At the time of this writing, we carry three styles of clamps: Stainless Steel Worm Gear Clamps, T-Bolt Clamps. Each of these are used in a similar fashion, to secure tubing or hose over a barbed insert fitting. The clamps accomplish this in a different manner unique to each clamp. .

Stainless Steel Worm Gear Clamps

Stainless Steel Worm Gear Clamps have a zinc coating (galvanized) for increased resistance to corrosion. They are frequently used in agriculture, automotive, and industrial applications. They are made of a steel band, one end of which contains a screw; when the screw is turned it acts as a worm drive, pulling the threads of the band and tightening it around the tubing. These types of clamps are mostly used with ½” or larger tubing.

Worm gear clamps are easy to use, remove and are completely reusable. Other than a flathead screwdriver, no additional tools are needed to install one. Worm gear clamps can loosen over time due to external forces exerting tension on the screw, so it’s a good idea to check the tightness of the screw from time to time to ensure it is tight and secure. Worm clamps can also apply uneven pressure which may not be ideal in all applications; this will cause some tubing distortion, though generally nothing severe in a low pressure irrigation system.

The biggest criticism of worm gear clamps is that they can loosen over time and can slightly distort the tubing/hose over time since most of the tension is on one side of the clamp.

T-Bolt Clamps

T-Bolt Clamps are often referred to as Racing Camps or EFI Clamps. They are a good balance between worm gear clamps and pinch clamps. Unlike worm gear clamps, these provide for 360° of tension so you don’t end up with distorted hose. Unlike pinch clamps, these can be reused at any time and are easy to remove from tubing and hoses.

The biggest drawback to T-Bolt clamps is generally only in their price, as they do cost a bit more than the other two clamp styles we carry. It has been reported that these can also lose a bit of tension over time like worm-gear clamps, but without the associated distortion of the tubing.

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