magnetic clamps

[Mad Mick]

Mag. Clamps.

Hi all,I hate to appear out of step,but as a full time welder I find them v. useful,particularly when trying to position vertical box off a fabrication.Its when you run out of hands using a plate square that it becomes valuable.One of them I picked up at M. Mart,it has an on/off switch & is just the Job.As for swarf,a quick blast from the blow gun is all that's required,regards,Mick

 

[Angusdog]

It seems people either love 'em or hate 'em. I love them. I find them useful for building stuff from square or round tube, as I work quick & dirty in which case they work fine. I haven't noticed any problem with the arc, but I just tack the tubes in place, remove the magnets, check alignment and then weld it up. They do pick up metal shards, but a blow from the airline keeps them clean. They're cheap enough to try and see if you're in the "Love 'em" camp or not

 

[Brain_stew]

there are some very mixed oppinions around these magnetic clapms. i was about to go buy some the other day then noticed this post which initialy put me off.

But from looking at the design of these they will be ideal as i've just been asked to weld up some round bar to make an 'L'.

Any idea what sort of size's/weights these come in??

 

[Angusdog]

Yeah, go for it - like I said, I reckon they're neat. I just have two, the larger is about the size of my hand span and the other was a $5 bargain bin special and is slightly smaller. There's nothing special to them, so perhaps just try whatever's available. I check for squareness using one of those big right angle squares, used for making staircases I think.

 

[..DAZ..]

I have 4 fixed mag clamps and two switchable clarke ones from machine mart. Personally I wouldnt be without them, great for setting up to tack, but once the tack is in they come off. Switchable ones are easier to get the swarf and filings etc off, the fixed ones can be a pain to get clean and sometimes a bit tricky to get into the correct position

daz

 

[purglaspete]

The best use I've found for them is picking up swarf. Put magnet in a plastic bag, wipe over area to be de-swarfed, then just pull the magnet out of the bag while standing over the bin. Swarf in bin, and a clean magnet. Other than that they are crap

. that sounds like a simple but brilliant Idea , Ive used magnets in the past to sweep areas clear of metal particles and then spent ages cleaning the magnets off , but your plastic bag way seems spot on thanks pete

 

[candor]

It seems the switchable ones are worth getting? Looking to get a few clamps myself and debating what type.

Something like this:

http://www.clarkedistributors.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=60_262&product_id=731

 

[gordonendersby]

As a very beginner, teaching myself, I find them useful while I tack something in place.
Then remove them. I hadnt considered that they could effect the arc.
Ive got a couple of arrow type from machine mart.

They help me as I havnt got the experience and abilities of someone whos served there time. Im sure someone with experience can put something in place, tack it and its straight and true. All while drinking there tea and standing on there head.
Till then they give me a bit of confidence that its going to be where I want it.
Then check it with a square. Which reminds me I need a proper engineers square, my woodworking one is at risk of damage. I can just imagine it going up in smoke.

Gordon

 

[Big Pete]

I've got a fair few, some small arrowhead that are excellent for sheet metal stuff, some bigger ones that I've used to set up frames with and some adjustable ones (including some MagTabs) that are very usefull for bike frame stuff. None of the stuff I do is especially heavy though, they mostly get used as an extra hand until a part is tacked in place.

 

[Beanmetalworks]

cant remember the name of them now but there was some mag blocks that had switch on them that looked really goo the was little square blocks they cost a bit but also held more that them crap trangle thigs

 

[GregEng]

Im sure someone with experience can put something in place, tack it and its straight and true. All while drinking there tea and standing on there head.

Im not a welder but I think unless you jig something it will always move. I have seen welders check all four sides and use the pulling in of the tacks to pull the piece into alignment. There is some sort of weld order.

 

[Woody.v8]

Im not a welder but I think unless you jig something it will always move. I have seen welders check all four sides and use the pulling in of the tacks to pull the piece into alignment. There is some sort of weld order.

Weld timing or sequencing is something that comes to you over the years, through watching the job move and then welding somewhere else to pull it back straight.

 

[arthur]

Me too HATE them crap! I just rest the clamp on the work if I a hurry to tack up, can't beat a clamp...simple and works...

Now a good gift idea.... Ive got a VERY cool dry case for my rods even though I rarely use arc but its VERY cool as you pull the trigger and a rod pops out...

Mig gift for me would be, new gloves, some lockjaw C clamps VERY cool.

what else me thinks?