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Picture this. You’re in your shed, the radio is on, and you’re about to glue up that lovely little bookshelf you’ve spent all weekend making. You’ve carefully cut the joints, sanded everything smooth, and now it’s time for the moment of truth. You apply the glue, bring the pieces together, and then… you realise you need an extra pair of hands. The pieces start to slip and slide, glue is getting everywhere, and a wave of pure frustration is about to wash over your Saturday afternoon. We’ve all been there. But what if you had a simple, reliable partner to hold everything steady?
This is where the Jorgensen 12″ Professional Woodworking Quick Release Bar Clamp comes in. It’s not just a chunk of metal and plastic; it’s one of the most essential tools you can own. For generations of woodworkers, that flash of bright orange has meant strength, reliability, and getting the job done right. Whether you’re a weekend hobbyist fixing a wobbly chair in your terraced house in Manchester or a seasoned pro crafting furniture in a workshop in the Cotswolds, this clamp is a true workhorse.
JORGENSEN 300 mm Professional Woodworking Clamps 2 Pack, Quick Release Clamps for Wood, F Clamp Set, Max 136 kg Load…
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Heavy-duty steel bar clamp constructed with cast-iron stationary and sliding heads and a high-carbon, rust-resistant steel bar for durability.
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Heads feature an orange, powder-coated finish for added protection.
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Delivers a strong clamping force of 136 kg.
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Specifications:
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Maximum Jaw Capacity: 300mm
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Throat Depth: 60mm
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Features a fast-acting, quick-slide design; simply press the button to adjust the clamping distance.
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The acme-threaded, multiple-disc-clutch design allows the sliding head to hold securely at any point, preventing slippage.
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Handles are made from a non-slip material for a comfortable and secure grip.
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Comes with soft, non-marring jaw pads to protect workpiece surfaces; pads are removable for welding applications.
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Suitable for a wide range of uses, such as woodworking, cutting, gluing, and temporary assembly.
In this guide, we’re going to take a deep dive into this workshop classic. We’ll uncover the surprisingly fascinating history behind the Jorgensen brand, break down exactly what makes this clamp tick, and show you how to use it like a pro. We’ll even see how it stacks up against its main rivals here in the UK. By the end, you’ll know everything there is to know about this brilliant bit of kit.
The Jorgensen Legacy: A Surprising Story of Grit and Innovation
To really understand this clamp, you need to know where it comes from. The story doesn’t start in a massive, soulless factory but with a small Chicago business called the ‘Adjustable Clamp Company’, founded way back in 1903. And the person who started it all wasn’t who you’d expect.
Her name was Adele Holman, and she was a former professional opera singer. In an era when a woman running a manufacturing company was almost unheard of, Adele was a true pioneer. She was so aware of the prejudices of the time that she famously signed all her company letters and documents as “A. V. Holman” to hide her gender. It was a clever move that allowed her to build a business in a man’s world.
She partnered with a talented Danish cabinetmaker named Hans Jorgensen. He had patented a brilliant new design for a handscrew—the wooden clamps you still see today—that was stronger and more versatile than anything else available. That single invention was the foundation of the company’s success. The product line soon grew to include the tough, steel bar clamps that would make the Jorgensen and ‘Pony’ brands famous across the world.
For over a century, the company built a reputation for making high-quality, no-nonsense tools in the USA. In more recent years, as one sharp-eyed British reviewer noted, the company was acquired by a Chinese business. While some might worry this means a drop in quality, the new owners have kept the original designs and manufacturing techniques. The Jorgensen clamps you buy today are still made to the same tough standards, offering that same dependable strength that your grandad would have recognised.
Anatomy of a Classic: What Makes the Jorgensen 12″ Bar Clamp Tick?
So, what exactly is this tool? At its heart, it’s an ‘F-style’ bar clamp, so-called because, well, it looks a bit like the letter F. It’s a beautifully simple design that hasn’t changed much over the years because it just works. Think of it like a car jack, but in reverse—instead of pushing things up, it squeezes them together with immense pressure.
Let’s break down the key parts of the Jorgensen 12″ model.
Technical Specifications (For the Nerds)
- Jaw Capacity: 300mm (or 12 inches). This is the maximum width it can open. In practical terms, it’s wide enough for most common jobs, like clamping cabinet doors, gluing up chopping boards, or assembling picture frames.
- Throat Depth: 60mm (about 2 and 3/8 inches). This tells you how far the clamp can ‘reach’ in from the edge of your workpiece. A 60mm depth is a great all-round size, giving you plenty of reach without the clamp being too bulky.
- Clamping Force: 136 kg (or 300 lbs). This is the real magic number. 136 kilograms of pressure is, to put it simply, a lot. It’s like having a fully grown adult standing on your project to hold it together. This immense force is what ensures a rock-solid, gap-free glue joint.
- Materials: The backbone of the clamp is a high-carbon steel bar, which is treated to resist rust. The stationary and sliding heads are made from tough cast iron and finished in that iconic orange powder coat. These materials are chosen for one reason: durability. This is a tool built to last a lifetime.
The Magic Mechanism: The Quick-Release Clutch
The best thing about this clamp is how easy it is to use, and that’s thanks to its clever clutch design. If you’ve ever used an old, cheap clamp, you’ll know the pain of endlessly winding the handle just to close a few inches. The Jorgensen does away with all that faff.
- A Simple Explanation: It has a special clutch system, a bit like the gears on a bike. You press a small button on the sliding jaw, and it glides freely up and down the bar. You can slide it right up to your workpiece in a split second. As soon as you let go of the button, the clutch bites down and locks the jaw solidly in place, ready for you to apply pressure with the handle.
- A Detailed Explanation: This isn’t just any old clutch. It’s Jorgensen’s original multiple-disc-clutch design. A series of small, interlocking steel plates inside the jaw grip the bar. When you press the release trigger, these plates disengage. When you let go, they spring back and lock onto the bar’s serrations with incredible force. This design is crucial because it stops the jaw from slipping, even under hundreds of kilograms of pressure. It’s a simple, robust, and brilliantly effective mechanism.
Putting It to Work: A Practical Guide for British Woodworkers
Knowing how a clamp works is one thing; using it well is another. This is where you can separate the amateurs from the pros. Here’s how to get the most out of your Jorgensen clamps.
Setting Up Your First Clamp: The Four-Step Process
It couldn’t be simpler.
- Press and Slide: Press the quick-release button on the sliding jaw.
- Position: Slide the jaw until it touches your workpiece.
- Release and Lock: Let go of the button. The clutch will automatically engage.
- Tighten: Turn the comfortable wooden handle to apply the final clamping pressure. That’s it!
Practical Applications in the UK Workshop
This clamp is incredibly versatile. Here are just a few jobs where it will become your best friend:
- The Perfect Glue-Up: This is what bar clamps were born for. Whether you’re joining boards to make a tabletop, assembling a box, or building a frame, they provide the steady, even pressure needed for a strong glue bond.
- A Secure Third Hand: Need to hold a piece of wood steady on your workbench while you saw, drill, or sand it? The Jorgensen will lock it down tight, making your work safer and far more accurate.
- Assembly Aid: It’s a nightmare trying to hold two pieces of wood at a perfect right angle while also trying to drive in a screw. Use the clamp to hold the parts together, freeing up both your hands for the important job of assembly.
Top Tips for Perfect Clamping
Follow these simple rules to get professional results every time.
- Use Scrap Wood Protectors (Cauls): The clamp jaws are tough metal, and the plastic pads, while good, can sometimes leave marks under high pressure. Always place a small piece of scrap wood between the clamp jaw and your precious project. This spreads the pressure and completely prevents any dents or mars.
- Even Pressure is Everything: When gluing up a wide panel, don’t just stick one clamp in the middle. Use several clamps, spaced every 6-8 inches. More importantly, alternate them—one on top, the next on the bottom. This applies pressure evenly from both sides and is the secret to stopping your panel from bowing into a useless curve.
- Don’t Go Mad with the Handle! The most common beginner mistake is over-tightening. You might think tighter is better, but it’s not. All you’ll do is squeeze out every last drop of glue from the joint, paradoxically making it weaker. You’re looking for a small, even bead of glue to squeeze out along the joint line, not a river. That’s the sign of perfect pressure.
A Note on Welding
As mentioned on the product page, the soft plastic jaw pads can be easily slipped off. This reveals the bare cast-iron jaws underneath, making the clamp perfectly suitable for light metalworking or holding pieces together while you tack weld them. Just remember to let it cool down before you pop the pads back on!
The Competition: How Does Jorgensen Stack Up?
In any British tool shop like Axminster or Screwfix, you’ll see Jorgensen clamps sitting next to a few other big names. So, how do they compare?
- Jorgensen vs. Irwin Quick-Grip: Irwin is famous for its one-handed clamps with squeeze triggers. They are fantastic for speed and convenience, as you can tighten them with just one hand. However, this convenience often comes at the cost of raw power. A traditional screw handle like the one on the Jorgensen allows you to apply far more clamping force. As one UK reviewer pointed out, the Jorgensen proved to be much stronger than the Irwin quick-bar type. For heavy-duty glue-ups, the Jorgensen is the clear winner.
- Jorgensen vs. Bessey: Bessey is the premium, German-engineered option. Their clamps, especially their high-end parallel clamps, are the stuff of legend in the woodworking world. They are incredibly powerful, precise, and beautifully made. But—and it’s a big but—they come with a premium price tag to match. A single Bessey clamp can easily cost two or three times as much as a Jorgensen.
This is where the Jorgensen finds its sweet spot. It offers a huge step up in quality and power from basic DIY brands and a much stronger clamping force than many quick-grip styles. Yet, it remains affordable enough for hobbyists and semi-pros. For around £9 per clamp in a twin pack, the Jorgensen offers a level of professional-grade performance that is simply unbeatable for the price.
Looking After Your Clamps: A Little Care Goes a Long Way
These clamps are built to take a beating, but a bit of simple maintenance will keep them working smoothly for decades to come.
- Cleaning: The biggest enemy is dried glue. Don’t let it build up. The best way to remove it is to soften it with a hot, damp rag, then gently scrape it off with a plastic scraper or an old chisel. Pay special attention to the screw threads and the bar.
- Maintenance: Every now and then, give the steel bar a wipe-down to prevent any surface rust, especially if your workshop is a bit damp. To keep the mechanism silky smooth, apply a light coat of paste wax or a dry lubricant to the bar and the screw threads. This not only makes them work better but also makes it much harder for glue to stick in the first place.
Common Issues & Quick Fixes
Even the best tools can have tiny niggles. Based on user feedback, here are a couple of things to watch for:
- Plastic Caps Falling Off: A few users have mentioned that the protective plastic caps on the jaws can sometimes come loose. If this happens, it’s a 10-second fix: a single dab of super glue or epoxy on the inside of the cap will secure it forever.
- Getting More Grip: One review noted that the smooth wooden handle can be a bit tricky to really crank on for maximum pressure. If you ever need that tiny bit of extra torque, you can carefully slide a small steel bar or a thick screwdriver through the hole in the handle to give you more leverage—just be gentle and don’t overdo it!
Conclusion: The Verdict – An Essential Tool for Every British Workshop
So, what’s the final word? The Jorgensen 12″ Professional Quick Release Bar Clamp is more than just a good tool; it’s a fantastic one. It’s a direct link to over 120 years of manufacturing history, born from the vision of a pioneering woman and the skill of a Danish craftsman.
It perfectly balances brute strength, clever design, and everyday usability. It’s strong enough for the most demanding jobs, yet simple and quick enough to use for any small task. While it might not have the fancy features of a one-handed Irwin or the eye-watering price tag of a high-end Bessey, it sits in that perfect middle ground, offering professional performance at a hobbyist’s price.
It is, without a doubt, one of the best value-for-money tools you can buy for your workshop. Whether you’re building your first bird box in a small garden shed or crafting bespoke furniture for a living, the Jorgensen 12″ bar clamp is a tool you will reach for time and time again. It’s tough, it’s reliable, and it’s a true workshop essential.
JORGENSEN 300 mm Professional Woodworking Clamps 2 Pack, Quick Release Clamps for Wood, F Clamp Set, Max 136 kg Load Limit
Further Reading
For those looking to explore more, here are some highly respected resources:
