Carver clamps what’s all the fuss?

[Easywelder]

I’ve got 3 or 4 carvers picked up over the years in various lots, hardly ever use them. If I wanted to hold something really big or really tight then maybe but for fabrication work the Bessey F clamps are far more user friendly imo, and although not cheap they are a darn sight cheaper than carvers. Favorite clamp is the quick release ratchet one.

 

[Pete.]

F clamps have a lot more spring than Carvers. Ok for light fab but if you want a piece of construction steel to stay put the Carver will get that done.

 

[frank horton]

have neither but bought these from acar boot....
obv home made.....pleased with em......€5's each.....

 

[Hitch]

I hardly use any of my standard carvers these days. Tend to reach for the Piher piston clamps most of the time.

 

[Brad93]

Piher. A third of the price and bend less, quicker to position.

Carver rack clamps are indispensable, but the standard ones I'd only give sensible money for. None of this £120 a pair like I see on eBay.

 

[tom2207]

i have a fave carver ,, its the 186 range but the long reach version , except I have a standard reach bottom arm on it ,,,, its totally perfect for reaching over land rover rear chassis then the short arm pulls in the bottom joint on the aftermarket rear chassis and x member repair section ,,, an expensive set up , but by gods it takes no prisoners.
carvers certainly have their uses , but so do f clamps and the red handled bessey clamps too ,,, often its just a good old strong f clamp that gets the call ,,, clamps make for cheap help ,,

 

[premmington]

Piher clamps - I only got two of these - double acting threads - good things.

I got a rack full of Carver clamps - not gonna be buying and more clamps from any maker.

I have a mountain of Record G clamps I don't use too much now - only real big ones and real little ones

 

[bourbon]

Made in Nuneaton so UK made though

 

[seriesonewelder]

Originally made in Walsall close to the town centre

 

[roofman]

I have held roofs up overnight with Carvers in the past..plus just being able to sling them about without caring for there welfare makes life easier..

 

[bourbon]

Originally made in Walsall close to the town centre

I knew the HQ used to be in Brownhills, same place as they made the caravan heaters

 

[GRW]

Welder in work has some Bessey Clamps and they are nice kit. I've helped him in a Trained Chimp capacity a few times.
The ratchet ones come in really handy used as "Clamp On Handles" - instant hand-holds to shift hefty items around (recently we used his clamps to aid manoeuvre of a slightly above 2M x 2M square, 250kg Radiator back into a Plant Room and back onto an 1100Hp engine).
For my limited use, I baulked at the cost of Bessey Clamps, but I have a couple of cheaper Kennedy clamps that have been really useful.

 

[striker]

I've never used carver but love my besseys!

 

[8ob]

I like the carvers for many reasons, also find uses for the lighterweight record g clamps and sash cramps. I dont think there is a one does all clamp.

Bob

 

[premmington]

I like the carvers for many reasons, also find uses for the lighterweight record g clamps and sash cramps. I dont think there is a one does all clamp.

Bob

+1

 

[8ob]

+1

But we do like a Carver and all the funny little tricks you can perform with them that other clamps cant do

 

[Johnnybravo]

I’ve got Ulmia’s… proper old school German. Strong as hell. Bessey bought them out and copied their design , just using a lot less metal in doing so

 

[Turbo]

Carver rack clamps are very fiddly to use, virtually impossible 1 handed, same for f-clamps. If I've no help I normally clamp the item loosely with a one handed ratchet clamp then do the main clamping with a proper clamp when both hands are free.

I mostly use some Sandvik f-clamps I got from an auction plus some Lidl F-clamps that are surprisingly good for the money.

But for clamping something down very firmly or straightening something there's nothing to equal the clamping force of the carver T186 clamps!

 

[Rrobson]

Depends what your using them for. I swear by carvers but not for work holding. Mainly used as extra clamping on mobile machinery (drills, mills, borers etc) where you can’t get anything else on. Two or three to supplement the other less than ideal clamping and you’ve got a solid stable mount.

I probably wouldn’t pick a carver up to clamp work because as said above, they are fiddly to operate and a two handed job…