All in One Clamp U-54 54-Inch Ultra Wide Grip Clamp with Double T-Track
by E. Emerson Tool Co
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List Price: Our Price: $58.30 You Save: $23.69 (29%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $36.51 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of All in One Clamp U-54 54-Inch Ultra Wide Grip Clamp with Double T-Track
Customer Review: Great Straight Edge for Circular Saw Cutting
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent straight edge for cutting plywood with a circular saw. It does not flex at all and the clamping mechanism holds securely on 3/4" plywood.
The best part is the clamp grabs the edges of the plywood and secures with a single lever. Now when I have to cut plywood, or other sheet goods, I throw a piece of 3/4 particle board on my saw horses, then a 2" thick sheet of pink insulating foam, then the sheet I am going to cut. This way I can make multple cuts on the pywood without re-positioning the sheet/sawhorses. The particle board+foam supports the entire sheet so I do not have to worry about "catching" the piece at the end of the cut.
The clamp does not self align so you have to either check the squareness with a tape measure or if you are making multiples of the same cut, make a measuring jig with a stop block out of some scrap lumber. I wrote the required offsets for my circular saw base right on the clamp to speed things up when I am using a tape.
I just finished cutting sides for 6 base cabinets using this clamp and two measuring jigs, one for the height and one for the width. It took about half the time as my old method of using two 6" clamps to hold a straight edge to the board. There was 1/64" or less variation in size between the pieces.
Other Comments - I would not bother buying the guide that rides on the top track if your are using this with a circular saw, it is really easy to keep the base against the guide. The guide has a low enough profile to clear my saw motor so I can cut with the guide against either side of my circular saw base, this is a nice plus.
Customer Review: Works great but is not idiot proof
Summary: 5 Stars
If you expect to take this out of the box, throw it on top of a piece of plywood and have it automatically square and clamp itself you need to look elsewhere, maybe hire a cabinetmaker. If however you have a lot of experience in cutting panel materials with a portable circular saw you will find this a godsend. It is straight and clamps hard and that is all a craftsman expects.
Expect that in the typical dusty environment that the clamping mechanism may have to be cleaned. The length of the clamping stroke is short but is long enough for the job at hand. It is obvious from the comments from neophytes that they weren't able to easily remove the slack. Complaints that you need a square are puzzling; if the panel starts square and you cut a parallel line, aren't both parts square? Lastly, this tool does not have divine origins: after you cut a piece you measure the result to quickly identify problems, not wait until all components are being assembled.
I used this to cut prefabricated countertop material where the cut edge would be exposed and any out of square issues would scrap a panel. It worked flawlessly. The only scrap panel was caused by "pilot error".
One thing, the additional price for the ultrawide clamps is worth it. Also I found that set up with a accurate 48" scale was far more accurate than a measuring tape and much easier on the eyes. Lastly while I used the black plastic saw guide with success, the UHMW guide for the "Boomer Red" clamp also sold by Amazon looks like a better design.
Customer Review: Wish I had bought this years ago
Summary: 5 Stars
I've only had this for a couple of days, but already the difference it has made on cutting down 4x8 pieces has made it well worth the price. I will agree that the thing is a little tricky to setup, but what's a few extra minutes to help ensure a cleaner cut? This thing also grips and doesn't move - when I was cutting some 3/4" birch boards it actually gripped so tight it pressed in some of the wood - I have since learned not to lock it in so much.
I think my only real complaint would be how easy the sides get scratched up and dirty when using bare tools against it - I had to setup a plastic guide so I'd avoid hurting the sides. Okay two complaints - it isn't the 99" model! I can only image how great that would be when it comes to cutting the 8' sides - one day.
I know it isn't really needed, but having some built in levels would be helpful - you still sometimes never know if things are lined up correctly. Overall though, buy one - I took the advice from people commenting on the standard version and just went with the wide model from the start.
Customer Review: Works well but fiddly to adjust
Summary: 3 Stars
When I get this thing clamped down it works great. However, I have trouble getting the adjustable side of the clamp to set right so that the clamp will lock - it's supposed to click when it locks, but I find it's quite difficult to get it to do this with the adjustable side of the clamp underneath the straight edge out of sight, and it's fiddly getting your fingers down there to mess with it. By the time I have the thing locked, my straight edge is out of alignment with the line it was set to.
Likewise, it's not easy getting the thing to slide away from the workpiece when you release the clamp (I usually pull the whole clamp off the workpiece and flip it over in order to readjust the clamp).
Something that didnt occur to me to check was the clearance underneath my circular saw motor housing. My Bosch has less than 1/2" of clearance and so it does not clear the straight edge - meaning that I can only use this saw to make cuts with the narrow edge of the saw plate against the straight edge, which can be a little unstable on trim cuts.
Customer Review: hard to use; does it work??? not by my experience
Summary: 1 Stars
at first i was disappointed in the flimsy nature of the product. i figured it should be intuitive and easy to use. not so. it seemed the product was broken as it would not work. so i had to make a long distance call at my expense. there after three attempts, someone told me they had a problem with the product they had not anticipated. they were correcting it by including instructions. so the person told me the 'secret' of how to make this foolish thing work. i followed the cumbersome instructions and got it to -just sort of work. but it is a very awkard procedure and even then sometimes it does work and then again it will just not. this item sure is not worth the money, not worth the hassle, and not worth having to make a toll call. all it is good for i think is as a straight edge...foregoing any plans to have it clamp easily to wood and guide a saw. never would i have bought this ahd i seen it beforehand.