Self adjusting locking clamp review

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Hi guys. I bought two of these self adjusting locking clamps.One of them is branded Lockjaw. The other is CH Hanson. I took them to work to trial them in real working conditions. After 3 months this is what I found.Firstly I must say they are on the light side in terms of their construction and have alot more flex than a traditional Vise grip.Secondly there is a pinch point in the handle.If you are wearing a glove you will, more often than not, pinch it between the adjusting screw and handle. Its frustrating after getting things all set up. You clamp it, but ur glove gets stuck. So you have to re-open the clamp and do it all again.If you are not wearing a glove then the palm of your hand will get pinched. This doesn't happen as often but you will know aabout it when it does. OuchI had the lockjaw clamping a small plate on the edge of my bench. I was talking to a collegue on the oppoosite side of my bench when it suddenly sprung open. Nothing even touched it but the inner parts flew everywhere and were hard to find. To my surprise a small shaft from the clamp had sheared. The appearance of this part makes it look like it is hardened. But to me it looked like it was cast. Or maybe it wasn't tempered properly leaving it brittle. Im not too sure.These are the parts that flew out of the handle. The pic was taken after I had aready repaired welded the shaft together again. You can see the weld as I hadn't sanded it flush yet.In conclusion these clamps are a huge fail. They are for the home user and don't stand up in an industrial enviroment. It has a very poor ergonomic design with that pinch point. It completley failed and sprung open without provokation. And its internal parts are not of a high quality standard as that shaft easily sheared under no real pressure at all. You can't beat Vise Grip still I think.
Reply:Thanks for sharing your findings, I had looked at these a few weeks ago.
Reply:I have a couple and also had one explode.I'll still buy more as I really like them for what they are. I am a hobby/light use user but the way they can grab on any thickness w/o readjusting the tension works for me.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge