The Quick Grip XP Bar Clamp & Spreader is a super heavy-duty version of Irwin's famous one-handed Quick-Grip Clamp. They've replaced the standard bar with a thicker/wider steel I-beam that definitely resists bending, bowing and racking. The jaws of the XP toe in like a good bench vise, so clamping pressure stays exactly where you want it. Irwin claims the XP can achieve 900 lbs of clamping force when using two hands. Of course we just had to take it apart to see why it's able to exert so much more force than standard one-hand clamps. Pulling the metal plate off the trigger housing, we noticed two sets of massive clutch plates that give you a fantastic mechanical advantage. The first set moves the jaws for clamping/spreading while the trigger release operates the second set. The trigger provides enough leverage to free the clamp even at maximum pressure without pinching your hand or shooting the bar back at you.

Like all current issue Quick-grips, the XP's fixed head reverses with a pull of a clip for spreading operations. If you've ever tried to repair a chair or tighten tongue and groove flooring, then you know how handy this feature is. Oh, and don't worry about losing the retaining clip, it's permanently attached. Irwin also seems to have eliminated the annoying habit of pads popping off the jaws. The bottom line is that these are some impressive clamps that should hold up and perform well in real world conditions.