Lever clamps are available in many different sizes, ranging from small to large models.
It is always important to use a lever clamp of an adequate size, otherwise there is a risk of damaging both the tool and the workpiece in its grip.
The size of a lever clamp, and whether it is large enough for a particular workpiece, can be measured by its jaw opening and throat depth. Together, these two aspects determine the tool’s clamping capacity.
Jaw opening
The jaw opening of a lever clamp is a measurement of how far the mouth of the jaws can open.
It is determined by the length of the bar – the longer the bar, the greater the opening capacity.
The smallest jaw opening available is 100mm (4″ approx.).
The largest jaw opening available is 800mm (31.5″ approx.).
Throat depth
The throat depth refers to the distance from the top edge of the jaws to the side of the bar. Some models wills have a deeper throat depth than others to accommodate workpieces of various shapes and sizes.
The smallest throat depth available is 60mm (2.5″ approx.).
The largest throat depth available is 140mm (5.5″ approx.).
