Why a standard bar clamp can’t do this job
Most bar clamps have a throat depth of 2" to 3" — plenty for edge-to-edge work, but useless if you need to apply pressure well inside the edge of a wide panel (say, clamping a center cleat on a 20"-wide glue-up). Deep-reach bar clamps solve that with a longer throat between the bar and the clamping head, at the cost of being bulkier and generally heavier than a standard bar clamp of the same length.
Comparison
| Bessey CDS24-12WP | Jorgensen #4524 | |
|---|---|---|
| Max opening | 24" | 24" |
| Throat depth | 12" | 5" |
| Clamping force | ~1,540–1,550 lb (retailer listings vary slightly) | 1,200 lb |
| Construction | Malleable cast-iron heads, flat serrated steel rail, wooden handle | Cast-iron stationary and sliding heads, carbon steel bar (copper-plated), soft-grip handle |
| Weight | Not published in the listings we checked | Not published in the listings we checked |
| ASIN | B000GK8PL0 | B00080QF60 |
Bessey CDS24-12WP Deep Reach Tradesman's Bar Clamp
Part of Bessey's Deep Reach Tradesman's line, also sold in 10" and 20" throat-depth versions at the same 24" opening.
View Price on AmazonJorgensen #4524 Deep-Reach Throat Bar Clamp
Part of Jorgensen's Deep-Reach line, which also comes in 7" and 9" throat-depth variants at the same clamping force rating, per the manufacturer's spec page.
View Price on AmazonWhat the spec sheets tell us
At the same 24" opening, the Bessey reaches more than twice as deep into a panel (12" vs 5") and carries a higher rated clamping force (~1,540–1,550 lb vs 1,200 lb) — on paper it’s the more capable tool for genuinely wide center-of-panel work. The Jorgensen’s shallower 5" throat still covers plenty of off-edge clamping that a standard 2"–3" throat bar clamp can’t reach, at a lighter, less bulky package than the 12" Bessey. If your project needs more than 5" of reach, Jorgensen also sells this same line in 7" and 9" throat depths at the same 24" opening and clamping force, per the manufacturer’s spec page — worth checking if 12" is more depth than you need but 5" isn’t enough.
Bottom line
For clamping deep into wide panels, Bessey CDS24-12WP has the deeper reach and higher rated force; Jorgensen #4524 is the lighter, shallower-reach option worth it if 5" already covers your worst-case clamping point. Neither has been through our own load test yet — this is a spec comparison, not a verdict on which one deflects less under real pressure at full reach.