Got a dozen of these to complete my built in bookcase project in our new home. I needed something that would hold the 3/4 stock nice and square along the top/bottom and front/back of the bookshelves. These are solid aluminum pieces with a good powder coat finish and a large rubber button for tightening. I believe they will last until the center pivot fails, which should take quite a while. The disadvantage of these clamps is that they do NOT straighten your work piece. In fact, they can move the part if you're not careful when working with them. You MUST make sure YOU align the part and keep it straight while clamping. However, once clamped and aligned, they don't move and hold your part well. I didn't splice the star as they do what they're supposed to, but I'm used to a different style that squares the details and I should have had different expectations. All in all, these are great clips for the average garage attendant and professionals. Robust construction and ease of use.