- Thread starter DickyB
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Ideally the earth clamp should be positioned as close as practical to the area you are welding. In an ideal world the section of metal it is clamped to should be cleaned with the grinder if it is particularly rusty or painted. A good earth is essential for achieving a good quality weld. Ensure the earth clamp is in good order, and the cable securly fixed without loose or fraying wires. Some of the cheaper earth clamps lack much gripping power, but a decent clamp can be obtained for not much more than a fiver which are a much more powerful clamp. Screw-down types are also available - tend to be used for the 400A + range, but work fine on hobby welders too.
Frayed connections get very very very hot!!
Frayed connections get very very very hot!!
Drains
Yeah, nah.
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Er, ideally, put it near to where you're welding... but if you're on thickish material, it won't make much difference.
Mostly though, make sure the connections onto your earth are in good nick. Ideally use a bolt-on crimp connector onto the clamp, rather than the usual loose copper wire option. And clean any crap off the steel.
Mostly though, make sure the connections onto your earth are in good nick. Ideally use a bolt-on crimp connector onto the clamp, rather than the usual loose copper wire option. And clean any crap off the steel.
matt1978
www.lorch.eu
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I am not sure what size Dinze sockets fit on the DIY range of machines but if you have an industrial type machine buy an earth with the biggest dia cable you can. The 15mm and 25mm stuff is like Spaghetti and is not worth a w*nk. Go for 50mm or even 75mm if you are welding high amps, this will last you a life time.
Remember however many amps you put down your torch, the same level of resistance goes back along the Earth (Welding return its proper name), so if its loose fitting on the job or you have loose fittings in the clamp itself it will overheat and this is when it becomes damaged.
Myking, make the best Earth clamps, they are the screw down type, but they are expensive.
Sometimes placing the Earth clamp has an effect if you are welding into corners, especially on MMA. Because of a thing called Arc blow, its basically a build up of magnetism and causes the arc to become erratic and unstable. The earth clamp can be moved onto the direction of travel and sometimes this helps.
The other guys are spot on tho, in general keep a good connection and try to get the clamp directly onto the work piece if possible.
Remember however many amps you put down your torch, the same level of resistance goes back along the Earth (Welding return its proper name), so if its loose fitting on the job or you have loose fittings in the clamp itself it will overheat and this is when it becomes damaged.
Myking, make the best Earth clamps, they are the screw down type, but they are expensive.
Sometimes placing the Earth clamp has an effect if you are welding into corners, especially on MMA. Because of a thing called Arc blow, its basically a build up of magnetism and causes the arc to become erratic and unstable. The earth clamp can be moved onto the direction of travel and sometimes this helps.
The other guys are spot on tho, in general keep a good connection and try to get the clamp directly onto the work piece if possible.
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We have a load of adapter leads made that will allow the larger dinze plugs to be run from the smaller sockets and vice versa, rather than have different leads with different sized sockets on.
irondarren
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I just sorted a few welding cables, repaired a few re-newed earth clamps etc. what i did notice on some of the older thinner ones, that close to the earth clamp, the copper wire was begining to break down and become almost brittle, no doubt giving a poor connects. I just cut them back a couple of inches and they were fine.
Dicky, as far as earth clamp distance, placing goes, for my own purposes i have an 8' x 4' bench the earth is clamp to one of the legs of the bench and what ever i am welding, is just put on the steel bench plate and welded. Only problem i find is if i have been grinding and there is loads of grinding dust on the bench that can cause earthing problems. so just make sure you have clean contact
Dicky, as far as earth clamp distance, placing goes, for my own purposes i have an 8' x 4' bench the earth is clamp to one of the legs of the bench and what ever i am welding, is just put on the steel bench plate and welded. Only problem i find is if i have been grinding and there is loads of grinding dust on the bench that can cause earthing problems. so just make sure you have clean contact
mishka
Is it me?
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Just this very evening replaced the rather pathetic earth clamp on my Oxford for a shiny new 400A jobby from the local ironmongers, for the princely sum of £2.98. That, and it was a good excuse to play with a large crimp tool I scored on fleabay
(goes up to 127mm.sq !! AMP Rota Crimp for those in the know)I believe this only affects DC welding - AC is not affected in this way.
. Mind you i've gotta buy a helmet and gloves yet. 