Forget Aluminium Clamps!

The budget sash cramps that we are all well aware of are okay. I don't turn my nose up at them at all and have found them to be perfectly adequate. But they are a bit of a compromise. For £15.00 you can't go that wrong, however, I have found an alternative for only a pound more that makes the aluminium versions feel like a kinder egg toy.

With a simple step, the aluminium clamps can be improved by inserting a snug fitting piece of wood within the hollow section of the cramp. This makes the whole thing much more rigid. But even this step does not bring them anywhere close to my alternative.

I purchased the cramp from Screwfix. I'm not going to post a link, the only reason being that within a year something can change and links no longer work, creating confusion. Instead go the Screwfix website or even Google and search “Magnusson Sash Clamp”. I paid full price for mine and have no affiliation with Screwfix. Although I would consider being a corporate tart and be paid to promote these as the clamps are sensational value.

For your extra English pound you get a solid steel bar that must be a good 1/4” thick with virtually no flex. There must be twice as much travel on the clamp head threads with a much more robust feel. There is no lightweight spring that can pop off on the sliding head, just a steel pin that slides through the body, joy!

They are so easy to maintain too. Maintain? Yes! The aluminium bar is very wide and has notches that can get filled with glue and debris. Because the Magnusson is so much narrower and smooth it's just a case of wiping it clean, easy!

If you're thinking of adding some lifetime cramps without the price tag of Bessey these could be worth a look.