I have several of each, plastic with the orange roatating tip, and steel ones. The plastic ones are good clamps especially where the whole tip can get a grip on the flat surface and where the orange tip rotated out will grip a corner. But edge-gluing strips together, or clamping to the routed groove in the deck forms, the steel ones grip better. I throw the rubber tips away, and use a pad if I care about marring the work. Different sizes are handy, I use most of the 4" ones. C-clamps are also handy, and wooden screw clamps are handiest of all. I have been able to work them into odd angles and wider grips than any others.

> Mike, I can't speak to the quality of these particular clamps, but... I'm
> sure many of you out there have had similar experiences, trying to save
> some dollars and make these construction projects affordable, we buy low
> grade tools and equipment only to later curse our mistake. Certainly there
> are bargains to be had, but the bitterness of poor quality lingers long
> after the sweet taste of low first cost has disappeared.