Lessons Learned

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After spending a considerable amount of time using my new HH187, I have learned the following lessons:  (Maybe this will help some beginners like me)1. Ditch the el cheapo stock ground clamp. I replaced mine with this one:Tweco GC-3002. Ground as close as you can to what you are working on.3. Take the time to practice with any leftover scrap if possible (If you are as inexperienced as I am). It is much cheaper to make adjustments on scrap than on product.4. Take the time to dry fit, if possible.5. Surface prep, Surface prep, Surface prep.Hope this helps someone.
Reply:On my HH210 I never even installed the junk factory ground clamp. It was quickly upgraded to a 300 amp Hobart clamp (though I have now extended the ground clamp with some tweeco couplers and have two ground clamps to allow me to move the clamp around when needed for roll cage work). Hobart should have spent the $3 it would have cost them to upgrade that clamp from the factory. The stock clamp is a joke.Congrats on the new toy!KevinHobart Handler 210Tweco Fabricator 181iLincoln Squarewave Tig 175
Reply:The stock clamp looks like it came from a trickle battery charger.
Reply:I use the solid brass clamps from Harbor Freight,  strong spring and good price rated at 400 Ampshttp://www.harborfreight.com/400-amp...amp-66708.htmlTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Often the person with less experience makes the best teacher.  They still remember all the mistakes.
Reply:... and readily admit to their mistakes = No Major Ego Challange!Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanOften the person with less experience makes the best teacher.  They still remember all the mistakes.
Reply:I hear a lot of people scoffing at stock ground clamps, and replace with big, heavy, strong, brass models.Those of you that have replaced the ground clamps; have you had problems when welding that you traced to the ground clamp, and had the problem disappear after replacing the ground clamp?I'm honestly wondering, because *I* have never *noticed* any problem with stock clamps on my machines."Great spirits have always encountered violent oppostion from mediocre minds."  --  Albert Einstein
Reply:i teach a free flux core class in virginia if anyone is interested.....job placement is almost guarenteed
Reply:I changed mine because the clamp that Hobart stole from a $3 pair of jumper cables wouldn't fit onto a section of roll cage tubing (and it was a garbage clamp). I've used several styles on my mig and my tig and they have all worked (even the 500 amp magnetic clamp I use on occasion). However, I don't like the big heavy brass clamps for my mig, I use the standard 3 contact style (a couple of them) like this:http://www.harborfreight.com/300-amp...amp-97897.htmlThough I bought what seem to be slightly better ones (one of mine has a heavy copper strap across the hinge between the two sides, the other one is a hobart and looks about like the one pictured). If you get the style pictured, grind the corner off on the bottom jaw (as shown) because the clamp can twist and hang up on the corner of the lower jaw. If you grind it smooth to match the radius of the lower contact, the problem goes away. My hobart clamp has this issue, the clamp I picked up at my LWS does not.I use this one on my tig (it's what was on my tig when I bought it, so I replaced it with the same model after the first one bowed from stress and heat...not sure why I stayed with that design, but I did and it works fine for my application):http://www.bakersgas.com/NAS138-3001835.htmlYou can see a pic of the cheap clamp Hobart sends in the picture here:http://www.hobartwelders.com/product...ed/handler187/KevinHobart Handler 210Tweco Fabricator 181iLincoln Squarewave Tig 175
Reply:Yeah, that clamp is trash. I bought a new $10 hobart clamp from the same TSC where I got the welder from, and its like using a whole nother machine. The arc just feels different, and its way better. Best few bucks I've spent in a good long while.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009