Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored to
fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the clamp?
I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for exchange,
but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have 40%
more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
Thanks,
Paul
Paul Stewart wrote:
> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored to
> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the clamp?
>
> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for exchange,
> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>
> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have 40%
> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
Hey Paul,
I have several Irwin Quick-grips. The shorter ones work better, and
last much longer. For longer clamps I prefer Jorgenson "Pony"
intermediate bar clamps. You have to twist the handles to tighten, but
they have the clutch design that makes them fast to adjust to near
tight. The quick-grips 24" and over are a waste of money for anyone who
actually needs clamping power on a daily basis. I can only figure that
the bar flexes just enough to defeat the clutch mechanism when under
load.
Tom in KY, been through a buncha' tools in the last 25 years.
I steered away from the Irwins because I have a friend in the boat
industry that bought about 10 of them to try, and he had a failure rate
of about 60% after using them for about two weeks. He took all the
defective ones back, only to have a repeat performance. The guys where
he bought them told him they were having a lot of problems with them,
and they were going to quit handling them altogether.
I bought some at Sears that were just like the old yellow clamps I
bought years ago (maker unknown) and use them hard all the time. I use
them to clamp down my miter saw on the job, for a quick clamp before
nailing, to let the glue set on a repaired door, to force cabinet
stiles together, etc. Constant use, no problems.
YMMV, but when they are on sale at Sears they are very reasonable.
Robert
Followed D. Crow's advice and took one apart today. It's pretty easy.
1. Remove the pin at the end of the bar. It's a roll pin and if you
grip it with a pair of pliers and twist it so the roll tightens, you
can pull it out while twisting.
2. Pull the handle off the end of the bar.
3. Snap a side cover off. It's a press fit with plastic pins and comes
straight out with minimal prying (like a finger nail).
4. What I call the "action bar" is held in place by a mid-size coil
spring. It's the metal thingy that the main clamp bar goes through.
You can use pliers or your fingers to squeeze the spring together a
bit and the action bar just comes out. Note which side of the action
bar faces aft, away from the squeeze grip when you pull it. You might
even want to mark it (scratch the darn thing on the rear side).
5. If you look closelt at the rectangular notch in the action bar
you'll see that the bottom and top of the rectanglar notch are
actually rounded to fit the clamp bar, sorta like the ends of a
router-cut mortise. They also appear to be slightly angled towards the
"front" (where the squeeze grip is). I cleaned up the inside of these
rounded edges with a round needle file, trying to leave a sharp adge
at the forward face of the actio bar. Before reinserting the action
bar, I stretched the coil spring a bit.
6. Re-assembly is the reverse except you can tap the roll pin back in
over a partially opened vise or a pin anvil.
My clamp seems to work now, doesn't slip. For how long? We'll see.
Regards.
Tom
Top posted yada, yada ....
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:09:34 -0500, "Norman D. Crow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Paul Stewart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
>> to
>> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
>> clamp?
>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>
>
>I've got a pair of the 12" Irwins, and one of them started doing the same
>thing(if I understand correctly, when you squeeze the handle to tighten the
>clamp it slips). I figured out how to get the handle apart and reversed the
>metal piece/pieces that actually grip the bar to tighten the clamp. I'm not
>sure if I had to remove the pin and take the assembly off the bar or not,
>but probably. Clamp works fine now.
replying to Paul Stewart, rafaeldeleon wrote:
> dream-designs wrote:
>
> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
to
> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
clamp?
> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
exchange,
> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have 40%
> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
> Thanks,
> Paul
Hi Paul, having the same problm I solve it by opening the case by
unscrewing it, insert a 2 mm steele suplemente between the anterior pin
and the levers(three anterior), the angle of them will be increased,
remove the inferior spring and elongate it or if posible change it for a
stronger and longer spring wich can hold the angle, if you want more
gripping power, dissasamble completely and reverse those three levers so
the gripping border present a new one, but I will recomend that do
initialy the simplest two steps and give it a try.
The steele supplement should have a size that avoid its displacement
inside the case.
--
I was just reading an article about clamps related to gluing. Seems the
quick-grip type max out at < 100# clamp pressure and glue folk recommend
about 250#. FWIW
I use mostly the quick myself...
--
Paul Stewart wrote:
> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored to
> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the clamp?
>
> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for exchange,
> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>
> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have 40%
> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
>
>
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
>
> On 7/13/2015 9:44 PM, rafaeldeleon wrote:
> > replying to Paul Stewart, rafaeldeleon wrote:
> >> dream-designs wrote:
> >>
> >> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
> > to
> >> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
> > clamp?
> >> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> >> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
> > exchange,
> >> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
> >> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they
> >> have 40%
> >> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> >> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
> >> Thanks,
> >> Paul
> >
> >
> > Hi Paul, having the same problm I solve it by opening the case by
> > unscrewing it, insert a 2 mm steele suplemente between the anterior pin
> > and the levers(three anterior), the angle of them will be increased,
> > remove the inferior spring and elongate it or if posible change it for a
> > stronger and longer spring wich can hold the angle, if you want more
> > gripping power, dissasamble completely and reverse those three levers so
> > the gripping border present a new one, but I will recomend that do
> > initialy the simplest two steps and give it a try.
> > The steele supplement should have a size that avoid its displacement
> > inside the case.
> >
> >
> I have a bunch of these and I haven't had this problem, perhaps because
> I don't expect such clamps to provide heavy-duty clamping power.
IME when they start slipping, wiping the bars down with lacquer thinner
generally resolves the problem.
Ok,
I got my money back from Home Depot for the Irwin Quick Grips, 6 of them
anyway. I went to Amazon and ordered 6 Jorgensen ISD bar clamps.
Night and day, the Jorgensen's I can squeeze the handle till I'm blue in the
face and they don't slip. You take the sides off the Jorgensens and you see
2 springs vs the one spring in the Irwin Quick Grips, gauge of the springs?
The springs in the Jorgensen's are polished and must be at least 4 gauges
thicker. Clamp leaves inside; the Irwin Quick Grips have 2, Jorgensen ISDs
have 4.
The jaw stays put when you move it too, even when not tightened. This is
nice for coarse adjustments where you can get it close to the opening you
need but just a pinch larger, then use both hands to assemble or line
something up, then grab the ISD clamp with one hand and the open jaw doesn't
slide all over the place like it would on the Irwin's.
First impression, Jorgensen ISDs are at least 10 times better.
Recommendation; if you have Irwin Quick Grips, take them back for a
refund/store credit, re-gift them to a brother-in-law you don't like,
whatever it takes to get rid of them and then go online (Amazon has em) or
someplace you know of that carries the Jorgensen ISD clamps and buy them.
You will be glad you did.
RangerPaul
"Paul Stewart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
> to
> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
> clamp?
>
> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
> exchange,
> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>
> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have
> 40%
> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
>
>
hey Cowboy,
Yeah the warranty is on the plastic price thingy they attach to the clamps.
Hope you saved your receipts, the home centers get pissy when you don't have
one. I save em all.
Still wish someone could come up with some way to fix the infernal
contraptions!
I asked Irwin on their web site customer service response page if there was
anything that could be done to restore the workability of the
clamps.....gee.....they never answered.
Paul
"FunkySpaceCowboy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The Irwin's have a lifetime warranty? Didn't know that, I have a small
> quick grip that's all but useless now because of the same slipping
> problem. I haven't figured out a way to fix it yet though but it's nice
> to know that I can get them replaced under warranty...
>
Well at least I'm not alone Mac, I did actually use mine once to spread
apart a dovetailed box I had to beat together, duh me, but anyway, the ones
I used that day were not slipping and they worked decent for spreading. All
in all I'm very disappointed in Irwin for these clamps, I have other
products by Irwin I do like, but these are too problematic to be useful.
Paul
"mac davis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:21:49 -0600, "Paul Stewart"
> <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> Paul... not really applying to Irwin, but I feel better about my cheap
> knock
> offs from Harbor freight... I've noticed that with a few months use (ok,
> and
> abuse) that they don't grip as tight...
> I don't know if I should be glad that the HF ones are typical or upset
> that a
> company like Irwin can't make a better clamp..
>
> BTW: do you ever use them for spreading?
> I thought that would be a cool feature when I ordered the clamps but have
> never
> had a project that required spreading...
>
>>Well, speak of the devil, Irwiin answered my email today, maybe they watch
>>the newsgroups and saw my compaint about the clamps and them not replying
>>to
>>me. Anyway, according to Irwin there is no way to adjust Quick Grips to
>>improve the clamping action. Here is their reply:
>>
>>Mr. Stewart,
>>
>>Unfortunately there is no way to adjust the gripping mechanism. Please
>>return any defectives to the place of purchase. I apologize for any
>>inconvenience.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Ken Glardon
>>
>>I do realize that standard screw type clamps are going to clamp more
>>tightly
>>but the idea of a one handed clamp still interests me to try another
>>brand.
>>
>>So its off to Home Depot to get my money back. I'm going to try the
>>Jorgensen brand of quick clamps, they have them on Amazon and they are a
>>little cheaper than Irwin's Quick Grips at home Depot locally. They don't
>>have many reviews on Amazon for the Jorgensen brand but the few that have
>>reviewed them gave them 4 and 5 stars.
>>
>>I will post again in a few weeks when I've had time to get a refund and
>>get
>>some Jorgensen brand shipped here. If these have similar problems I
>>suppose
>>it's time to give up on one handed clamps until somebody makes one right.
>>
>>Later gators,
>>
>>Paul
>>
>>"Paul Stewart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or
>>> restored
>>> to
>>> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
>>> clamp?
>>>
>>> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
>>> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
>>> exchange,
>>> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>>>
>>> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have
>>> 40%
>>> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
>>> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Paul
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
> mac
>
> Please remove splinters before emailing
On Monday, July 13, 2015 at 8:44:03 PM UTC-5, rafaeldeleon wrote:
> replying to Paul Stewart, rafaeldeleon wrote:
>
> Hi Paul, having the same problm I solve it by opening the case by
> unscrewing it, insert a 2 mm steele suplemente between the anterior pin
> and the levers(three anterior), the angle of them will be increased,
> remove the inferior spring and elongate it or if posible change it for a
> stronger and longer spring wich can hold the angle, if you want more
> gripping power, dissasamble completely and reverse those three levers so
> the gripping border present a new one, but I will recomend that do
> initialy the simplest two steps and give it a try.
> The steele supplement should have a size that avoid its displacement
> inside the case.
>
Maybe you should patent your modified design and manufacture your own "Rafael Quick Grip" clamps. .... Or you are welcome (Thank you!) to call them "Sonny Quick Grip" clamps.
Sonny
"Paul Stewart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
> to
> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
> clamp?
>
> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
> exchange,
> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>
> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have
> 40%
> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>
> Thanks,
>
I've got a pair of the 12" Irwins, and one of them started doing the same
thing(if I understand correctly, when you squeeze the handle to tighten the
clamp it slips). I figured out how to get the handle apart and reversed the
metal piece/pieces that actually grip the bar to tighten the clamp. I'm not
sure if I had to remove the pin and take the assembly off the bar or not,
but probably. Clamp works fine now.
--
Nahmie
Stupidity is not considered a handicap, park elsewhere.
Well, speak of the devil, Irwiin answered my email today, maybe they watch
the newsgroups and saw my compaint about the clamps and them not replying to
me. Anyway, according to Irwin there is no way to adjust Quick Grips to
improve the clamping action. Here is their reply:
Mr. Stewart,
Unfortunately there is no way to adjust the gripping mechanism. Please
return any defectives to the place of purchase. I apologize for any
inconvenience.
Sincerely,
Ken Glardon
I do realize that standard screw type clamps are going to clamp more tightly
but the idea of a one handed clamp still interests me to try another brand.
So its off to Home Depot to get my money back. I'm going to try the
Jorgensen brand of quick clamps, they have them on Amazon and they are a
little cheaper than Irwin's Quick Grips at home Depot locally. They don't
have many reviews on Amazon for the Jorgensen brand but the few that have
reviewed them gave them 4 and 5 stars.
I will post again in a few weeks when I've had time to get a refund and get
some Jorgensen brand shipped here. If these have similar problems I suppose
it's time to give up on one handed clamps until somebody makes one right.
Later gators,
Paul
"Paul Stewart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
> to
> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
> clamp?
>
> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
> exchange,
> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>
> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have
> 40%
> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Paul
>
>
>
On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 20:20:23 -0600, "Paul Stewart" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Well at least I'm not alone Mac, I did actually use mine once to spread
>apart a dovetailed box I had to beat together, duh me, but anyway, the ones
>I used that day were not slipping and they worked decent for spreading. All
>in all I'm very disappointed in Irwin for these clamps, I have other
>products by Irwin I do like, but these are too problematic to be useful.
>
>Paul
>
for sure, Paul.. over the years I've used their bar and pipe clamps and they've
been fine...
Maybe they should risk sales volume and make the quick grip a "light duty"
clamp? It seems like the sales lost from the name/duty change would be less that
the cost of replacing or repairing the slipping ones..
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
On 7/13/2015 9:44 PM, rafaeldeleon wrote:
> replying to Paul Stewart, rafaeldeleon wrote:
>> dream-designs wrote:
>>
>> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
> to
>> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
> clamp?
>> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
>> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
> exchange,
>> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they
>> have 40%
>> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
>> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>> Thanks,
>> Paul
>
>
> Hi Paul, having the same problm I solve it by opening the case by
> unscrewing it, insert a 2 mm steele suplemente between the anterior pin
> and the levers(three anterior), the angle of them will be increased,
> remove the inferior spring and elongate it or if posible change it for a
> stronger and longer spring wich can hold the angle, if you want more
> gripping power, dissasamble completely and reverse those three levers so
> the gripping border present a new one, but I will recomend that do
> initialy the simplest two steps and give it a try.
> The steele supplement should have a size that avoid its displacement
> inside the case.
>
>
I have a bunch of these and I haven't had this problem, perhaps because
I don't expect such clamps to provide heavy-duty clamping power.
On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:21:49 -0600, "Paul Stewart" <[email protected]>
wrote:
Paul... not really applying to Irwin, but I feel better about my cheap knock
offs from Harbor freight... I've noticed that with a few months use (ok, and
abuse) that they don't grip as tight...
I don't know if I should be glad that the HF ones are typical or upset that a
company like Irwin can't make a better clamp..
BTW: do you ever use them for spreading?
I thought that would be a cool feature when I ordered the clamps but have never
had a project that required spreading...
>Well, speak of the devil, Irwiin answered my email today, maybe they watch
>the newsgroups and saw my compaint about the clamps and them not replying to
>me. Anyway, according to Irwin there is no way to adjust Quick Grips to
>improve the clamping action. Here is their reply:
>
>Mr. Stewart,
>
>Unfortunately there is no way to adjust the gripping mechanism. Please
>return any defectives to the place of purchase. I apologize for any
>inconvenience.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Ken Glardon
>
>I do realize that standard screw type clamps are going to clamp more tightly
>but the idea of a one handed clamp still interests me to try another brand.
>
>So its off to Home Depot to get my money back. I'm going to try the
>Jorgensen brand of quick clamps, they have them on Amazon and they are a
>little cheaper than Irwin's Quick Grips at home Depot locally. They don't
>have many reviews on Amazon for the Jorgensen brand but the few that have
>reviewed them gave them 4 and 5 stars.
>
>I will post again in a few weeks when I've had time to get a refund and get
>some Jorgensen brand shipped here. If these have similar problems I suppose
>it's time to give up on one handed clamps until somebody makes one right.
>
>Later gators,
>
>Paul
>
>"Paul Stewart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Anyone know how or if Irwin Quick Grip clamps can be adjusted or restored
>> to
>> fix them from slipping when pulling the handle/trigger to tighten the
>> clamp?
>>
>> I've got quite a few and they are becoming very frustrating. I know they
>> have a life time warranty and I have already taken 3 or 4 back for
>> exchange,
>> but this is getting old fast, I'm about to pitch em in the trash.
>>
>> I read an advertisement about Jorgensens similar clamp saying they have
>> 40%
>> more gripping power and that they don't slip. Anyone have any experience
>> with the Jorgensen quick clamps?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Paul
>>
>>
>>
>
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing