Are budget clamps from brands like Harbor Freight, WORKPRO, or HORUSDY good enough?

Verified-purchase reviewers and specialist communities generally agree that budget clamps are fine for light-duty work, holding jigs, and beginner projects, but they flex under heavy load and the pads tend to fall off over time. The common advice is to buy budget clamps in bulk for quantity and reserve premium clamps for critical glue-ups.