and 2' threaded on both ends and I picked up 10 3/4" couplers to give me plenty of capability to go longer than 6 foot if I ever need to.

The only thing that was mildly inconvenient is that when they cut and thread the pipe they pour oil all over the pipe, getting inside the pipe as well. That will cause me to have to give the pipe a thorough cleaning tomorrow.

Now all I have to do is wait for a sale on pipe clamps to buy up a mess of them.