Quick Answer: The Retort Clamp, 3 Finger, Rubber Sleeve is a rubber sleeve three finger clamp: three metal fingers covered with black rubber sleeves, closed by a T-screw and carried on a rod for a boss head. The listing image shows a bright metal body.
Rubber Sleeves on Three Fingers
Rubber sleeves give the fingers of the Retort Clamp, 3 Finger, Rubber Sleeve a soft, high-friction contact with glass. Rubber grips smooth glass well even when it is slightly damp from condensation, and it cushions small knocks while a flask is being positioned.
Unlike a dip coating, a sleeve is a separate tube over the finger. When it hardens, cracks or is scorched, it can be pulled off and replaced with a new length of tubing, so the clamp itself stays in service. Natural rubber hardens and cracks with age, ozone and sunlight, and swells in oils and many solvents; keeping clamps in a drawer away from light slows that ageing.
The bright metal body and T-screw in the photograph follow the common layout of two fingers opposite one. Choose this version where you want to renew grip surfaces easily, and the dip-coated three finger retort clamp where a covering that cannot slip off is preferred.
Care & Handling
- Replace sleeves that are hard, cracked or sticky by cutting new rubber tubing to length and pushing it on.
- Keep the rubber away from oils, hydrocarbon solvents and flames.
- Store the clamp out of sunlight to slow rubber ageing.
- Wipe the bright metal dry after use to prevent spotting.
Applications
- Holding round-bottom and pear-shaped flasks at the neck
- Gripping condensers and glass columns
- Steadying a separating funnel at its upper neck while it rests in a ring below
- Holding damp glassware, such as a chilled receiving flask, where extra grip helps
Specifications
| Type | Three finger retort clamp |
| Finger covers | Black rubber sleeves (as pictured) |
| Body | Bright metal in the listing image |
| Closure | T-screw |
| Mounting | Rod, used with a boss head |
| Opening range | Confirm at enquiry |
Why Choose LabEquip
Labs that prefer to maintain clamps rather than replace them often choose rubber-sleeved fingers. LabEquip lists this clamp in its General Lab Products range; send your requirement with neck sizes and quantities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use rubber sleeves on clamp fingers?
Rubber grips glass firmly even when it is damp and cushions it against the metal. Sleeves can also be replaced when worn, which extends the life of the clamp.
How do I replace a worn sleeve?
Pull or cut off the old sleeve, then push on a length of rubber tubing that fits tightly on the finger. A drop of water helps it slide on; let it dry before use.
Which chemicals damage rubber sleeves?
Oils, petrol-type hydrocarbons and many chlorinated solvents swell or soften natural rubber, and ozone and sunlight crack it over time. Wipe off spills and store the clamp in the dark.
Dip coating or rubber sleeve: which lasts longer?
A dip coating is bonded and cannot slip, but once damaged the whole finger is affected. Sleeves wear faster but are renewed in minutes, so heavily used clamps are often easier to keep in good condition with sleeves.
Can the sleeves be used near heat?
Rubber scorches and hardens with heat. Keep the clamp on the flask neck well above the heat source.
Does it fit a standard boss head?
It fits any boss head whose slot takes the rod diameter. Measure the rod or compare it with your existing clamps before ordering a set.
Last Updated: September 2026
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.