CHEAP G-clamps

[DavidLee]

Your after cheap G clamps... perhaps people should be directing you to this site >> Forge Steel G Clamp 50mm ;)

Tom

That is a G-cramp NOT a clamp! See here, for example.

Actually, that MAY have been Tom's point........................ <_<

I would be prepared to wager a quantity of alcoholic beverage that it almost certainly wasn't!

Calling these things CLAMPS is an increasingly common misconception - probably due to a lack of decent woodwork lessons at school. On the other hand the term "G-Clamp" IS US-Speak for Hook-Clamp.

 

David

[Ynot]

Calling these things CLAMPS is an increasingly common misconception - probably due to a lack of decent woodwork lessons at school. On the other hand the term "G-Clamp" IS US-Speak for Hook-Clamp.

Hmmm....

I don't know - The fact that Tom linked to a G-cRamp was quite obvious, and the fact that the item was being sold as a cLamp, not a cRamp supports my theory...

 

Especially when he goes on to say that 'seriously, go to Used lighting' with a proper link.............

 

I agree with your consternation about the misuse of a term, BUT would have to say that it seems to take no time at all for a misuse of a word these days to become so embroiled in the language by said mis-quote that it turns into common speech quite quick...

 

<_<

[tokm]

would be prepared to wager a quantity of alcoholic beverage that it almost certainly wasn't!

<_< I'll have a pint'o strongbow please!

 

Yes, I was having a little dig/joke at the fact they were being called the wrong thing by a very large/well known tool supplier as well as pointing out that here in the UK we call the clamps used on theatre lanterns hook clamps, not G clamps. So your both right.

 

On topic though, has anyone got anything to say about the Used LX hook clamps? Good or bad experiences, just wondering as Ive not had any bad experiences with them, but has anyone had any problems with them?

 

Tom

[Ynot]

would be prepared to wager a quantity of alcoholic beverage that it almost certainly wasn't!

;) I'll have a pint'o strongbow please!

And mine'll be a pint of single malt!!

<_<

[jayselway]

I'd say watch out for those ones from Maplins - one of the lads turned up on a recent refit with a bag full of them, and sure they were the heavy duty ones, so off we went.

 

Happy days are here again, I thought. Until, I decided I wanted to move a par can a bit after the noise boy stuck a speaker right in front of it. I undid the thing, and sure enough, the wing nut unscrewed itself from the bolt. Slightly surprised, I tried it on another one. Yup, same again.

 

It seems that they are somewhat tamper proof, whether it was deliberate or not. However, it does make for a bit of a hard time trying to move things!

[Nick S]

On the other hand the term "G-Clamp" IS US-Speak for Hook-Clamp.

 

That would be a C-Clamp. Hook-clamps don't exist - lighting clamps in the states don't have a hook, hence the 'C'. As a result, they're also considerably more of a pain to rig. :P

G-clamp is normally used to refer to g-cramps (as I discovered to my cost when I was told we'd found a box of g-clamps, which to my dismay (and to the unrigged lights on the ground) turned out to be very large and very orange).

[Chris Beesley]

For the price of Maplins "Heavy Duty" clamp I would expect to see a Doughty quality item!

 

Just for reference the same clamp can be found for a third of the price HERE

 

Hope this helps.

[GreatBigHippy]

On topic though, has anyone got anything to say about the Used LX hook clamps? Good or bad experiences,

 

Got some in recently and they seem good enough. Look stronger than the ones from my selecons! A little scrappy looking, but that is neither here nor there really. Came with all the bolts/washers/nylock nuts which was a nice bonus.

[Neil Hampson]

swerving further off topic here but, as its loosley related, has anybody seen or used one of these before?

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f86/neilhampson/miniclaw.jpg

I found them while brosing an American company(Website) whose product range looks similar to Doughty over here. the pictured version is the cut-down minni version, there is also a heavy duty version, and even one to fit directly onto a Vari-Lite. I like the design idea that incorporates a hook over the bar so that you only need one hand to rig the lantern etc, as it actualy stays on the bar while you lock it off, much better than a standard clamp, and I suspect a bit cheaper and smaller than a 'trigger clamp' not sure about the internal thread on the aluminium block though...

 

Edit: fixed website link

[tokm]

Looks reminiscent of the clamps, pre installed, on some of the newer VLs.. specifically the 1000 and 500 range. Might just be the wing nut/handle thing..

 

Look reasonably OK, but nothing special, just a fancy half coupler!

 

Tom

[peternewman]

Look reasonably OK, but nothing special, just a fancy half coupler!

But Tom, it's so much more than that:

I like the design idea that incorporates a hook over the bar so that you only need one hand to rig the lantern etc, as it actually stays on the bar while you lock it of

It appears to bring the benefits of a half coupler, low profile and close to the bar, safe for over/side rigging, without the disadvantage of a normal half coupler that needs lots of hands to slot both bits through a truss, put them together, screw them up and hold the lantern all at the same time. In short it looks very neat.

[jayselway]

For the price of Maplins "Heavy Duty" clamp I would expect to see a Doughty quality item!

Chris - so would I, sadly the lad had already set off by the time I was even informed of the job! ;)

[u_dakka]

maplins are quite good

 

ummm...... I woudln't buy them from Maplins even though I get staff discount. I want something reliable, that means I can set the lamps up and forget happy that they will do the job. Don't buy Maplins G-clamps and safety chains together, one Maplin product is just about acceptable, but get a good quality safety chain as your reserve. Also I wouldnt trust half my collegues to know what a safety chain was, let alone a G-clamp. Maplin's is also overpriced, it is only worth getting from if you need something in a rush as we are open at a lot of the week.

 

Actually having whinged about them, they are good for a few things (besides emergency purchases) - namely fuses.

 

[/ranting about company]

 

andy

[Oovis]

Blimey :huh: That's potentially a quick way to a P45, or at least an end to the staff discount, if you're getting it through someone else :)

[Ynot]

Blimey ;) That's potentially a quick way to a P45,

was thinking that myself....!