@@ProjectFarm Super happy with the video. I just cant believe you havent done a gas trimmer breakdown. there are no good destructive tests on youtube on any of the major bands or the less known. especially to your or torque test channel standard.
@@Qualicabyss it would be more accurate to say it's a comparison of a Toyota corolla vs a Ford f550. I grew up working on boats and dealing with ship yards and they got clamps way bigger for way more clamping. Every last one of them had square heads and the lightest ones were about 45 pounds and we had some that hit 105 pounds. A 24 inch pipe wrench was the tool of choice to tighten and a 36 inch was the one to loosen them. Never mess with commercial ship yard workers.
consumer reports... hate their paywall... so stupid, PF is better. Now if PF only extended out into more product range for EVERYTHING. Perhaps PF will do a compare video of best chips for april 1st.
I lost all trust in consumer reports back when Suzuki sued them over the samurai rollover thing. They clearly lied, and they were bragging about it on video. It was supposedly because of a bad experience one of the higher-ups had in a big lifted Samurai, which are definitely prone to roll over, but if you see how Jeep was getting their asses kicked in sales, I would not be surprised at all to find out some money changed hands. Especially when you find out via the lawsuit that the Wrangler was actually more of a rollover risk by substantial margin.
No Todd, WE don't say it enough. You put so much work into these videos. I think I've said this before, but you have the patience of Job! Really appreciate these videos!!
Those heavy-duty Wilton's really hold up. I worked for an industrial steel fabrication company, and we used some of those Wilton clamps whenever the beam was over 3 tons. They never broke, twisted, stretched, or needed repair after 10 years of service. Definitely worth the price in that application because we could not afford those beams falling over.
Thanks for including the heavy-duty Wilton! It's great to see underlined just why heavy duty industrial tools can be so much more expensive! That thing is monstrous!
I've got a few old USA made wiltons of various sizes, they are most prized possessions of mine. They don't get used every day, but when there's no substitute they're invaluable
This is such an unbelievably invaluable channel. The simple fact that you even know what tests to run on these tools (and have the instruments to set up those tests!) is a level of knowledge and experience I don't think I will ever have, but I'll take advantage of the results you share nonetheless. 😀 Truly amazing work, PF!
Ben, I agree. I usually try to guess how he will test them to see if I can think as well as he can, but I never guess which tests he will use. In all fairness to me, I don't a workshop like his, and he has experience with tools, but still.
Thanks for what you do and not being bought out. It has saved hardworking Americans time, money and kept people safe by letting us choose good products .
It's impossible to know, but it would be funny to know exactly how much he have saved people, and how many tonnes of broken machines/tools that didn't end up in landfills because people didn't buy them.
I love my "Kant-Twist" brand the best!!! Their design makes them much easier to use than standard C-clamps. Been using them for about 20yrs and wouldn't trade them for anything.
As a woodworker firstly I'd like to thank you for all your great work over the last few years, secondly I'd love to see some parallel bar clamps or pipe clamps tested if you can. Thank you for the great content!
I like when the test rig evolves in the middle of testing, like the wires holding the force sensor up after the first clamp split! Let's take a moment to appreciate how perfect the audio always is on this channel! Noticed some channels lately where some things are too loud then too quiet. It's always perfect with Project Farm!
Another brilliant test! Well Done. A tip for everyone out there that uses C-clamps. A drop of oil in the swivel cup and on the threads will make a big difference on how they work for you. And instead of tediously hand winding the length of the threads, hold the winding handle in your fingers while letting the clamp body hang down. Now swing your hand in a small circle and watch that clamp screw up or down quickly in whichever direction you need. It will take only a few seconds to thread all the way from one end to the other.
A common thing ive noticed over many tests is Irwin does pretty well in the hand tool category while remaining pretty competitive on price. Ive made a few Irwin purchases over the last few years and haven't let me down (mostly DIY around the house things). Gotta give them props!
You know you're in for a great test when things go from happy to snappy! Have you ever tested oil filter wrenches, both the chain and band types? I bet those would be fun to destructively test!
Those heavy duty Wiltons are indeed awesome! They make an in-between series which is not as heavy duty or as expensive as the F.C. models but is still much better than their Chinese-made clamps. If you need something heavy duty but not THAT heavy duty check out the Wilton 100 series. I.e. No. 103, 104, 106, 108, etc.
That $250 clamp is basically tool porn! I couldn’t justify buying it, but love to see one contender in that kind of category for each test, whenever possible of course.
I love my "Kant-Twist" brand the best!!! Their design makes them much easier to use than standard C-clamps. They'll never "walk" off your work. Been using them for about 20yrs and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Nice group of tests. Surprising results. I have a few ancient Cincinnati tool clamps from my grandfather that have been indestructible for over 80 years. I still cherish them.
Irwin seems to be the gold standard for quality budget tools. I've watched most of your videos and Irwin almost always does great. Its become my go to brand for random purchases
I've only just started acquiring tools (new home owner) and I needed a couple of larger clamps a while back to glue a wooden chair seat back together. The local hardware store had Irwin clamps on sale half-price, and I picked up two 24-inch trigger clamps. No complaints from me at all, and as I need different clamp types and sizes I'll look at Irwin. I'm very unlikely to need a clamp like the Wilton as I've no plans to build a bridge.
Absolutely. I'm glad for the inclusion of the heavy duty Wiltons, but I don't foresee ever needing that level of clamping force & durability. The Irwins are more in line with the "occasional handyman" budget and use-case. I don't subscribe to this channel to find the $252 Ultra-Hardcore-Super-MAX C-Clamps, I subscribe to find the $14 value-for-money Irwins.
Very impressed by the resilience/ductility of the YOST clamp! Where others snapped or necked, it kept coming back! 2x more than an Irwin but pretty cool feature! I wonder if they all do that or if this one was special. Great video as always!
Your exuberance is amazing. I also like how you don't don't talk down or inject any negativity into some of the "Less quality" products. The "Pay once, Cry once." hit hard. As always, thank you for quality testing methods, transparency and most of all, not taking corporate sponsors.
I was going to say for the price point Irwin is superb. But to be fair Irwin usually exceeds their price point! Rather like Draper of old in the UK and currently Halfords tools.
@@skylined5534 I've been working on building up my tool collection. I've been trying to keep with great quality tools, even buying from Europe a lot. Irwin makes so many really competitive products at price points that don't make any sense. My hammer drill and sawzall bits are all Irwin.
I've used Irwin stuff for a long time. Never been dissatisfied. There's almost certainly better options than Irwin out there, but rarely at the same price point.
Definitely the go to tool if you are in the middle of the project and don't have time to analyse bang for buck, because you can be sure that you will get a lot of bang for buck.
So happy to see something I recommend being tested! You asked, I answered, you delivered. I appreciate all of your videos and have seen them all. Great knowledge to have when I make purchases. You are my reference in that aspect. Keep them coming please!
No, thank you! Your videos go beyond entertainment and are more like a public service. You make it much easier to make informed decisions on very important purchases and it is something that is clearly valuable to so many. We are all very grateful for what you do.
I'm continually impressed at how creative and thorough your tests are. Any time I'm looking to buy a new piece of equipment - your channel is one of the first places I look to make sure I get what I need.
awesome tests! good to remember that the tools aren't really intended to be stressed like mad, but seeing the durability really shows the build quality. good to have a variety of sizes for that reason!
Pro Tip: Always lubricate the threads on the screw. This not only makes the clamp easier to use, but allows for more clamping force, and will prevent premature wear caused by the threads galling up. Great work as always, Todd! Have a great day, Sir! o7
Pro Tip?? No way!! Grease and even light-oil will collect dirt and metal shavings. Better to just keep your threads clean. I love my "Kant-Twist" brand the best!!! Their design makes them much easier to use than standard C-clamps. Been using them for about 20yrs and wouldn't trade them for anything.
A dry wax chain lube is the way to go for a C-clamp lube. Keeps it from picking up chips and grinding dirt, but also helps prevent the threads from galling and binding.
While what you say is true we can see from this that the failure point is the frames themselves. I've tweaked countless C clamps in my lifetime. Hammered some of them back into shape too. There's nothing more annoying than a clamp where the pads don't line up anymore.
Some great results, and really clever testing - as always! I’m really impressed by the Irwin. When it was time for me to upgrade from cheap no-name clamps, I ended up going with Yost because I’d heard good things, and had good experience with their vises. They’ve been great for me.
I'm a welder, and we use the Wilton (the lighter one) clamps at work - except ours aren't neon green 😄. Very tough clamps, and when they do fail, it's exactly as your tests showed - the screw bends. We abuse our clamps though, I'll clamp it onto a steel beam that weighs over a ton, wrap a chain around the clamp and something heavy, and drive off to get the beam off the truck 😂. It's cool to see that these clamps can put down thousands of pound of force, kind of crazy what a little mechanical advantage can do.
Looked like the Groz was right in there for the price too. You're the best Todd. Thank you for all your hard work. The only channel I support on Patreon :)
i have used those bridge clamps in a fabrication shop,, we clamp 2- 1 inch steel plates,6ft X 10ft together ,then drill a bunch of holes through both plates ,so they are exactly the same.with.a half dozen of these bridge clamps ,,,all look like they are at least 50 years old and they still work great...Constuction workers use these bridge clamps to hold and support things while they are working on them ,.thats why you pay 250$ a clamp.when you absolutely CANNOT have failure or movement,as someones life IS depending on it. its great to see this 25 ton bridge clamp in the test to show people what a real HD C clamp is ..
I like the Yost. If you take out the clamping force at a specified torque then its average score would have been much higher, and it wasn't damaged by the ultimate torque test. Also punches equivalent output to the $60 and $70 clamps at half the cost while still having the second largest opening.
It's place in the maximum torque test with the breaker bar also shows that it is a well engineered tool: instead of breaking, the handle bends first acting as a sacrificial part. Coupled with the fact that the clamp did not fail dramatically under the applied loads, this seems like the safest clamp to operate since the risk of fracture from excess clamping force is greatly reduced. And for the price, hard to beat!
The clamping force at specified torque is going to be highly dependent on if/what lubricant is used on the threads. As OP notes, the Yost would have performed much higher if you ignored this test, so consider buying the Yost and applying a lubricant to the threads (a moly grease would probably perform very well, but would be messy)
Todd, you always provide useful information, my shop looks a lot different than I might have expected. I'm often surprised, and always better informed. Thank you for all the effort that you put into your videos.
I think my favorite thing is the many ways you've figured out how to measure and test nearly every aspect of the items you've chosen to torture. Bravo sir!
I bought a very generic C-clamp many years ago that claimed it was made with a drop forge. After using it I suspect that yes, the forge was indeed dropped during manufacture, maybe in an earthquake!
We all know the engineering behind these tests is excellent, but let’s not forget the script writing and production value. I just flew cross country twice in a week, and I saw a lot of Hollywood movies. Not a single one kept the storyline moving along like Project Farm does over and over. He tells a 16-minute story in 16 minutes, not 60. Thank you!
It’s comical at this point. Whatever the comparison they always seem to come in last or nearly last. I don’t know who runs the company but they must have some serious contempt for their customers.
I have a few Performance Tool sockets in my box at work. Mostly the very short allens and some cheap cheap "precision" screwdrivers... but theyve all handled my abuse decently well...
That Wilton showed exactly what it's built for. Sure at 50 in/lb it was just on par with everyone else, but its raw strength is why it's truly industrial. As for a daily driver, I think my Pittsburgh clamps are plenty capable for my uses. I did like the WEN and Irwin as well. Would like to see a similar video for smaller clamps, like 2-4", or larger F clamps and bar clamps like 2-4' long.
As you would say="Very impressive"!! As I have owned my "C" Clamps for over 30 yrs. I had no idea they were this expensive now days and will be sure to value them much more from now on. Your tests are getting better and better all the time and you are quite a Star on You Tube and I see you are right at THREE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS~!! You couldn't be more deserving and thanks for being YOU~!!!
I got a couple of those Irwin clamps in a set of Irwin tools in a groovy carry bag when it was on special a while back. Pretty happy with their performance considering how cheap they were, I'm even happier now seeing how they outperformed many more expensive brands. Factoring in the cost of the whole set I think they cost about 7 bucks each. Can't complain about that.
Recently subscribed to the channel. I really appreciate the effort you put into designing tests that not only provide scientifically measurable results, but are also easy to understand and visually appealing to watch.
Great video! As much as finding the Big Dog, your testing and unbiased opinion on the best value for most of us means the most to me in all of your tests.
The clamping force at specified torque is going to be highly dependent on if/what lubricant is used on the threads. As @MattTrevett notes, the Yost would have performed much higher if you ignored this test, so consider buying the Yost and applying a lubricant to the threads (a moly grease would probably perform very well, but would be messy)
Glad to see that Irwin did so well. I teach woodworking and have used primarily Irwin and Bessey clamps for about 17 years. The rubberized handles on the Irwin bar clamps do start to gum up / deteriorate after 5 to 7 years of use. Otherwise, I've been very pleased.
I made a mistake and bought an assortment of clamps made in China and all but one has broken. The one that hasn't broken hasn't been used. I just tossed it. Spent a bit more money to buy a couple of clamps that fit the need at the time, still have them. That was about 20 years ago. Bought at a real HW store.
It’s a shame that you’re from the US. Your videos are so good and broad in scope that I wish we had someone test European brand stuff in the same way. Keep up the good work, all your videos have been very informative.
@tomk3732 There is no Harbor Freight in Canada. We have Princess Auto, which is similar but not quite as broad ranged as HF. For this and other reasons, I'm pretty sure Todd is not Canadian. Not that it matters even a little. The sound engineering principles that he uses are valid everywhere.
I love when this channel shows and verifies the quality of tools I use daily. I have drawers full or Irwin clamps. More than enough for simple wood working. Great channel, quality content.
OK, I admit to being a bit jealous. You get to have SO much fun breaking things! Keep up the good work that you do, you are so helpful to so many showing the strongest and the best value. For the average guy the Irwin is Hard to beat! Thank you and be safe.
*I am not surprised but I'm still unnerved by the cost of manufacturing the 252.* Because these are primarily iron or an iron alloy, you know they aren't expensive to manufacture compared to that selling price, but if you are working on tractors, land moving equipment etc., you will absolutely need it.
Definitely an 'economy of scale' cost. They make hundreds of thousands of the smaller ones annually. They might make 3k of those big bastards annually; Even that would be impressive numbers considering that thing is effectively impossible to break lol. Such a fun video
@@Maplenr you are absolutely correct. A detail I generally don't overlook too! *The cost for that small production run requires changing tooling and surely adjustments to the crucible being used if not changed entirely.* At the end of the day though, I am confident many of us could and would just build an industrial grade clamp. *A laminate of plates would most likely crush that 252's performance.* I never go beyond an SUV though, and majority of my work these days is on my 250cc Raptor-clone.
@@riotrob so will I but when you see how these machines are tested, it's never something so brutal as most will imagine. My formal background is particle physics *and engineering,* so when we design these devices, the test equipment etc., it's still a very instant process that isn't adding significant costs once the test equipment has been built or purchased. For every $10,000 piece of equipment in any industry out there, it is still often a horrifying revelation when you find out the true costs.
Definitely PF should become an certified quality control authority, if he can make this level of testing by himself alone in a his humble workshop, imagine if he had a good team help him with a proper lab, calibrated instrumentation, and a way bigger budget for test rigs and instrumentation.
@Project Farm i can see the review now "and the US made it to 3.38 seconds before picking a fight and moves into 2nd to last place, now for our next test..."
I really love how you can tell these items are "Farm Tested" with the non-professional fixtures but as with most other farm fixes, they get the job done!
This guy is unbelievable. Can he test all of our senators to see how many knuckle heads are hiding in plainview. Love your vids. You cover 110 % of testing without loop holes, ty sir.
Tbis reminds me to see if I still have a C clamp these days. If I don't, at least I know which 1's r better than others thanks to u! Still hoping for that pellet/BB gun comparison to help me find a good 1 for my old man with diminishing eyesight & ease of use (co2 or gas over pump or manual cocking). Not having a lot of luck without prices I could buy a real gun for😂
I used to have 2 of those monstrous C clamps in the workshop of my previous job. We used them to fix in place a refractory firewall so we could safely work on the hydraulic pistons that opened and closed it.
That Wilton 6fc is a stud I have a couple I use to bend 3/4” plate on equipment repairs I usually run out of mojo before the clamp does but they are very expensive so I covet them and they have their own box in the truck locked and welded in place no dirt bag is walking off with them but those f style clamps are really nice also I use them a ton they are fast and easy to get in place with enough force to hold while I can get a solid tack up but I’m always looking for new clamps especially in the shop and solid with budget friendly prices are always good thank you again for another great video if I have a purchase I need to make I almost always consult your channel first lol and rarely am I left still wondering thank you for all the work you put in to these reviews I know I’m not alone in the great appreciation of your service
please can you review Mini splits with heat pumps - main focus should be cost, quality, efficiency and highest priority should be how well the heat works in the winter.
Hats off to all the testing. It continually amazes me how you manage to figure out ways to test things. Takes a lot of time and dedication!! I wonder if there is a way to test hand saws........
As soon as I saw this video and saw the $252 Wilton 6FC clamp I was like "This is where the fun begins". The Wilton 6-FC clamp is just pure insanity. This is more proof that Project Farm is the real MVP when it comes to power tool videos. Makes me wish he tests more overkill and heavy duty tools. 👍💯
Thanks for testing so many tools. I try to stay away from Cast Iron, small diameter handles. Over torque leads to twisted frames or failure. I hated reaching for a clamp at work only to find someone had over torqued and twisted the frame.
Here’s the list of products reviewed. More details in the video description. Thank you!
Wilton 6 FC: amzn.to/42u8Hpv
Crescent: amzn.to/3qzs0Aw
Shop-Tek: amzn.to/45WYaWJ
Stanley Proto: amzn.to/3NmPtxW
Wilton (high visibility): amzn.to/42xzOjt
Bessey F-Style: amzn.to/42w8t1k
Pony: amzn.to/3MZS5QL
Performance Tool: amzn.to/3N1NQ7c
Wright Tool: amzn.to/3X2OFkP
Yost Tool: amzn.to/3ClTiwN
Bessey C-Clamp: amzn.to/3CjsX2H
Groz: amzn.to/3J1fBvp
Kanka: amzn.to/3X1dGx1
Lincoln Electric: amzn.to/43PZvNd
Irwin: amzn.to/3J56ude
WEN: amzn.to/43ufWzh
Pittsburgh: Available at Harbor Freight
I can't believe I just watched 16 minutes of C clamp testing and was thoroughly entertained and informed beyond expectations. Well done, sir.
Thanks!
@@ProjectFarm
Super happy with the video.
I just cant believe you havent done a gas trimmer breakdown. there are no good destructive tests on youtube on any of the major bands or the less known. especially to your or torque test channel standard.
😂😂😂
Yes, happy to snappy got a good laugh from me. Thank you.
@@ProjectFarmcan you do a video on pass through ratchets?
Loved the inclusion of an absolute overkill option in the lineup
Thanks!
That's an ironworker tool. We used bridge clamps often. I would be 10+ stories on the side of a building standing on one while bolting up.
Yeah this is like comparing cars and then you pull up a tank
@@Qualicabyss it would be more accurate to say it's a comparison of a Toyota corolla vs a Ford f550. I grew up working on boats and dealing with ship yards and they got clamps way bigger for way more clamping. Every last one of them had square heads and the lightest ones were about 45 pounds and we had some that hit 105 pounds. A 24 inch pipe wrench was the tool of choice to tighten and a 36 inch was the one to loosen them. Never mess with commercial ship yard workers.
TheSlimCP nah those are like pulling up the bagger 288
You Sir, are what consumer reports should have become in the age of social media. Thank you for all your work and methodical processes!
Thanks and you are welcome!
CR asks questions and the "results" are the combined responses of those who have been polled. It's been awhile since I was a subscriber.
consumer reports... hate their paywall... so stupid, PF is better. Now if PF only extended out into more product range for EVERYTHING. Perhaps PF will do a compare video of best chips for april 1st.
Yes, back in the day CR was the stamp of approval you looked for first.
I lost all trust in consumer reports back when Suzuki sued them over the samurai rollover thing.
They clearly lied, and they were bragging about it on video.
It was supposedly because of a bad experience one of the higher-ups had in a big lifted Samurai, which are definitely prone to roll over, but if you see how Jeep was getting their asses kicked in sales, I would not be surprised at all to find out some money changed hands.
Especially when you find out via the lawsuit that the Wrangler was actually more of a rollover risk by substantial margin.
No Todd, WE don't say it enough. You put so much work into these videos. I think I've said this before, but you have the patience of Job! Really appreciate these videos!!
Thanks so much!
What a lineup. That's heavy duty wilton was seriously impressive.
Thanks for the feedback.
It is stupid expensive but I can think back to a number of times where I could have really used it.
Thanks
I was expecting it to be maybe a little bit better and more just paying for the "heavy duty" tax. I'm happy I was wrong
Sometimes we use that in ironwork to keep chokers from slipping or even just putting that on a beam to have something to rig off of
Those heavy-duty Wilton's really hold up. I worked for an industrial steel fabrication company, and we used some of those Wilton clamps whenever the beam was over 3 tons. They never broke, twisted, stretched, or needed repair after 10 years of service. Definitely worth the price in that application because we could not afford those beams falling over.
Thanks for sharing.
For $252 it's pathetic really that the US owner of Wilton can't find a way to manufacture it in the USA.
@@nmatthew7469 Wright Tool does.
@@KennyRedSocks correct but the Wilton is a custom thickness made for bridge building etc.
Most of the stuff made in America is with foreign processed goods anyway. It's a global economy. Made in doesn't mean what it used to.
Thanks for including the heavy-duty Wilton! It's great to see underlined just why heavy duty industrial tools can be so much more expensive! That thing is monstrous!
Yeah if you're doing heavy work it's the one to have. In a class all by itself.
@@1pcfred yeah there's a reason why it's specifically marketed for bridge building and boat building lmao
@@HerbaMachina they're not pushing it in the amateur market. I swear there's times when I could have used one though.
You are welcome!
I've got a few old USA made wiltons of various sizes, they are most prized possessions of mine. They don't get used every day, but when there's no substitute they're invaluable
One of the best channels on TH-cam. No filler, just Facts stats and real world tests👍
Thanks!
This is such an unbelievably invaluable channel. The simple fact that you even know what tests to run on these tools (and have the instruments to set up those tests!) is a level of knowledge and experience I don't think I will ever have, but I'll take advantage of the results you share nonetheless. 😀
Truly amazing work, PF!
Thank you
Ben, I agree. I usually try to guess how he will test them to see if I can think as well as he can, but I never guess which tests he will use. In all fairness to me, I don't a workshop like his, and he has experience with tools, but still.
Thanks for what you do and not being bought out. It has saved hardworking Americans time, money and kept people safe by letting us choose good products .
Thank you! That's my goal! I'll keep going as long as finances allow
Has saved plenty of money and time of non-americans too
It's impossible to know, but it would be funny to know exactly how much he have saved people, and how many tonnes of broken machines/tools that didn't end up in landfills because people didn't buy them.
I love my "Kant-Twist" brand the best!!! Their design makes them much easier to use than standard C-clamps. Been using them for about 20yrs and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Love this channel
As a woodworker firstly I'd like to thank you for all your great work over the last few years, secondly I'd love to see some parallel bar clamps or pipe clamps tested if you can. Thank you for the great content!
You're welcome!
You don't understand how happy I was when I typed in Best C clamps and Project Farm popped up! 😊😊 Thank you.
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
I like when the test rig evolves in the middle of testing, like the wires holding the force sensor up after the first clamp split! Let's take a moment to appreciate how perfect the audio always is on this channel! Noticed some channels lately where some things are too loud then too quiet. It's always perfect with Project Farm!
Thanks so much!
Another brilliant test! Well Done.
A tip for everyone out there that uses C-clamps. A drop of oil in the swivel cup and on the threads will make a big difference on how they work for you. And instead of tediously hand winding the length of the threads, hold the winding handle in your fingers while letting the clamp body hang down. Now swing your hand in a small circle and watch that clamp screw up or down quickly in whichever direction you need. It will take only a few seconds to thread all the way from one end to the other.
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
You have just made my job a little bit easier. Thank you!
Good time-savi g tip! 👍
My old girlfriend used to use that same technique with her pasties....
@@additudeobx That is actually a perfect analogy to describe this move!
That Wilton is a beast, and once again Irwin does amazing for its price point.
Great point
I can recall a number of times when I needed a beast mode C clamp and just ended up mangling what I had.
Absolutely. When it comes to clamps of any sort, Irwin is usually the best for the price. Locking pliers, C-clamps, trigger clamps, and so on.
It really seems like Irwin is one of the best value for money brands out there for hand tools
Can confirm this channel is why i have a hole in my leg thanks to an irwin carbide blade
A common thing ive noticed over many tests is Irwin does pretty well in the hand tool category while remaining pretty competitive on price. Ive made a few Irwin purchases over the last few years and haven't let me down (mostly DIY around the house things). Gotta give them props!
Thanks for the feedback.
I did the same. Nice to know there are good budget friendly options out there.
Irwin is one of my go-to brands. Not sure if I’d outfit a construction company with it, but for DIY and light duty home use they are hard to beat.
Yeah I've been surprised how good they are considering the price they sell for.
I was gonna say this...decent performance for a very reasonable price on a lot of their products
You know you're in for a great test when things go from happy to snappy!
Have you ever tested oil filter wrenches, both the chain and band types? I bet those would be fun to destructively test!
lol Thanks for the suggestion.
Nice!👍. (I also got a chuckle out of happy to snappy)😅
The clamping strength of the heavy-duty Wilton is staggering! Then again, so is its price. Great episode today. Thanks for posting.
Thanks and you are welcome!
We use those bridge clamps in ironworking field , that Wilton one was a cheap brand. They are beasts!! Can hold the world up with one of those
Those heavy duty Wiltons are indeed awesome! They make an in-between series which is not as heavy duty or as expensive as the F.C. models but is still much better than their Chinese-made clamps. If you need something heavy duty but not THAT heavy duty check out the Wilton 100 series. I.e. No. 103, 104, 106, 108, etc.
@@allanm4848 Thank you for that information!
Now you need to do one for Trigger Clamps
I'll do it if there's enough interest. Thank you
That $250 clamp is basically tool porn! I couldn’t justify buying it, but love to see one contender in that kind of category for each test, whenever possible of course.
Great set! Irwin and Yost seem to really deliver on price for performance.
Maybe sliding clamps next time?
Great suggestion! Thank you
I love my "Kant-Twist" brand the best!!! Their design makes them much easier to use than standard C-clamps. They'll never "walk" off your work. Been using them for about 20yrs and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Yup, need reviews of bar clamps and "reach" clamps....
Nice group of tests. Surprising results.
I have a few ancient Cincinnati tool clamps from my grandfather that have been indestructible for over 80 years. I still cherish them.
Nice! Thanks!
Irwin seems to be the gold standard for quality budget tools. I've watched most of your videos and Irwin almost always does great. Its become my go to brand for random purchases
Thanks for the feedback.
I've only just started acquiring tools (new home owner) and I needed a couple of larger clamps a while back to glue a wooden chair seat back together. The local hardware store had Irwin clamps on sale half-price, and I picked up two 24-inch trigger clamps.
No complaints from me at all, and as I need different clamp types and sizes I'll look at Irwin. I'm very unlikely to need a clamp like the Wilton as I've no plans to build a bridge.
Absolutely. I'm glad for the inclusion of the heavy duty Wiltons, but I don't foresee ever needing that level of clamping force & durability.
The Irwins are more in line with the "occasional handyman" budget and use-case. I don't subscribe to this channel to find the $252 Ultra-Hardcore-Super-MAX C-Clamps, I subscribe to find the $14 value-for-money Irwins.
Same here, Irwin always seems to do well considering its lower price point. I certainly go for it over other brands thanks to PF now.
I don't even need any new C clamps I just love watching Project Farm's tool comparisons.
Thanks for watching!
All of your time & effort making these tests possible is very much appreciated, Thanks Todd. 👍🇺🇸
Thank you very much!
This test is extremely helpful. Over the years can’t say how many C clamps I’ve destroyed.
Thanks! Glad it was helpful!
Very impressed by the resilience/ductility of the YOST clamp! Where others snapped or necked, it kept coming back! 2x more than an Irwin but pretty cool feature! I wonder if they all do that or if this one was special. Great video as always!
Thanks!
Your exuberance is amazing. I also like how you don't don't talk down or inject any negativity into some of the "Less quality" products. The "Pay once, Cry once." hit hard. As always, thank you for quality testing methods, transparency and most of all, not taking corporate sponsors.
Thanks and you are welcome!
The amount of stress and anxiety you go through testing these tools at these pressures, I can't imagine! Freaking awesome!
Thanks!
Irwin just seems to keep being right up there in many price vs function tests.
Thanks for the feedback.
I was going to say for the price point Irwin is superb. But to be fair Irwin usually exceeds their price point! Rather like Draper of old in the UK and currently Halfords tools.
@@skylined5534 I've been working on building up my tool collection. I've been trying to keep with great quality tools, even buying from Europe a lot. Irwin makes so many really competitive products at price points that don't make any sense. My hammer drill and sawzall bits are all Irwin.
I've used Irwin stuff for a long time. Never been dissatisfied. There's almost certainly better options than Irwin out there, but rarely at the same price point.
Definitely the go to tool if you are in the middle of the project and don't have time to analyse bang for buck, because you can be sure that you will get a lot of bang for buck.
So happy to see something I recommend being tested! You asked, I answered, you delivered. I appreciate all of your videos and have seen them all. Great knowledge to have when I make purchases. You are my reference in that aspect. Keep them coming please!
Thanks, will do! Thanks for suggestion this video.
No, thank you! Your videos go beyond entertainment and are more like a public service. You make it much easier to make informed decisions on very important purchases and it is something that is clearly valuable to so many. We are all very grateful for what you do.
Thanks so much!
I'm continually impressed at how creative and thorough your tests are. Any time I'm looking to buy a new piece of equipment - your channel is one of the first places I look to make sure I get what I need.
Thank you very much!
awesome tests! good to remember that the tools aren't really intended to be stressed like mad, but seeing the durability really shows the build quality. good to have a variety of sizes for that reason!
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
Once again Todd, your tests are amazing. Outstanding work Sir.
Thanks and you are welcome!
The Yost holding up to the destruction test was the most impressive in my opinion. Probably going to go with that one. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback.
i agree ,$27 is a bargain..
You should do a video on shoelaces for workboots. Might be interesting to see which ones wear the quickest
Thank you for the video idea!
@Project Farm If you do, make sure to add ironlaces to the list of ones to try. They sell them at Nicks boots.
Do this please! Cuz as a welder I'm buying laces once a month!
@@ProjectFarmMake sure to add a long term eyelet wear test. The more durable laces can wear them really fast.
@@hazardweldz should get some wellies then. Thorogood has a nice pair I wear daily.
Pro Tip: Always lubricate the threads on the screw. This not only makes the clamp easier to use, but allows for more clamping force, and will prevent premature wear caused by the threads galling up.
Great work as always, Todd! Have a great day, Sir! o7
Great point and thank you!
Pro Tip?? No way!! Grease and even light-oil will collect dirt and metal shavings. Better to just keep your threads clean.
I love my "Kant-Twist" brand the best!!! Their design makes them much easier to use than standard C-clamps. Been using them for about 20yrs and wouldn't trade them for anything.
A dry wax chain lube is the way to go for a C-clamp lube. Keeps it from picking up chips and grinding dirt, but also helps prevent the threads from galling and binding.
@@bigj231 I keep a small bottle of Graphite powder and give 'em lil puff if they're squeaky but nothing more than that.
While what you say is true we can see from this that the failure point is the frames themselves. I've tweaked countless C clamps in my lifetime. Hammered some of them back into shape too. There's nothing more annoying than a clamp where the pads don't line up anymore.
Some great results, and really clever testing - as always! I’m really impressed by the Irwin. When it was time for me to upgrade from cheap no-name clamps, I ended up going with Yost because I’d heard good things, and had good experience with their vises. They’ve been great for me.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm a welder, and we use the Wilton (the lighter one) clamps at work - except ours aren't neon green 😄. Very tough clamps, and when they do fail, it's exactly as your tests showed - the screw bends. We abuse our clamps though, I'll clamp it onto a steel beam that weighs over a ton, wrap a chain around the clamp and something heavy, and drive off to get the beam off the truck 😂.
It's cool to see that these clamps can put down thousands of pound of force, kind of crazy what a little mechanical advantage can do.
Thanks for the feedback.
I would love to see this with other types of clamps too especially pipe clamps
Thanks for the suggestion.
Forget UL ratings or CE approved... Before buying things I check to see if they're PF tested. Great video as always. Excellent work.
Yes sir! This is why I own a chunk of Irwin stuff and I have not been disappointed!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Looked like the Groz was right in there for the price too. You're the best Todd. Thank you for all your hard work. The only channel I support on Patreon :)
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks so much for being a Patreon supporter!
i have used those bridge clamps in a fabrication shop,, we clamp 2- 1 inch steel plates,6ft X 10ft together ,then drill a bunch of holes through both plates ,so they are exactly the same.with.a half dozen of these bridge clamps ,,,all look like they are at least 50 years old and they still work great...Constuction workers use these bridge clamps to hold and support things while they are working on them ,.thats why you pay 250$ a clamp.when you absolutely CANNOT have failure or movement,as someones life IS depending on it. its great to see this 25 ton bridge clamp in the test to show people what a real HD C clamp is ..
Thanks for sharing.
I like the Yost. If you take out the clamping force at a specified torque then its average score would have been much higher, and it wasn't damaged by the ultimate torque test. Also punches equivalent output to the $60 and $70 clamps at half the cost while still having the second largest opening.
I was thinking the same thing!
It's place in the maximum torque test with the breaker bar also shows that it is a well engineered tool: instead of breaking, the handle bends first acting as a sacrificial part. Coupled with the fact that the clamp did not fail dramatically under the applied loads, this seems like the safest clamp to operate since the risk of fracture from excess clamping force is greatly reduced. And for the price, hard to beat!
Just the fact that it returned to its original shape and didn't snap or permenantly become bent is incredible to me. That alone is a massive win.
Thanks for the feedback.
The clamping force at specified torque is going to be highly dependent on if/what lubricant is used on the threads. As OP notes, the Yost would have performed much higher if you ignored this test, so consider buying the Yost and applying a lubricant to the threads (a moly grease would probably perform very well, but would be messy)
Todd, you always provide useful information, my shop looks a lot different than I might have expected. I'm often surprised, and always better informed. Thank you for all the effort that you put into your videos.
it proves that 5.5 in is all you need
Thanks and you are welcome!
Happy Sunday Todd ! Thank you for what I know will be another fantastic test and video
You're a legend!! Thank you Randy Savage!
@@ProjectFarm YOUR WELCOME TODD
Hi Todd, I destroyed 2 Pittsburg clamps yesterday working on brake calipers. One bent and the other cracked thru. Shopping for an Irwin now. You rock.
Thanks! Sorry to hear!
That Wilton is impressive, without a doubt. One very serious clamp.
Thanks for sharing!
Yea, everyone needs one in their tool box ... ya know, just in case 😀😀
Ball joints lol
I like how the Irwin and Yost performed. I will go with the Irwin for lighter projects and use the Yost for any heavier ones.
Thanks for the feedback.
I am always impressed by the level of creativity that goes into these tests your perform.
Thanks!
I think my favorite thing is the many ways you've figured out how to measure and test nearly every aspect of the items you've chosen to torture. Bravo sir!
Thanks for sharing!
A similar test with F style clamps would be interesting too! Great evaluation as always
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
I bought a very generic C-clamp many years ago that claimed it was made with a drop forge. After using it I suspect that yes, the forge was indeed dropped during manufacture, maybe in an earthquake!
We all know the engineering behind these tests is excellent, but let’s not forget the script writing and production value. I just flew cross country twice in a week, and I saw a lot of Hollywood movies. Not a single one kept the storyline moving along like Project Farm does over and over. He tells a 16-minute story in 16 minutes, not 60. Thank you!
You are welcome!
"Performance tool" never fails to disappoint.
Thanks for the feedback.
It’s comical at this point. Whatever the comparison they always seem to come in last or nearly last. I don’t know who runs the company but they must have some serious contempt for their customers.
I have a few Performance Tool sockets in my box at work. Mostly the very short allens and some cheap cheap "precision" screwdrivers... but theyve all handled my abuse decently well...
Great info as always. A really interesting video I'd like to see is a showdown on octane boosters!!!
Thank you!
That Wilton showed exactly what it's built for.
Sure at 50 in/lb it was just on par with everyone else, but its raw strength is why it's truly industrial.
As for a daily driver, I think my Pittsburgh clamps are plenty capable for my uses. I did like the WEN and Irwin as well.
Would like to see a similar video for smaller clamps, like 2-4", or larger F clamps and bar clamps like 2-4' long.
Thanks for the suggestion.
You are a real scientist. Thank you.
You are welcome!
With so many subscribers how do you manage to always provide a two word reply when most posters with one third of the subscribers never reply?
As you would say="Very impressive"!! As I have owned my "C" Clamps for over 30 yrs. I had no idea they were this expensive now days and will be sure to value them much more from now on. Your tests are getting better and better all the time and you are quite a Star on You Tube and I see you are right at THREE MILLION SUBSCRIBERS~!!
You couldn't be more deserving and thanks for being YOU~!!!
Thank you very much!
My old Craftsman C clamps are going on 50 years. Still work like new.
I got a couple of those Irwin clamps in a set of Irwin tools in a groovy carry bag when it was on special a while back. Pretty happy with their performance considering how cheap they were, I'm even happier now seeing how they outperformed many more expensive brands. Factoring in the cost of the whole set I think they cost about 7 bucks each. Can't complain about that.
Thanks for sharing.
You should make a video on portable phone chargers! Solar and non solar chargers to see how they perform!
Thank you for the video idea!
OK - I have to admit, I did not know how you were going to test C clamps but these tests made some good sense! Nicely done like usual.
Thanks!
Recently subscribed to the channel. I really appreciate the effort you put into designing tests that not only provide scientifically measurable results, but are also easy to understand and visually appealing to watch.
Thanks! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Great video! As much as finding the Big Dog, your testing and unbiased opinion on the best value for most of us means the most to me in all of your tests.
Thanks! I appreciate that!
The clamping force at specified torque is going to be highly dependent on if/what lubricant is used on the threads. As @MattTrevett notes, the Yost would have performed much higher if you ignored this test, so consider buying the Yost and applying a lubricant to the threads (a moly grease would probably perform very well, but would be messy)
Very true, but many consumers will attempt to use them out of the box, so I think this is a better "regular person" test.
@@lolbuster01 true - I've only lubercated the ones I was going to put a high load on.
@willusher3297 Never seize works very well too, but is even messier. Very difficult to clean off your skin.
@@cliffords.8341 Orange GOOP Ruff Towels. Takes anti seize right off. Since finding that out I keep them in my shop at all times.
A less messy lubricant would maybe be some graphite powder.
Glad to see that Irwin did so well. I teach woodworking and have used primarily Irwin and Bessey clamps for about 17 years. The rubberized handles on the Irwin bar clamps do start to gum up / deteriorate after 5 to 7 years of use. Otherwise, I've been very pleased.
Thanks for the feedback.
Two words for your videos Todd: very impressive!! Once again wonderful video!!
Thanks and you are welcome!
I made a mistake and bought an assortment of clamps made in China and all but one has broken. The one that hasn't broken hasn't been used. I just tossed it. Spent a bit more money to buy a couple of clamps that fit the need at the time, still have them. That was about 20 years ago. Bought at a real HW store.
Great point!
Whenever I see C clamps being sold used and they're a good price I usually pick them up. Because when you need a C clamp it's handy to have a C clamp.
It’s a shame that you’re from the US. Your videos are so good and broad in scope that I wish we had someone test European brand stuff in the same way.
Keep up the good work, all your videos have been very informative.
Thank you!
I think he is Canadian. From Prarie provinces.
@tomk3732 There is no Harbor Freight in Canada. We have Princess Auto, which is similar but not quite as broad ranged as HF. For this and other reasons, I'm pretty sure Todd is not Canadian. Not that it matters even a little. The sound engineering principles that he uses are valid everywhere.
I love when this channel shows and verifies the quality of tools I use daily. I have drawers full or Irwin clamps. More than enough for simple wood working.
Great channel, quality content.
Another great production as always 👍🏻
One you haven't even watched yet?
Bro this is 16 min and it came out 4 minutes ago
Thank you
@@spyrosbellos2522 .....🦗....🎵....🎶
Hope all is well, bud. Thanks for these videos! It'll be interesting to see you do a hydraulic ram kit test.
Thank you for the video idea!
Is a test of F-clamps next? I prefer them almost always.
I'd really like to compare F-clamps, if there's enough interest from viewers on this review
I’d like to see an F-clamp video also.
OK, I admit to being a bit jealous. You get to have SO much fun breaking things! Keep up the good work that you do, you are so helpful to so many showing the strongest and the best value. For the average guy the Irwin is Hard to beat! Thank you and be safe.
Thanks, will do!
*I am not surprised but I'm still unnerved by the cost of manufacturing the 252.* Because these are primarily iron or an iron alloy, you know they aren't expensive to manufacture compared to that selling price, but if you are working on tractors, land moving equipment etc., you will absolutely need it.
Great point!
Definitely an 'economy of scale' cost. They make hundreds of thousands of the smaller ones annually. They might make 3k of those big bastards annually; Even that would be impressive numbers considering that thing is effectively impossible to break lol. Such a fun video
@@Maplenr you are absolutely correct. A detail I generally don't overlook too! *The cost for that small production run requires changing tooling and surely adjustments to the crucible being used if not changed entirely.*
At the end of the day though, I am confident many of us could and would just build an industrial grade clamp. *A laminate of plates would most likely crush that 252's performance.*
I never go beyond an SUV though, and majority of my work these days is on my 250cc Raptor-clone.
I’d imagine that every 252 is receiving additional quality inspections and testing, while not a single Irwin is.
@@riotrob so will I but when you see how these machines are tested, it's never something so brutal as most will imagine.
My formal background is particle physics *and engineering,* so when we design these devices, the test equipment etc., it's still a very instant process that isn't adding significant costs once the test equipment has been built or purchased.
For every $10,000 piece of equipment in any industry out there, it is still often a horrifying revelation when you find out the true costs.
Keep it up man! You’ve got the best channel on TH-cam.
I appreciate that!
I certainly agree with that
Todd's content is in the must watch category that's for sure. We need more cousin Eddy though.
Great one!
Thanks!
"When things went from Happy to Snappy"
Thanks!
You know you have to do the best ball joint press next 😊
Great point!!
Been holding off on new C Clamps because I wasn’t sure which was best. Now I am!
Thank you!
Wilton? more like WOW-ton!
exactly what i was thinking
Good Point!
I just bought my first one and this video was helpful as I thought the ballsocket was broken and was going to return it.
Irwin. Never the best, but always the best value.
Great point on value!
I can relate to that. I'm never the best either.
You misspelled Pittsburgh. LOL
There has to be an “Approved by Project Farm” sticker on all the good products you test. Maybe even with a “very impressive” quote aswell
That would be great!!
Definitely PF should become an certified quality control authority, if he can make this level of testing by himself alone in a his humble workshop, imagine if he had a good team help him with a proper lab, calibrated instrumentation, and a way bigger budget for test rigs and instrumentation.
Now that we've settled this.....let's move on to World Peace!
lol. That indeed is a much bigger challenge
@Project Farm i can see the review now "and the US made it to 3.38 seconds before picking a fight and moves into 2nd to last place, now for our next test..."
I really love how you can tell these items are "Farm Tested" with the non-professional fixtures but as with most other farm fixes, they get the job done!
Thanks!
This guy is unbelievable. Can he test all of our senators to see how many knuckle heads are hiding in plainview. Love your vids. You cover 110 % of testing without loop holes, ty sir.
Tbis reminds me to see if I still have a C clamp these days. If I don't, at least I know which 1's r better than others thanks to u!
Still hoping for that pellet/BB gun comparison to help me find a good 1 for my old man with diminishing eyesight & ease of use (co2 or gas over pump or manual cocking). Not having a lot of luck without prices I could buy a real gun for😂
I used to have 2 of those monstrous C clamps in the workshop of my previous job. We used them to fix in place a refractory firewall so we could safely work on the hydraulic pistons that opened and closed it.
Nice!
I will probably never buy such product, but I still couldn't stop watching, it's so mesmerising.
Thanks for watching!
That Wilton 6fc is a stud I have a couple I use to bend 3/4” plate on equipment repairs I usually run out of mojo before the clamp does but they are very expensive so I covet them and they have their own box in the truck locked and welded in place no dirt bag is walking off with them but those f style clamps are really nice also I use them a ton they are fast and easy to get in place with enough force to hold while I can get a solid tack up but I’m always looking for new clamps especially in the shop and solid with budget friendly prices are always good thank you again for another great video if I have a purchase I need to make I almost always consult your channel first lol and rarely am I left still wondering thank you for all the work you put in to these reviews I know I’m not alone in the great appreciation of your service
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
Never used one of these in my life but watched the whole video, enthralled the entire time
Thanks for sharing.
This is just no bullshit testing. Done quick so you don't get bored. Awesome videos been watching these for ages.
Thanks! Thanks for watching!
please can you review Mini splits with heat pumps - main focus should be cost, quality, efficiency and highest priority should be how well the heat works in the winter.
Thanks for the suggestion.
"50,000 lbs, very impressive!" Lol, love these! C clamps save the day a lot of times...Great video, thank you!
Thanks and you are welcome!
Hats off to all the testing. It continually amazes me how you manage to figure out ways to test things. Takes a lot of time and dedication!! I wonder if there is a way to test hand saws........
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
As soon as I saw this video and saw the $252 Wilton 6FC clamp I was like "This is where the fun begins". The Wilton 6-FC clamp is just pure insanity. This is more proof that Project Farm is the real MVP when it comes to power tool videos. Makes me wish he tests more overkill and heavy duty tools. 👍💯
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks for testing so many tools. I try to stay away from Cast Iron, small diameter handles. Over torque leads to twisted frames or failure. I hated reaching for a clamp at work only to find someone had over torqued and twisted the frame.
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.