Pipe welding question

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So I've always wondered something about pipe welding, hopefully you guys can shed some light on the subject. Where do you put the negative lead? Obviously for a smaller pipe you could just attach it to the outside of the pipe, but if you're welding on 2" pipe or larger what do you do? On some pipe projects you can attach it to the end of the pipe but what do pipe welders do when that's not an option?In the pursuit of better weldsLighttekku
Reply:a grasshopper comes in very handy for that application.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by docweldera grasshopper comes in very handy for that application.
Reply:I've only ever seen a grasshopper on pipeline jobs.
Reply:Jody Collier wraps finely stranded copper wire around it, then clamps to it.
Reply:@Willie B interesting. That would make sense.Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder
Reply:You can put your negative on either side of your joint.    On the first tack, providing your fitting is gapped, naturally the arc is going to want to go one way.    Not so bad w/ stick, but very noticeable when tig.     Anyway, I used to have a piece of rebar shaped like a big fishhook that I hung on the pipe, and clamped to it.    Being most the pipe I do is black pipe w/ a coating on it, it didn't work well.      It would arc when making poor contact, and build up spatter like, and get worse.    So, I keep one of the low end magnetic ground attachments stuck to the headaches rack of the truck.    I stick that on the pipe when needed.    I imagine if I tried the method Jody does, on the pipe I do, that the finely stranded copper would arc in half or become a mess, being the outside of the pipe isn't real clean.
Reply:I usually just tack on a grounding tab on most of the work I do. Then clean it up when I'm done.
Reply:Sounds like you guys have come up with some pretty good ways to get around that problem.Craftsman 90 amp Arc welder