Welding Switchable Magnetic Ground Clamp-600a

[SeaBass44]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7604258001&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:us

check out the pics

anyone use this new one or an old style?

seems pretty slick:smokin:

like my dial indacator with switchable magnet

[Gouky]

i've tried using the old style ones and they just don't compare to a real clamp.

[Aces'n'8s]

I know a pipefitter/boiler maker who still welds a bar (like the pic) to get an excellent ground. Maybe if those magnets were those Nibidium? magnets (they're really powerful), that clamp would work well? I do like the fact that (according to the pic) it looks like the actual ground cable is touching the weldment.

[rockcrawln]

looks like a cool idea if they could guarantee that that magnet could hold up 5' of ground cable without moving.

[kwrangln]

Magnet or not, you still have to grind down to clean metal, so what are you really saving? I still use a ground clamp, but have a magnet if I need to get the ground close to the weld, just clamp to the post on the magnet. Most of the time, welding on the bench, clamp does just fine. A simple clamp has been serving welders well for 100 years, this isn't the first new fangled gadget to come down the pike, yet 99% of folks still use the good ole clamp. Funny how the simple stuff is so popular. Save your cash.

[comeonstart]

In my lazyness I still use the clamp to scratch through rust/paint to a ground. I think it would be more difficult with that magnet.

[DownNDirty]

I would be really interested to find out why it is so easy to clean. I use a regular magnet clamp for a good bit of sheetmetal work but they always get trashed. It would be cool to find one that was easy to clean. Not sure that easy to clean is worth the price of 5 regular magnets though.

[Tolly]

I have been using one for about a year and love it. Going to put one on the plasma cutter as well.
Sometimes on round material its a pain to get it to hold, but I still recommend.

[SeaBass44]

I would be really interested to find out why it is so easy to clean. I use a regular magnet clamp for a good bit of sheetmetal work but they always get trashed. It would be cool to find one that was easy to clean. Not sure that easy to clean is worth the price of 5 regular magnets though.
pretty sure I know why, du.........it's switchable:laughing:

you turn off the magnet, now it's off, so the metal is not attracted and can be wiped clean:)


I have a dial indacator that is switchable, real slick, put it where you want it, then turn the switch, it is really a lever, it lowers the magnet inside the device to make it closer to the base, thus sticking to the metal

I might try one, going to get a new miller helmet, my $50 special won;t shut off, & it saw little use just sitting, so I'm going to get a miller auto at $136 & a cover since it will sit more then it will be used:D

also need a tool box on wheels/welding cart/bench:smokin:

found a nice one on ebay at $199 free shipping, drawers & a lid on top, I might cover with plain sheetmetal so I can use it as a welding bench without fawkin it up:homer:

[SeaBass44]

Magnet or not, you still have to grind down to clean metal, so what are you really saving? I still use a ground clamp, but have a magnet if I need to get the ground close to the weld, just clamp to the post on the magnet. Most of the time, welding on the bench, clamp does just fine. A simple clamp has been serving welders well for 100 years, this isn't the first new fangled gadget to come down the pike, yet 99% of folks still use the good ole clamp. Funny how the simple stuff is so popular. Save your cash.

gas cutting torches been around 100 years too, yet I bought a plasma also

arc welders been around a long time too, but I prefer a wire welder with gas IE: MIG :p

dang New fangled plasma & MIGs, get the point?:flipoff2:

new does not make it stupid or dumb

if it don't work, that makes it stupid or dumb:laughing:

I see replies that say both, and as far as you still have to grind down to clean metal, so what are you really saving?


that makes no sense, yes you need to get to bare with both, so neither save any time:confused:

I can see allot of spots where have a magnet ground would be very handy:)

[PhantomEB]

Added to favorites, may buy to try later.

[PTSchram]

I've found it to be more reliable to just weld a bolt to whatever I'm welding and break it off when done.

Other than that, this looks like a good idea that might just get me to change my habits.

[85mudblazin]

They had one at my local welding shop today. The magnet is super strong, takes alot of force to pull off. Turn the knob and its off.

They also have a adapter for attatching it to a piece of tube.

It was $60 there, maybe ill pick one up one of these days

[Urban Wheeler]

Get one of these
http://www.ramayes.com/_images/USC/Ground-Strao.gif
for the round stuff, and clamp both ends in the ground clamp.

Or bolt both ends to the magnet and clamp to that.

[Dustball]

I've found it to be more reliable to just weld a bolt to whatever I'm welding and break it off when done.

Other than that, this looks like a good idea that might just get me to change my habits.
Wouldn't you need a ground to weld your "grounding bolt" on?

[PhantomEB]

Wouldn't you need a ground to weld your "grounding bolt" on?

Guess hes using the bolt itself to ground to while welding such bolt to the work piece, well duh I used that exact method tonite when it became too fawked up to use a normal clamp on work to weld!:flipoff2:

[Sillyneck]

I was screwing around w/ a switchable one at barnes welding supply in sac... Seems like a good idea. Nobody had an opinion on it except for a super old guy (customer) that clearly never used one. I think he said something along the lines of "why the hell would ya want any of that Jap sh!t???"

I'm cheap. grounding tabs and interesting ways of clamping things... after all I am a clamper.... not a magnetter?! :D

[DavidVanVorous]

I know a pipefitter/boiler maker who still welds a bar (like the pic) to get an excellent ground. Maybe if those magnets were those Nibidium? magnets (they're really powerful), that clamp would work well? I do like the fact that (according to the pic) it looks like the actual ground cable is touching the weldment.

Niobium (AKA NbFeB) are good but theyre heat sensitive, as in they loose their force if they get too hot (like all magnets actually). Iffen that taint enough after that happens they only rebound to ~50-60% of their rated field strength most times.

The other aspect Ive run into using magnetic doodads close to an arc is that *sometimes* one finds that the arc has decided to get up close and personal with the magnet instead of what I happened to be working on, as in the arc preferentially meanders towards a magnet if its close. TIG is real good for that from what I've run into... ;)

D.

[kwrangln]

Get one of these
http://www.ramayes.com/_images/USC/Ground-Strao.gif
for the round stuff, and clamp both ends in the ground clamp.

Or bolt both ends to the magnet and clamp to that.

Now there's an idea I like. Good tip.

[rockmup]

.

The other aspect Ive run into using magnetic doodads close to an arc is that *sometimes* one finds that the arc has decided to get up close and personal with the magnet instead of what I happened to be working on, as in the arc preferentially meanders towards a magnet if its close. TIG is real good for that from what I've run into... ;)

D.


you are the only other person I've ever heard talk about this. I've had it happen to me too. Using a mig and the welds looked like I had no gas. I'm carefull how close I put them to my weld now

[DavidVanVorous]

you are the only other person I've ever heard talk about this. I've had it happen to me too. Using a mig and the welds looked like I had no gas. I'm carefull how close I put them to my weld now

Theres a tech reason why... plasmas are only controlable with either electrical or magnetic fields, welding is not much more than a minaturised plasma process in many regards so it makes sense that a magnet would be a problem. I see this plasma "bending" daily with the coating processes but I ran into the problem with close proximity magnetics and TIG a long time ago when doing .01 weld cuffs and using a magnet to "fixture". 2 ruined parts and a whole lot of cussin' later I started using a copper fixture to hold thing in the right place...

[JesseA]

Ive used them. they work great. although the copper ground section and the swithcable magent are held togethere with little wire clips that break. screws would be much better.

If you put it on a piece of painted metal, and engage the magnet, and give it a little twist It usually will dig down through the paint.

Small issue with walking on curved surfaces, but not really a big deal. We dont use them at work because they would grow legs and walk off.