"Three-legged finger"

[clevinski]

I am reading "The Welder's Handbook" by Richard Finch, and in the chapter on "Fitting and Jigging", he writes:

"The most frequently used jig in my welding ship is a simple three-legged finger. The metal finger takes the place of your finger so you won't get burned while holding a part in place during welding."

I generally use Vice-Grip-type clamps for this purpose, but they are a problem if I'm more than 3-4 inches from the edge of my welding table. Does anyone know what a "three-legged finger" is??? Maybe it will be useful when too far from the table edge.

 

[Richiew]

Theres a diagram of one on page 60.


It's also project 2 on page 148.

 

[clevinski]

Ah, found it... many thanks, Richiew. I guess it is just the weight of the finger that applies the holding force, right?

BTW, do you use one?

 

[Richiew]

It's the sort of thing I'd knock off the workpiece with my welding rod, mig gun or elbow before I have even struck an arc. I am happy enough using clamps.

I am a very inexperienced hobby welder though so my opinion counts for little.

 

[clevinski]

So am I, so I have the same concerns.

I might try it, though, and add some weight to the rod to make it harder to move accidentally. 1/2 inch steel rod, though, in that length would be pretty heavy! Not to mention a bit expensive...

 

[migmag]

I find magnets are very helpful.

 

[Richiew]

For anyone else who hasn't got the book to hand, this dodgy knock up in MS paint is roughly what we are talking about.

I will be sticking to magnetic clamps, vices, welding clamps, bricks/whatever I have to hand. The finger looks too light to keep anything that I am welding in place. (Due to my Ham fistedness) I am sure Mr Finch experiences much better results though.

 

[andypocock]

My Gran used to have one of those for picking up things she'd dropped.

Andy

 

[clevinski]

Hmmm... I think andypocock has humiliated me into NOT making one...

 

[hotrodder]

You can make 'em more substantial/useful by incorporating a chunk of barstock...

 

[clevinski]

hotrodder,

Exactly what I mentioned above... using 1/2 inch / 12 mm bar stock to make the heavier versions seems like a waste of good steel when you can add some bar stock to increase the weight...

 

[hotrodder]

These things are most useful for small, fidley stuff so they don't need to be super heavy. Just want the weight concentrated in the right place

 

[fingers99]

They're simpler variations, methinks, of the woodworker's holdfast or one man variations of the "come over here and hold this screwdriver there while I tack this -- now, look away and close your eyes" thing.

No reason why you couldn't make a holdfast with 3 foot arms so it could fit from the edge of a table.

 

[Sparkey]

"come over here and hold this screwdriver there while I tack this -- now, look away and close your eyes"

Haha! yeah! That's exactly how it goes, fingers! i reckognized that soo much!
And offcourse you always end up burning the other guy's hands!
It's always easier if the guy who's holding the part is a welder too....other people always pull away once you get the arc going!AAAAARGH!!bugger!!! you moved it!!!!

Clamps work just fine for me, or i hold it down with my left hand...(i'm right-handed) if it's just a tack my hand is steady enough to do that...

Reminds me when i was an apprentice at a blacksmith...he had a welder with a small default... every time you had to hold a part down to be tacked you got a small shock... guess he was trying me out the first time he did it! lol
Imagine the look on his face when i didn't jump up like he expected!

 

[clevinski]

Sparkey, how'd you get a shock? You didn't wear gloves when holding the part down?

 

[Sparkey]

Sparkey, how'd you get a shock? You didn't wear gloves when holding the part down?

Do you think gloves will protect you from getting a shock?
dunno?? maybe bad earthing?

 

[Drains]

Do you think gloves will protect you from getting a shock?

If they're dry - yes!

The same goes for your hands too. When dry, skin doesn't conduct well, but if you get a jolt with wet hands you REALLY feel it!

 

[clevinski]

What simondrains said...

 

[Sparkey]

The reason why it took me some time replying is: i really coulden't remember if i had any gloves on????
But they surely were not dry, if i had them on!
It's not easy to keep them dry i guess....transpiration, oil...etc