Thread: Clamping Hints

You can purchase speacial jigs for clamping your corners and tees ,not to sure of the cost or the range of size,most industrial or welding suppliers should stock them.
Welders magnets would probably be your best and possibly cheapest allternative to use,they can usually be obtained from you local hardware,markets or the industrial out lets ( cost will be dependant on quality).

Hi Derek,
Common problems you're finding here. My trick for getting over that weld-one-side-but-not-both is to slightly weave the end of the rod side to side, like a zig-zag as you drag the stick along. That will ensure both sides of the seam get the penetration.
For a simple clamp for holding metal together when welding, I don't think you can go past a triangular welding magnet, easily found in most hardware or auto shops for less than $10. They will hold lighter material at 90 and 45 degrees while you tack them together. Their main downside is they collect all manner of filings, Mig wire and offcuts untill they look furry.

Good luck.

Thanks guys,

It seems an obvious solution but the trick in many cases is knowing what is available. I'll check out my local 'B' tonight when I pickup more SHS.

cheers
Derek

p.s. Andy, I'm still trying to persist with my Green Woodworking and refining my techniques. I'm sorry I couldn't get to the recent Kingsthorpe gtg to pick your brains.

From what I have just read it appears that you are buying your materials from Bunnings,do you have a local steel merchant in your area.
Even if they dont cut to the length you require Im sure if you ask they would probably allow you to use an angle grinder to cut them down to a managable length,they would have to be at least half the price of Bunnings if not more.

For weld clamping at corners and T junctions you can get these. I paid about $120 for my one unit. You can get the cheaper woodworking versions, plastic or aluminium alloy but will they last

Pipeclay, I did buy the bulk of my steel from our local merchant but I can only get there on weekends not weeknights. Sometimes I have to pay a premium for convenience.

These are Bessey clamps are great. I have four of them for welding up steel boxes. You can bolt them down onto a welding table if needed. Also have a four magnetic clamps but the Bessey is luxury in the shed.

DD

Record make a very heavy duty 4" 90 degree corner clamp that will hold framing while you weld it, it has two independent jaws unlike the one pictured and so works better when jigging up differing sizes of steel together.

I don't know how much they would be today, I have 8 that I bought about 30 years ago that are still going strong after a lot of use. From memory the part number is M141

Rgds - Gavin

Ah but the Besseys can clamp odd size sections because the pin that the vice thread goes through pivots.
Truly the bessey's are sheer luxury.
They are on my wish list of "would love to own."
There are good slightly cheaper copies of these on Ebay .

Kev.

Woodlee

I haven't seen the Bessey clamp in the flesh, I saw some that looked similar but they couldn't clamp widely different sizes together, for example clamping a piece of 1/8" FMS to the end of a length of 2" RHS. Is the Bessey that accommodating?

Rgds - Gavin

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

Woodlee

I haven't seen the Bessey clamp in the flesh, I saw some that looked similar but they couldn't clamp widely different sizes together, for example clamping a piece of 1/8" FMS to the end of a length of 2" RHS. Is the Bessey that accommodating?

Rgds - Gavin

It surely is Gavin

yeah its basic, but it does what I require.

Triangular welding magnet as previously stated and this (see pic).
Find its useful cause it has a decent magnet attached and somewhere to attach the earth clamp. Found it really useful, especially when its hard to find somewhere to clamp the earth ie tubular steel.

No doubt there are cheaper ones about, mine comes from BOC.

All I did to clean em was to grab a wire brush. Takes some muckhing about, but I got most of the filings of em.

Give this one a go, a 300amp Ground Clamp, i have one on my Cigweld Welder. The magnet turns off, so i can use it on just about any surface, even pipe. I have use the non switchable magnet type before but i was sick and tired of cleaning the small shavings off with a steel brush. With my new one all i do is turn it off and all the debris falls off.
I hope this helps your troubles.

Must admit I havent seen one of those switch on/off magnetic earths. Will point it out to the little lady. "Here buy me one of these." The missus doesnt believe in gift vouchers. Me I swear by em. Everyone gets what they actually want.

Not having to brush off the crap off the earth magnet all the time is definetley appealing.

Seen the switch on/off triangular welding magnets. Look good and sturdy enuf to survive the odd drop off the workbench