Why didn't I think of this earlyer...

[200T]

Hi!

I do a lot of work on cars, and sometimes it's difficult to get a good earth connection. I usually weld a tab next to the area I'm welding to attach the earth clamp. But quite often I find some smal gaps between tacks after grinding and have allready ground away the tab... One hand for the welder, one for the shield - who's presing the earth on the panel!? So I tried this and it worked very well

Oh, and please ignore the actuall welds, the welder at work has some serious problems with the wire feed... Also I'm wearing see-through gloves, I promise!

Cheers!

 

[malcolm]

That's an awfully bad idea. The earth clamp needs to be on the work not on the shroud. It might work a bit if the shroud is touching the work all the time, but you'll have a bad electrical connection and all the symptoms of bad earth and poor wire feed. Won't do your welding any good.

 

[inchpincher]

Getting a proper helmet will free up a hand and make things Ten times easier. I can't see why in your picture you can attach the earth clamp to the new metal (via an old set of mole grips if need be)...

 

[Seano]

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh er no no no, not ever....who taught this laddie

 

[Spark plug]

If you get a brake down in the insulation in the shroud your gonna get a dead short across the transformer which could cause serious damage

 

[pedrobedro]

I don't see how this can work if your shroud is fitted properly as it should be insulated from the rest of the process.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Not a good idea, only way I can see it half working is if you are using a cut-away spot welding nozzle that is designed to be pressed onto the work.

 

[rkde]

Cars are dead easy to get an earth on, try connecting the clamp to an earth point or the exhaust our even the battery negative terminal with the battery disconnected. Sub frames in a lot of cases are good. There are so many good points to clamp on to all round the car there is little point risking a poor weld through this idea. As said the only way I could see this working well is with a spot weld attachment...

 

[zx9]

Oh, and please ignore the actuall welds, the welder at work has some serious problems with the wire feed

And you use it for work on customers vehicles remind me never to get any bodywork done in Location 'D' where ever that is

 

[Shedendman]

Why dont you just get a magnetic earth clamp?

 

[brightspark]

good earth

its a poor doo if u cant get a decent earth of a car body has no one ever sugested scrape some rust off or a bit of paint and clamp on to clean metal

 

[gordon stephenson]

Even with a magnetic earth clamp you need good bare metal, the magnet only holds the copper contact in close contact with the job

 

[wheresmejumper]

And you use it for work on customers vehicles remind me never to get any bodywork done in Location 'D' where ever that is

Dallas






















....cowboys

 

[the snooper]

what can you say to that ?

 

[SiPMerlin150]

The door lock striker bar in the door shuts are good grounding points, clamp your work return to one of these closest to the area to be welded. Should have no problem then!

 

[cecotto479]

I think you've all been had.

 

[Wozzaaah]

As Malcolm has said, the only possible way that could work is if you have the shroud pressed against the workpiece.
If you have the correct stickout and the shroud is not touching then the wire would simply touch the panel but not arc.

Very bad technique or a windup.

 

[backpurge]

Good one, think you had everyone going there

 

[MarkMG]

I use the metal toe-cap on my boots as a earth return clamp location point, so long as I'm touching the car it all seems okay!!

Works best outside on wet and windy days for some reason?

 

[200T]

Lol - good I knew the outcome of this