Popular Post Mark J Posted April 13, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 I just spoke to a representative at the company. The Jorgensen and Pony assets have been bought by a company called Great Star. They are presently ramping up production to bring back Jorgensen and Pony clamps. They expect retail availability in 4 to 6 months. Good news for those who like an orange clamp 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Great news! I might actually be able to get more matching cabinet-masters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Any word on what product lines they're actually reviving? I would really love some more Cabinet Master clamps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted April 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 What he told me was that most everything for woodworking was coming back including parallel, EZ clamp, the wooden screw clamps and spring clamps. Some low volume industrial clamps were not going to be revived. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 The only concern I would have is Great Star Tools is a Chinese company. Hopefully they will keep the quality the same but I have to wonder if that will be the case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 12 minutes ago, Chet K said: The only concern I would have is Great Star Tools is a Chinese company. Hopefully they will keep the quality the same but I have to wonder if that will be the case. A sensible concern. Hopefully they're more like TTI (owner of Milwaukee Tools) than some other companies. That said, it's not like SBD (an American company) couldn't ruin a brand's quality all on their own. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 42 minutes ago, BonPacific said: That said, it's not like SBD (an American company) couldn't ruin a brand's quality all on their own. This is true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandorLush Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 I want more gear clamps! Those things are so awesome. Milwaukee has really stepped themselves up in my opinion in the last 5 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HickWillis Posted April 13, 2017 Report Share Posted April 13, 2017 Sweet, I have quite a few Jorgs, always liked them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSouthWoodCraft Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 A sensible concern. Hopefully they're more like TTI (owner of Milwaukee Tools) than some other companies. That said, it's not like SBD (an American company) couldn't ruin a brand's quality all on their own. I thought TTI only owned Ryobi and Ridgi d? They make all the portable power tools about 45 mins from me in Anderson. This is really nice when they have their annual sale to clear out some of the warehouses around town. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 7 hours ago, CandorLush said: I want more gear clamps! Those things are so awesome. Milwaukee has really stepped themselves up in my opinion in the last 5 years What is a gear clamp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 Love my cabinet masters! Hopefully the quality will still be there. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 2 hours ago, OldSouthWoodCraft said: I thought TTI only owned Ryobi and Ridgi d? They make all the portable power tools about 45 mins from me in Anderson. This is really nice when they have their annual sale to clear out some of the warehouses around town. TTI owns Milwaukee fully, alongside Homelite. They license the Ridgid and Ryobi brand names, as well as AEG, from those companies. Ryobi Japan and Ryobi USA/UK/Aus are completely unrelated tool lines. They also own a couple vacuum companies (Dirt Devil, Hoover, Vax, Oreck). You can see the whole list here. It can be interesting to see who owns what. There's a good article about this over on ToolGuyd, though it needs to be updated fro SBD's recent acquisitions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CandorLush Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 9 hours ago, K Cooper said: What is a gear clamp? http://toolguyd.com/jorgensen-gear-clamp-review/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted April 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 It is a shame the new company isn't keeping that factory running. Among other things it would be an astute political move for the Chinese. The guy I spoke to used to be employed by the old company and had taken a job with the new one. He seemed to be in the know, i.e. not just someone answering the customer service line. He claims the new company's focus is on quality, etc. We'll just have to wait and see. My jury is out till I can look a products on the shelf and compare to the ones I own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 I doubt it. I pass by their Chicago factory and headquarters (where the good stuff was made) every day on the way to work. It is a ghost town. This is simply some chinese company buying their name and designs. That is too bad. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_r_ Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 5 hours ago, Mike. said: I doubt it. I pass by their Chicago factory and headquarters (where the good stuff was made) every day on the way to work. It is a ghost town. This is simply some chinese company buying their name and designs. That'd be my guess, but we'll see I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 5 hours ago, Mike. said: I doubt it. I pass by their Chicago factory and headquarters (where the good stuff was made) every day on the way to work. It is a ghost town. This is simply some chinese company buying their name and designs. The factory/company has been shut down long enough I'm not surprised. Could still be good tools, JET clamps are made in China after all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 I think some of the Bessey clamps are made in asia . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted April 14, 2017 Report Share Posted April 14, 2017 You really won't know anything till they release a product and see the warranty.I bought the 12" gear clamps for $21.78 from Home Depot. Will see if it repeats.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 The factory/company has been shut down long enough I'm not surprised. Could still be good tools, JET clamps are made in China after all. God I hate the Jet clamps. Not because they are made in China, just because they are terrible. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 Jet clamps have positives and negatives. The head can be a bear to adjust sometimes. But slightly larger head and octagonal handle do allow you to crank down some serious pressure. However I still reach for my Best K body Revos first, then my old K bodies, then the Jets. I've got quite a collection of Jorgensen Pony bar clamps, some are 30 + years old and still work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dknapp34 Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 I find the quick release mechanism on the Jets to be more trouble than it's worth. The octagonal handles are too slippery for me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 The quick release on the ones I bought last year are sooo smooth but the ones bought 3 years ago are a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted April 15, 2017 Report Share Posted April 15, 2017 On 4/14/2017 at 10:36 AM, BonPacific said: JET clamps are made in China after all. And the review of jet clamps bought in the last few years are very inconsistent. I have 12 on my wall purchased in the last 4 years, 4 have blue tape on the bar to remind me not to grab them unless others are used up as they operate like crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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