Magnetic Ground Clamp

admin

hi, just wondering if any of you guys use these ?? Found these BESSEY online . thanks http://www.avimpeg.net/review-tool/5...S%20MORTON.htm
Reply:I have a magnetic ground clamp.  Not sure if mine is the same brand or not.  It's very convienent for attaching to work that a traditional ground clamp won't work on.  My only comment is that it tends to collect debris and on small pieces the magnetic field can cause some arc blow that's annoying.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:i just weld a bolt on and grind  it off later..i dont work on any critical stuff where that would be unacceptable..
Reply:i use one and i like it..   mine has a switch on it that lowers and raises the internal magnet closer to the work piece so its not so much of a bear to pull of when im done....for some reason i cant get it to work right on allum. tho
Reply:I used to lots of fun with the cheap little ones. I had a pair of them. I turn out a little adapter to mount a car radio antenna on them. I would tell the newbies that was the newest thing, a wireless ground. When they tried it and got flustered I would go show them that they put the transmitter antenna on the wrong spot of the welder. While I would show them the correct spot some one else would connect the real ground to the table leg. I would show them that it would weld fine. Of course we'd slip the ground back off when he would give it a try.  The joke worked even better if let them get a few sparks out of the deal before the ground got pulled off.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Yeah, I've used the one that you have in the picture.  Wasn't all that great.  The spring holding the contact to the work is fairly weak and if you are not careful with your ground cable, the contact will not sit flush with work surface and you get arc marks.Problem is - if the spring was any stronger, if would overcome the magnets, and the darn thing would fall right off.I gave it to my apprentice, and now I use a new one from Tweco that the cable is bolted to, is activated by a half turn of a knob, and will also work on pipe and shafts.Have a look for yourself:http://www.ipsbv.nl/nieuws/MagClampsIPS.pdfMUCH BETTER.Later,Jason
Reply:hi, thanks for all the input. Yes, the TWECO looks very impressive and appears it will fit on almost anything. Found out by searching that the 200 amp is about  $22 bucks. Not too bad, will see if my local supplier has them. This is why this site is awesome, you cannot beat experience, thanks