Anyone here make their own "3rd hand"

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I need a 3rd hand or something so my pieces don't move around as I try to weld them. Has anyone made their own that works really well? I have a lot of flat and some round stock laying around, but no way to bend any round stock. Ideas? Pics?Thoughts?Discuss.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I made an arm to hold my SS pipe as I weld & I needed something that would allow me to position it any way I like, but still be able to hold it securely enough to not move & be strong enough that I could even lean on it a bit with my tig torch hand & still be stable... since then I have used this arm to hold many other things to weld. the head of this arm is a vice grip so it can grab most anything... I also set it up to seal the pipe as it's grabbed with the vice grip so it integrates my purge too...honestly I think it worked out great & is a very useful tool for me...I started out with this: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...tions/MA100MB/and modified some of the bolts to be easier to adjust tension... it uses brass washers & machined faces to the washers so it has good retention while still allowing adjust ability, the arm & pivots are cast & very strong. I don't have to loosen & tighten the pivot points for each re positioning but sometimes it loosens up a bit so it's now easy to adjust the resistance...here's a few shots of it in action... the pics may be a little large so I'll include them in the next post to not cut my text miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:don't have any great shots of it but here's an idea of what it's like...fully articulating... it's usually mounted to my welding bench but was a little too high for what I was doing...this is what it looks likemiller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:few more I found of it in actionmiller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:off topic but that garage looks like mine
Reply:also, one other thing... to not have to pass current through the pivots & risk either poor ground or maybe arcing or otherwise hurting the pivots, I ran a battery cable from the head to my ground lead so the vice grip itself is grounded & the current doesn't have to pass through the arm at all...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:How much did that setup cost? So it's just the arm with the vice grips welded to it?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:the vice grip isn't welded to it, I welded a big washer to the vice grip as a bolt on tab & it's bolted along with my ground cable, also bolted... so I can change the clamping "head" if I ever need to... only other mods are replacing a few of the allen head recessed adjustment bolts with something for more leverage so I can adjust tention by hand instead of constantly using an allen key... the one main first pivot I used an extended nut with a soild bar as a tee handle for leverage to torque it down...I got the arm from staples a few years ago, don't remember exactly how much but I see them on the net now in the $70 range as the low end... think staples is now getting ~$99 for it...if you like I'll try to get you some more close up pics of just the arm & the adjustments for you...and yeah, my garage is a big mess Last edited by turbocad6; 10-14-2011 at 05:45 PM.miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:that work area looks a whole lot neater than mine. but i'm older and have had a lot more time to accumulate good stuff.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:I don't see a bench in that pic what am I missing?(LOL)
Reply:Just something simple, I took some 1/2" round steel I had and heated it up and bent it with a hammer, cut it and welded it to a piece of square stock. Then at the bottom took another piece of square stock and drilled a 1/2" hole and welded it up. It will work no problem for holding down flat stock. Pic to come shortly. It's not pretty put it will work.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:One thing I didn't see is a restraint on that argon bottle.  Seriously, not to be an a-hole, but how do you get anything done in an area like that?  I've had stuff scattered all over God's Little Acre and half of France but I think you took part of Germany too!"The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Just about like Gamble's, only has two legs so it won't rock and is sharpened to a point. http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.co....php?f=9&t=728"The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bob the WelderJust about like Gamble's, only has two legs so it won't rock and is sharpened to a point. http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.co....php?f=9&t=728
Reply:A smaller version of turbocad's clamp.Basically a couple of Horrible Fright magnetic dial indicator holders and a couple of small spring clamps from the same source.  About $12 in each and handy as a shirt pocket for small stuff.RogerOld, Tired, and GRUMPYSalesman will call, Batteries not included, Assembly is required, and FREE ADVICE IS WORTH EXACTLY WHAT YOU PAY FOR IT!Dial Arc 250HFThunderbolt 225 AC/DCAssorted A/O torches