DeWalt 12 in and 6 in Bar Clamp Set (4 pc)

What’s in the set and where it fits in a shop

DeWalt’s bar clamp set pairs two 6-inch and two 12-inch clamps into a compact, do-most-things bundle. I’ve leaned on these as everyday F-style clamps for assembly, light glue-ups, jig building, and quick workholding at the bench and drill press. They’re steel through and through, with a sliding head that locks via a two-piece clutch and a tri-lobe, bi-material handle that drives the screw. On paper they’re rated for up to 600 lb of clamping force; in practice they feel appropriately stout for the class.

The 6-inch pair is what I reach for most. They’re short and maneuverable, ideal for pulling face frames into square or pinning small assemblies while fasteners go in. The 12-inch pair bridges cabinet parts, inhibits cupping during glue-ups, and serves as movable hold-downs on a workbench or miter station. With a 2-1/2 in throat depth, these aren’t deep-reach clamps; think edge work, not mid-panel clamping.

Build, fit, and ergonomics

The bars and bodies are steel; the jaws are forged steel and wear reinforced nylon pads that swivel slightly to conform to imperfect surfaces. The bars measure about 7 mm thick and resist torsion well for their size. Under hand load, I do see a hint of flex at full span on the 12-inch clamps when torqued hard, but not enough to telegraph into a typical glue joint.

The handle is a multi-lobe, grippy overmold. Bare-handed, it’s comfortable and offers solid purchase. With gloves, it feels a bit undersized; if you prefer to really lean on a clamp, you’ll want to ditch bulky gloves or reach for a bar clamp with a larger, round handle. The screw threads are clean and arrived well-lubed. They turn smoothly and don’t feel gritty, which helps apply force predictably without jerky jumps.

There’s a small amount of play between the sliding head and the bar—typical of this clutch-style design. It’s not excessive and hasn’t caused racking once tightened, but I do need to square the jaws to the work before I start applying real pressure. That’s a good habit with any F-clamp.

Clutch and sliding action

The two-piece clutch lock is the heart of this style. Press the plates to slide the head; release to engage the bar’s serrations. On these, the engagement is positive and reliable. The head doesn’t creep under sustained load once set. Sliding feel is medium-smooth; a light wipe of paste wax on the bar makes it notably slicker and keeps glue from sticking.

One tip: keep fingers clear of the clutch plates as you reposition the head. The plates and housing can nip you if you’re careless. It’s not unique to this clamp, but it’s worth calling out—especially when you’re hustling through repetitive work.

Pads, protection, and workpiece care

The reinforced nylon pads span a sensible area for their size and pivot enough to sit flat on slightly uneven stock. On softwoods and prefinished surfaces, they’ve been kind to edges. I still use sacrificial cauls for high-pressure glue-ups or on delicate veneers; that’s just good practice, and it spreads pressure more evenly anyway. The pads haven’t glazed or cracked in my use, and they pop off for cleaning. If you do lots of glue work, a quick rub with a plastic scraper or a little isopropyl after the squeeze-out cures keeps them tidy.

Power and control

Does it make 600 lb? I don’t have a calibrated load cell at the bench, but I can say this: these clamps are more than strong enough to close typical joinery gaps, restrain minor cup, and pull dry-fitted components into alignment without drama. Where some lighter-duty clamps protest with squeaks or thread bind, these ramp up pressure in a controlled, linear way. I’ve used them to squeeze dowel joints, align edge banding, and hold small metal brackets without slipping.

The 2-1/2 in throat depth is accurate on my samples. It’s enough to grab a 2x face, reach past a roundover, and still bear down near an edge. If you routinely clamp far from an edge, look to deeper-reach or parallel-jaw clamps; that’s not what these are for.

Accuracy and repeatability

The jaws arrive parallel, and the pads help mask minor misalignment during the first squeeze. Under heavy torque, the slender bars can induce a slight toe-in, which is normal for F-clamps in this size. If you need dead-parallel pressure across a panel seam, use cauls or step up to parallel-jaw clamps. For everything else—from holding mitered trim as the glue grabs to steadying a workpiece at the drill press—they deliver predictable, repeatable pressure.

Size, weight, and storage

The set weighs about 3.4 kg total, but each clamp feels light for its strength. The 6-inch clamps live at the front of my clamp rack; the 12-inch pair hangs just behind. They don’t occupy much space, and the bars are slim enough to snake into crowded assemblies. The small footprint also makes them easy to double up: two 12-inch clamps back-to-back can create a makeshift spreader in a pinch.

Durability and maintenance

Steel bars, forged jaws, and nylon pads are a proven recipe. Mine have shrugged off resinous glue-ups, a few drops, and a couple of accidental encounters with a chisel edge. The clutch still bites cleanly. I give the screws a dab of paste wax every few months and wipe the bars with a bit of Boeshield or light oil to keep rust at bay. The pads are consumables on any clamp; these have held up well so far, and replacements are inexpensive if you ever damage one.

DeWalt backs the set with a lifetime limited warranty. I haven’t needed it, but it’s good to have that safety net on a tool that will see daily use and occasional abuse.

Where they shine

• Quick, secure assembly work where speed matters more than extra-deep reach
• Edge gluing narrow stock, face-frame alignment, and trim installation
• Holding jigs and fences to benchtops, drill press tables, or miter saw stations
• Light metalworking tasks where you want steel jaws with protective pads

Where they’re not the best choice

• Long, high-pressure panel glue-ups that benefit from deep, parallel jaws
• Situations requiring maximal torque with gloved hands—the handle is grippy but not large
• Precision clamping in the middle of wide panels; the throat depth just isn’t there

Value and alternatives

Within the F-style category, this set hits a useful balance of power, footprint, and price. You can find cheaper clamps with rougher threads and softer bars; you can also spend more for heavier, deeper, or parallel-jaw designs. If you already own big parallel clamps, this set neatly fills the “daily driver” role. If you’re starting from scratch, two 6-inch and two 12-inch clamps is a practical baseline you’ll actually use.

Quirks and tips

• Keep your off-hand clear of the clutch plates when sliding the head.
• Square the jaws to the work before tightening to minimize racking.
• Wax the bars and screw threads; they’ll run smoother and shed glue.
• For delicate surfaces, add cauls or painter’s tape to the pad faces.

The bottom line

The DeWalt clamp set is a reliable, compact, and strong everyday option for the bench. The clutch holds, the screws turn smoothly, and the pads protect your work without turning to mush. The handle could be larger for gloved use, and like all F-clamps in this size, there’s some play in the sliding head before you start tightening. Neither issue has kept me from reaching for them constantly.

Recommendation: I recommend this set to anyone who needs a dependable, mid-strength F-style clamp for general shop duty—DIYers and working trades alike. It’s not a substitute for deep-reach or parallel-jaw clamps, but as a four-piece core that you’ll actually use every week, it earns its spot on the rack.