That's the sort that came with my big clamping set, I use them with no problems – although they can be tricky to set up as they can take a lot of space and have 'big noses'. .

I've got the 12mm slot 58-piece set here: http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Workholding/Clamping-Sets

(Except in red!)

Neil

John, As Neil says, they are tricky to set up but they work really well. As with all clamps make sure if you can that the distance from the stud to the workpiece is less than the distance from the stud to the heel of the clamp. Also watch out for the stud bottoming in the T slot.

SBought a set from Arc last week after years of looking in the scrap box and bodging clamps etc, worth their weight in gold!

Should have got them years ago and spent my time looking for the other bits and peices that disapear when you want them.

Spent ages looking for the faceplate angle plate that vanished after a clear up, only found it after turning the faceplate round, still on from the last job ages ago.

Don't get too hung up on the "tricky to set up". Once you've used them a bit, it isn't bad. On a small mill, be careful the step-block isn't over hanging the edge of the table ( or the edge of the land in the middle where the slots are) by more than a little. Too much and the whole shebang can suddenly collapse under the cutting loads. If it looks safe, though, it probably is. If necessary, a large piece of plate under the step-block can bridge some of the gaps.

To be honest, my first reaction was "what else would you use" because I've used these since day-1 on my mill. I guess there are other methods (and I use them occasionally) but clamps and step-blocks work for me 90% of the time and is my primary clamping method.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 15/08/2015 01:04:26

Like the others mine get used all the time, 10mm on the mill and 8mm on the rotary table. You need not be limited by the height of the tallest block as they can be stacked or just used ontop of other packing when needed

I'm looking to buy a set very shortly and noticed these 2 :-

**LINK**

**LINK**

They look very similar to me but the first is a 52 piece set for £45, the second says it's a 58 piece for £37 ?

Anyone know if it's a misprint and they are the same ? Is the second one really better value or is it poorer quality ?

Thanks Baldric,

It sounds like what you say about the way they count the components makes sense.

I've really got to get a set, I've only had a bench drill for a week and made myself a few simple clamping components of my own to get started, they work fine for now but I could do with a 'proper' set as I'll possibly treat myself to a small mill in a couple of months.

Peter.

For a beginner on a tight budget there are better uses for the last £50 in the kitty as scraps and studding can be used but once past the initial mill purchase it is definitely easier to get a set. They have lots of uses outside clamping like for bearing pulling etc just make sure you get the bits all back in the holder before they go missing.

They do M8/10mm slot and even a less comprehensive M6/8mm slot set for very small machines.

Neil

The width of the ARC T-nuts for a 10mm slot is 14.7mm.