Craftsman  12 in. Bar Clamp

Excellent clamps. Work extremely well for the business use we put them thru.

This Craftsman 12" Bar Clamp is a must have for any well-equipped woodworking shop.  I find myself using it all the time.  I really like to easy to operate trigger mechanism and the release mechanism is even nicer!

Once in place, the jaws on this clamp hold tight.  You won't have to worry about the grip relaxing as many other triggered clamps will.

The large padded jaw surface insure good surface contact with the workpiece.  You will love this feature, because it really helps prevent racking as you tighten the clamp.  Invest in at least two of these high quality clamps.  They are professional grade in every sense!

This clamp is versatile, light weight, and easy to use. Along will the 6" clamp, it does most of my outdoor clamping and can even hold shelves in place for putting up in the garage.

Work well and appear well constructed.

Works great, very smooth, consistent action. Each squeeze moves it 3/8" it is rated at 275lbs clamping force which is more than enough for most projects. I like the release button which not only releases but moves clamp out 1/4" each time its pressed. The only reason i didn't give it 5 stars is that it is a little more bulky than my Irwin clamp. Overall, a great clamp at a reasonable price.

Updating my review becuase the more that I use them, the more that I like them. The bars are pretty stout and have not bowed any at all on my projects. The ratcheting handles are very easy to grab and clamp down on whatever you are needing clamped. I totally like how easy these clamps are to relase by using the reverse trigger handle. If you are needing to spread something instead of clamping, just simply push the button on the end of jaw and slide it off and just as easy snap it back into place on the opposite end. No fumbling around or turning screws to change the end jaws. I have not hand any of these clamps slip on me yet like I have happen on cheaper clamps in the past. I also like the wide jaws and that they exsert pressure across the whole jaw instead of just a small foot print like other clamps. The clamp boasts non-marring pads and I have not witnessed any marks on any of my projects that I have used these clamps on.

I am a relativley new woodworker with only about 2yrs experience, but have already learned how important having decent clamps are and also having enought clmaps to complete your project. When I first started woodworking, a fellow Craftsman Club Member, told me get as many clamps as you can get, becuase that is one thing you always seem to run out of. This has been very true and I am adding clamps when I can and try to gather multiple sizes for different clamping needs.

These clamps are good for various needs in not just woodworking. They are great for home repairs as well. I really don't have a negative on these clamps from what I have used them on as they have performed very well for me....  These clamps are great for the week end warrior or the hobbiest, or the seasoned craftsman and I totally recommend these clamps to anyone with a need for clamps to projects or home repairs. 

I purchased 2 Craftsman 12 in. Bar Clamps to hold 2 X 6 X 7' boards to 4 x 4 wood posts. It was very easy to set the clamp and release it once the board was fastened to the post. I wasn't sure the clamps would be strong enough based on their size and makeup, but they handled the job with ease. I would recommend these clamps for projects that need a sizable opening and is strong enough to handle large cuts of wood.

I used these most recently to assemble some chairs for a new dining room set we bought. Had to hold the seat extremely tight to the frame while I drilled screws. Oh and since they are nicely finished wooden chairs, the rubber ends didn't damage the finish at all. 5 Stars!

I've used other compression bar clamps along this style in my woodworking projects, long before sears came out with theirs. What I discovered in these Craftsman 6", 12" and 18" bar clamps are greater strength, durability, flexibility and features. These clamps are rock solid and are my go-to holders for over 90% of my woodworking projects. They are so versatile, I also use them for many other clamping needs (drilling, sanding, routing, cutting, fabrication, etc.). They are able to apply the extra clamping force when needed and are well made for years of service in my shop.

I also have stronger solid metal and squared-up heavy duty clamps when I need 500 to 1000# of glue-up clamping force, but these are my best medium duty clamps that I make use around my shop projects most of the time!

I have owned these clamps for about 6 months now, and they seem to hold up pretty well.  

I like how flexible the clamp is with the ability to use it as a spreader or a normal clamp.