Tools & DIY · Head-to-head
Bessey K Body REVOlution Parallel Clamp (KRE3524, 24 in) vs IRWIN QUICK-GRIP Heavy-Duty One-Handed Bar Clamp (24 in)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Bar Clamps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Bessey is the clamp to buy for glue-ups, with published force, depth and a lifetime warranty. The IRWIN covers everything else quickly and costs a fraction as much.
Bessey K Body REVOlution Parallel Clamp (KRE3524, 24 in)
Buy itA heavy parallel-jaw clamp with published 1700 lbs of force that keeps glue-ups flat and square.
- Bessey rates it at a nominal 1700 lbs of clamping force with a 2200 lb working load limit.
- Large 2 x 5 3/4 inch replaceable pads and a 3 3/4 inch throat spread pressure deep into a panel.
- Converts to a spreader without tools, accepts Bessey accessories and carries a lifetime warranty.
- At about 6.1 lbs for the 24 inch size, a rack of these gets heavy to move around.
- It costs several times what a one-handed clamp does, so building a full set adds up fast.
- Slower to set than a trigger clamp; it is built for glue-ups, not quick holding jobs.
IRWIN QUICK-GRIP Heavy-Duty One-Handed Bar Clamp (24 in)
Buy itA one-handed trigger clamp rated to 600 lbs that handles most holding jobs and rough glue-ups.
- IRWIN rates it at up to 600 lbs of sustained clamping pressure.
- Pistol grip and quick-release trigger let you set and release it with one hand.
- Removable full-face pads expose swivel jaws for irregular shapes, with a lifetime limited warranty.
- The jaws are not built to stay parallel, so it will not square a cabinet box the way a parallel clamp does.
- 600 lbs is well short of a heavy parallel clamp for wide hardwood panels.
- IRWIN lists its uses as installation, demolition and rough glue-up, not fine cabinet work.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Bessey K Body REVOlution Parallel Clamp (KRE3524, 24 in) Our pick | IRWIN QUICK-GRIP Heavy-Duty One-Handed Bar Clamp (24 in) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Woodworkers doing panel glue-ups and cabinet boxes who want clamps that stay square. | DIYers and remodelers who need a fast, strong clamp for holding, installing and general glue-ups. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Type | Parallel jaw | One-handed trigger |
| Published clamping force | 1700 lbs (nominal) | Up to 600 lbs |
| Capacity reviewed | 24 in | 24 in |
| Throat depth | 3 3/4 in | Not published |
| Jaws | 2 x 5 3/4 in replaceable pads | Swivel jaws, removable pads |
| Spreader mode | Yes | Not listed |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime limited |
| Best use | Panel glue-ups, cabinet boxes | Holding, installing, rough glue-up |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Bessey K Body REVOlution Parallel Clamp (KRE3524, 24 in) if
woodworkers doing panel glue-ups and cabinet boxes who want clamps that stay square.
Know before buying: at about 6.1 lbs for the 24 inch size, a rack of these gets heavy to move around.
Pick the IRWIN QUICK-GRIP Heavy-Duty One-Handed Bar Clamp (24 in) if
dIYers and remodelers who need a fast, strong clamp for holding, installing and general glue-ups.
Know before buying: the jaws are not built to stay parallel, so it will not square a cabinet box the way a parallel clamp does.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Bessey K Body REVOlution Parallel Clamp (KRE3524, 24 in) - A heavy parallel-jaw clamp with published 1700 lbs of force that keeps glue-ups flat and square. Choose the IRWIN QUICK-GRIP Heavy-Duty One-Handed Bar Clamp (24 in) instead if dIYers and remodelers who need a fast, strong clamp for holding, installing and general glue-ups.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Bar Clamps: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).