Removing dried glue from Bessey clamps

[rwe2156]

Just run the clamp up and down to knock of the dried glue.  Works every time!!

[WaterlooMarc]

This topic comes up from time to time and I still just don't understand. Most of my besseys are from the great Amazon deals of old, so at least 12 or 13 years old. I've never had to clean the glue off nor had any interference with the mechanism. Sure they might not look shiny new anymore but they're perfectly functional.

[Steve N]

I think it has to do with using glue to make up a panel or using GLUE.

[Stwood_]

Let it dry up and if it interferes, use a dull chisel and knock it off.

[Aram]

"Remove"? I thought the point was to build it up little by little over the years.




Thanks for the lead.

[RobertM]

I just made a couple of cutting boards for my Mom and got a lot of glue on my 24" Bessey clamps.
They were left to dry overnight and the glue was very difficult to remove so I started looking around at what I had to get it off. Tried putty knife and some other options but what did the absolute best job was the brass wire wheel I have on an old 6" grinder. It took all of the glue off and did not damage the groves in the champ bar. Very fast, The only thing that was sort of a pain was getting it off at the head of the clamp. I think if I had an 8" wheel it would have been easier.
Hope this helps.
Robert

[Gabby]

I also use a wire wheel on Grinder , I also use a die grinder with a wire wheel in places the bench grinder will not work . Mostly I have been using the Blue painters tape at the joints where the glue seeps out . Nothing like prevention . Gary

[MarkSingleton]

Well.   Google found this old thread for me when I needed it.

Today was the day I decided to finally do something about the nine
Bessey clamps I purchased from an estate sale some time back.
The previous owner had let glue get all over them.

They still worked, but it was difficult to move the jaw back and
forth as needed.  

Took me about an hour , clamping each one in my bench vise and
going over them with a wire wheel  chucked in my largest corded drill.

Now, they work great!

[Redman]

I've always just laid a piece of wax paper over the bar.

[MarkSingleton]

I've always just laid a piece of wax paper over the bar.

Exactly. Or tape. Or whatever. Prevention!!
It was not fun cleaning up the previous owners goof, 
but it is done now and a good reminder.