magnetic clamps

[Luke]

It's coming to that time of year again, and soon the missus etc will be asking for Christmas present ideas.

I've been looking at magnetic clamps. Are they useful? do they work well? does anyone have any particular styles or brands they'd recommend?

Cheers,

Luke

 

[Hitch]

I hate the things personally, unless you have a very clean and tidy enviroment, they pickup all sorts of dust and swarf everytime to put them down, spend longer trying to get it all off so it sits properly, than it does to tack the bits together and use a square to check positioning.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I totally agree with Hitch on the swarf and grindings front, Also if I try to weld too close to them my Linclon SP170 goes crazy,it coughs,spits,farts and just refuses to do it's job.

 

[Welderpaul]

Yeah, pretty useless really. Not strong enough to resist the 'pulling' off square when you tack one side - as well as the problems mentioned above.

 

[snowcat]

another vote for hopless...... look great until you buy use then scrap.

 

[gavuk]

Mag clamps ?....great for picking up swarf on the bandsaw and drill.....

 

[the snooper]

yep as above when i welded next to them the torch started to vibrate / buzz strange things

 

[bawjaws]

yup,swarf build up, and dodgey welds if too close, this may solve the swarf problem tho- http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/Specialist/specialist.html



and a 36kg magnet

 

[Luke]

Well that's that then! the forum's saved me from a naff christmas present!

Thanks all.

Luke

 

[busastars]

Ive got three large and four small ones. I only use them to hold somthing to gether just to get a tack on but I find it makes the arc wander terible, I carnt use them when seam welding.

I wouldent be without them because there better than nothing but I bought my at a car boot sale at £1 each

 

[SC_BK]

I've got 4 of smaller magentic clamps, think they're the 25lb ones. Only cost a few quid, useful to have, might get a couple of the bigger ones

BTW Clarke also make the switchable magnet versions, pack of 3 on ebay for £36

 

[Chipper]

Also use them but only as a 'third hand' to get a tack on. Often find they aren't strong enough or large enough to hold a particular bit to another, but have been reasonably useful. Mine were also dirt cheap, from a steam fair I think.

Swarf and dust comes off easily with a large wire brush, or those unobtanium magnets out of PC drives, if large enough.

 

[busastars]

One other thing I forgot to mention, I needed a big tack, lots of penitration on a part and the rubber surrunding the magnet beneath the outside cought fire, nothing serious but it can happen.

 

[droopsnoot]

I got a few from Aldi in their "welders toolkit" (2x magnet, 3x files, wire brush and springy hammer for £7.99) and the trouble I have is that they're too heavy. As soon as they're on a vertical surface they're not strong enough to hold their own weight. Usually they hold just long enough for you to get the helmet on and be about to start the first tack.

 

[eil]

Droopsnoot, your post made me laugh as I can imagine watching you do it But when that kind of thing happens to me !!f***

 

[Wedg1e]

I have three or four Eclipse magnets, one of which is the sliding 2-part adjustable type. Find them quite useful... but then, as I keep telling them at work, I'm not a welder

Tomorrow should be fun; time to lift the door I just welded together up onto its track. The door's 2.2m x 1m x 65mm thick; 65 x 50 angle frame filled with 2 sheets of 18mm ply... and a slab of lead 12mm thick

Estimated weight is 300Kg and it's top-hung on a sliding rail; hell of a way to find out how strong your welds are

 

[Bsmith]

Just 1 job where I favour the magnetic clamp. Holding a blank end in a pipe or box section, so many times before I have tapped the blanks in with a hammer and when almost in place, off they go rattling down the pipe or box, really frustrating. Now I cut them a bit smaller and just set them in while their stuck to the clamp.

 

[Chipper]

Posts in another section reminded me - 'sweeping' the deck to pick up stray wires that fly off wire brushes/knot wheels etc... Got a mutt so need to collect them up.
Hand wire brush whips 'em off into the bin.

 

[Shox Dr]

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

 

[wyn]

I have two and mainly use them for holding drawings to a steel cupboard door.