What this is
An 18" malleable cast-iron bar clamp with a traditional wood handle — Bessey’s Tradesman’s (TGJ) line, same general construction as the smaller clamps in the Bessey BGPKIT starter kit already on this site, just longer.
Full specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | TGJ2.518 |
| Clamping capacity | 18" |
| Throat depth | 2-1/2" |
| Clamping force | 600 lb |
| Construction | Malleable cast-iron fixed jaw and sliding arm |
| Spindle | Acme thread, replaceable pressure plates |
| Handle | Wood |
| ASIN | B00002245A |
Source: carbideprocessors.com and Amazon listing titles independently list matching 18" capacity, 2-1/2" throat depth, and 600 lb clamping force for this model — treated as confirmed since multiple independent sources agree.
Bessey TGJ2.518 18" Bar Clamp
Same TGJ line as the bar clamps in the Bessey BGPKIT starter kit, at a longer 18" length that kit doesn't include.
View Price on AmazonWho this is for
Mid-size glue-ups and assembly work between the 12" clamps in a typical starter kit and the 24"+ clamps built for wide panels — an 18" clamp covers a length gap a lot of shops end up needing eventually.
Who this isn’t for
Wide panel glue-ups needing more than standard 2-1/2" throat reach — see our deep-reach bar clamps comparison for clamps built with a deeper throat specifically for that.
Bottom line
Multiple independent sources agree on the core specs, but this is still a cross-referenced spec writeup, not a hands-on test. On paper it’s a straightforward length-gap filler in Bessey’s TGJ line, at the same 600 lb force rating as the smaller sizes already covered on this site. Bessey TGJ2.518 if 18" is the length your projects keep needing.