welding clamping recommendations

[BTL-A4]

I'm learning to weld. What clamps would you all recommend for general use?

So far, I've made a handle for a vacuum sled that has mitered corners (three 1" square tubes in a U shape). I have plans to make a wood rack that has mitered corners.

MITER/CORNER CLAMP
So far, I've needed to hold square tubes (I will not use anything larger than 2" square) at 90º. There are a few types, what would be best for welding?

clamp type:
[IMG alt="Name: corner clamp 1.png
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positioning square type:
[IMG alt="Name: corner clamp 2.png
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F-CLAMPS
What sizes? I'm thinking 6" and smaller to hold tubing to the table while I weld it.

BAR CLAMPS
metal (NOT plastic) ones. I have quite a few of these for anything larger than 6".

VISE GRIPS: I'd like something I can use with one hand to clamp items to the table to hold. 3"-4" range?
[IMG alt="Name: clamp 3.png
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I have some BAR and PIPE clamps.

CLAMPING TABLE
I've got a dinky little portable, folding welding table and the garage floor for work surfaces. There are a few homemade metal tables on CL and FB. Are these something I should look into? What about this at Harbor Freight:
[IMG alt="Name: clamp 4 table.jpg
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I'd prefer to buy them as I need them, but would like to look around for sales and used ones.

Thanks!

 

[welder4956]

I recommend getting one of the kits from Fireball Tool if you plan to do much fabrication. This one is a good starting point: https://fireballtool.com/products/square-mantis-pack

 

[GeoBruin]

I have a 5/8" hole "fixturing" table and I love it, but before that, F clamps and vise grips (including the locking "c clamp" style) were my primary clamps. They still are for clamping parts together, rather than clamping them to the table.

 

[tarmy]

Lots of them…in different sizes.

 

[Gutman]

I've found HF's Berger clamps (F style and vice grip style) welding clamps to be more than adequate and not nearly as expensive as Bessey and vice grip brands.

As for size for f clamps, I have 12" and find I use them much more frequently that 6", 8", or 12" c clamps as I find they're easier to one hand. I've found myself using them for framing lumber tasks too.

If you check amazon, you'll find a maxpower brand that looks like the bergers, with more variety in size that were recommended on welding web.

I'm also looking at fireball tools fixture squares in the near term, as I've heard only good (except the price).

 

[GeoBruin]

I've found HF's Berger clamps (F style and vice grip style) welding clamps to be more than adequate and not nearly as expensive as Bessey and vice grip brands.

As for size for f clamps, I have 12" and find I use them much more frequently that 6", 8", or 12" c clamps as I find they're easier to one hand. I've found myself using them for framing lumber tasks too.

If you check amazon, you'll find a maxpower brand that looks like the bergers, with more variety in size that were recommended on welding web.

I'm also looking at fireball tools fixture squares in the near term, as I've heard only good (except the price).

I second the HF berger F clamps. When they go on sale they're a insane deal.

The fireball squares are also really nice. They just announced their black Friday sale BTW.

 

[M.Brane]

If you plan on making lots of square frames i.e . boxes a 3 axis corner jig is the ticket. Mine has been so handy!

 

[BTL-A4]

I recommend getting one of the kits from Fireball Tool if you plan to do much fabrication. This one is a good starting point: https://fireballtool.com/products/square-mantis-pack

That looks pretty good, thanks! The picture shows 4 clamps, but the description says it comes with two.

I have a 5/8" hole "fixturing" table and I love it, but before that, F clamps and vise grips (including the locking "c clamp" style) were my primary clamps. They still are for clamping parts together, rather than clamping them to the table.

So you think I should look at the HF table, then? I have a Craftsman table with holes in it for clamps and I really like it. The clamps can be fussy, but once adjusted, they work well enough. Having used this for wood, seems like a table like it for metal would work well.

I've found HF's Berger clamps (F style and vice grip style) welding clamps to be more than adequate and not nearly as expensive as Bessey and vice grip brands.

As for size for f clamps, I have 12" and find I use them much more frequently that 6", 8", or 12" c clamps as I find they're easier to one hand. I've found myself using them for framing lumber tasks too.

If you check amazon, you'll find a maxpower brand that looks like the bergers, with more variety in size that were recommended on welding web.

I'm also looking at fireball tools fixture squares in the near term, as I've heard only good (except the price).

The HF clamps just seemed really big. They didn't have anything smaller when I went to look. They had one clamsp left! Ha! I thought maybe I'd get some light duty clamps that were smaller and shorter, but after reading your recommendation, I might get the longer size.

I looked an Amazon. Are you referring to the F clamps or the vise grip style?

 

[GeoBruin]

So you think I should look at the HF table, then? I have a Craftsman table with holes in it for clamps and I really like it. The clamps can be fussy, but once adjusted, they work well enough. Having used this for wood, seems like a table like it for metal would work well.

You cannot use the "stronghand" style hole clamps with the Harbor freight table. The table isn't thick enough to securely bind the clamps as they are design to be used. You will deform the table and the clamps will be ineffective.

If you want to use Stronghand style hole clamps, you will need a table designed for them. I have the Arcflat cast iron table from Langmuir, but I know Primeweld now has one out that is similar. And of course there's the Rhino Cart offering from Buildpro and the Dragon Wagon from Fireball, but those are much more expensive options.

If you go with something like the Harbor freight table, you will need to use the clamps that have a nut that threads on the underside to prevent pulling out and deforming the table.

For what it's worth, here's a little video I made about my Langmuir table.

 

[BTL-A4]

I second the HF berger F clamps. When they go on sale they're a insane deal.

The fireball squares are also really nice. They just announced their black Friday sale BTW.

I'll keep a look out then! Thanks!

I didn't see anything on sale on their website. Got any more info?

 

[GeoBruin]

I'll keep a look out then! Thanks!

I didn't see anything on sale on their website. Got any more info?

I think the discounts are already built into the pricing on their site, but here's the breakdown:

 

[BTL-A4]

You cannot use the "stronghand" style hole clamps with the Harbor freight table. The table isn't thick enough to securely bind the clamps as they are design to be used. You will deform the table and the clamps will be ineffective.

If you want to use Stronghand style hole clamps, you will need a table designed for them. I have the Arcflat cast iron table from Langmuir, but I know Primeweld now has one out that is similar. And of course there's the Rhino Cart offering from Buildpro and the Dragon Wagon from Fireball, but those are much more expensive options.

If you go with something like the Harbor freight table, you will need to use the clamps that have a nut that threads on the underside to prevent pulling out and deforming the table.

For what it's worth, here's a little video I made about my Langmuir table.

The HF table comes with a bunch of clamps, so I'd start with those and see how they worked for me.

I like how you went thru the checking process on your table. Thanks for sharing that! Do you think 0.005" is acceptable?

 

[BTL-A4]

If you're referring to the Langmuir tables, I'm not sure about any sales, but if you live in Southern California or are willing to drive to the San Diego area, they sell overweight and underweight tables directly from there Distribution Center at pretty good discounts.

No, I was referring to Fireball.

I live in northern LA county, by Magic Mountain. What is an overweight/underweight table? How much of a discount?

 

[Jswain]

The HF table comes with a bunch of clamps, so I'd start with those and see how they worked for me.

I like how you went thru the checking process on your table. Thanks for sharing that! Do you think 0.005" is acceptable?

That magic of welding things & making them flat & square is practise & experience. When you weld on a say a square tube frame, even if clamped down it will pull, more so if your procedure & fitup is bad. Maybe up to 1/2" or more out of square.

.005" welding is something that most (with the exception of the internet) won't ever measure, welders use measuring tapes, not calipers/micrometers.

I personally would start with a sheet(or half, or quarter if you need a small table) of 3/8" thick steel minimum, preferably 1/2" and build a table. Or buy one prebuilt/used.

Then a few pairs of vice grip 11r, a square etc. Keep it simple. Weld some ****, watch some videos, weld some more. The things you listed in your original post aren't going to make anything magically better.

Welding clamps/tables/fixtures are big for a reason, and even the big ones won't keep everything 100% straight/square unless you know what you're doing.

 

[GeoBruin]

No, I was referring to Fireball.

I live in northern LA county, by Magic Mountain. What is an overweight/underweight table? How much of a discount?

Yes, sorry, I updated my post.

Here's a link to a post by another user who did the research and ultimately picked up one of the tables.

Documenting my experience with the Langmuir ArcFlat Welding Table

I'm a frequent contributor to this site but despite being more of a fabricator than a mechanic, I have historically posted more in general tool discussion thread. With that, I decided to try and contribute something to this thread for once. A while back I obtained a piece of blanchard ground...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Gutman]

I looked an Amazon. Are you referring to the F clamps or the vise grip style?

Actually both, as I look at them.

I'm finding more HF-like stuff on amazon lately, with similar or sometime better pricing than HF. And I've found that if they're not of the quality I'd like when I've actually got them in hand, it's usually pretty easy to return them.

 

[tarbellb]

Slate tables like @tarmy posted are excellent and easy to build

Grid hole tables are all the rage right now, and with the proper build and clamps are amazing



So you really need to decide what direction you are going, grid tables REQUIRE specific clamps, that are expensive

You will always need F clamps and C vise grips tho, and those can also be used on slate style tables, very versatile


Lots of vendors are selling corner jigs, the ones you posted are probably the most primitive , look into Fireball cast and Certiflat sheet style squares

 

[dr_clyde]

I own a welding and machine shop, and currently manage the welding department of a large sheet metal and general fabrication shop.

You can do 95% of clamping tasks in a general fab shop with 4 different types of clamps.

By far the most used clamp in my arsenal is the “F style” or sliding bar clamp. Bessey and StrongHand make really nice ones. My most common used ones are the little 4” ones made by Bessey and the medium duty 4 in 1 StrongHand. The 4 in 1 is a really handy feature to either flip the handle around and make a spreader or add the vee pad to the end to grab round stock. I have an assortment of sizes and throat depths. I would advise getting them in multiples of 4 so you can clamp 4 corners of a frame. This style of clamp can also slip through a hole in a table top and clamp in hard to reach places.

The C-clamp style of vise grip is used daily. I prefer the ones with swivel pads, but occasionally you need the ones without. I have the 6SP and 11SP sizes as the most common but the *********** ones are handy. Standard vise grips are also a good tool to have, but I don’t consider them welding specific tools.

I use standard c-clamps occasionally, primarily when I need the most clamping force or the shape is needed, but Kant-twist cantilever clamps have by and large replaced C-clamps for me. I LOVE Kant-twist clamps for the small, tight quarters jobs where you can’t have a big screw or handle hanging in the way.

The last clamp we use often is the “build your own” style of bar clamp. This is most commonly seen as a pipe clamp where you buy a length of pipe and the clamp ends thread on. These work ok, but better versions exist. If you go with pipe clamps, get 3/4 sch. 80 pipe. It’s much stiffer and won’t deflect as much. The best versions of these however are made by Fireball tool. They have a clamp that slips over 1” x 2” stock. Either tube or solid and they are very well made.

As far as corner clamps, StrongHand makes a very nice 90 degree corner jig that I use frequently. Fireball tool’s offerings are also great for their various cast iron and aluminum corner clamp blocks.

 

[no704]

Which came first? The table or the clamps?
Really depends on what you’re doing.
Building a trailer frame? Building a housing for a clock?

 

[terrific]

Piher Maxipress are really awesome F-clamps.
I recently went looking for more and was devastated to find that Zoro no longer sells them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I modified some F-clamps for my welding table. A little cutting and welding yielded 2 clamps from each one.

A little better explanation in the video, if you don't mind a little shameless plug.

 

[BTL-A4]

I've found HF's Berger clamps (F style and vice grip style) welding clamps to be more than adequate and not nearly as expensive as Bessey and vice grip brands.

As for size for f clamps, I have 12" and find I use them much more frequently that 6", 8", or 12" c clamps as I find they're easier to one hand. I've found myself using them for framing lumber tasks too.

If you check amazon, you'll find a maxpower brand that looks like the bergers, with more variety in size that were recommended on welding web.

I'm also looking at fireball tools fixture squares in the near term, as I've heard only good (except the price).

Actually both, as I look at them.

I'm finding more HF-like stuff on amazon lately, with similar or sometime better pricing than HF. And I've found that if they're not of the quality I'd like when I've actually got them in hand, it's usually pretty easy to return them.

I own a welding and machine shop, and currently manage the welding department of a large sheet metal and general fabrication shop.

You can do 95% of clamping tasks in a general fab shop with 4 different types of clamps.

By far the most used clamp in my arsenal is the “F style” or sliding bar clamp. Bessey and StrongHand make really nice ones. My most common used ones are the little 4” ones made by Bessey and the medium duty 4 in 1 StrongHand. The 4 in 1 is a really handy feature to either flip the handle around and make a spreader or add the vee pad to the end to grab round stock. I have an assortment of sizes and throat depths. I would advise getting them in multiples of 4 so you can clamp 4 corners of a frame. This style of clamp can also slip through a hole in a table top and clamp in hard to reach places.

The C-clamp style of vise grip is used daily. I prefer the ones with swivel pads, but occasionally you need the ones without. I have the 6SP and 11SP sizes as the most common but the *********** ones are handy. Standard vise grips are also a good tool to have, but I don’t consider them welding specific tools.

I use standard c-clamps occasionally, primarily when I need the most clamping force or the shape is needed, but Kant-twist cantilever clamps have by and large replaced C-clamps for me. I LOVE Kant-twist clamps for the small, tight quarters jobs where you can’t have a big screw or handle hanging in the way.

The last clamp we use often is the “build your own” style of bar clamp. This is most commonly seen as a pipe clamp where you buy a length of pipe and the clamp ends thread on. These work ok, but better versions exist. If you go with pipe clamps, get 3/4 sch. 80 pipe. It’s much stiffer and won’t deflect as much. The best versions of these however are made by Fireball tool. They have a clamp that slips over 1” x 2” stock. Either tube or solid and they are very well made.

@Gutman Amazon has tons of "word salad name" companies that make clamps. They all look the same. The Maxpower ones looked just like the cheaper ones. How do I tell which ones are any good? The reviews are all over the place, so that was no help. I'd like to get a set of four 12" ones, based on what you told me.

I have a Mantis kit in my cart at Fireball tool. I couldn't find any other place that sells the corner jig like theirs. Using the c-clamp vise grips fits with my work style better, so I may go with that.

@dr_clyde thanks for the info, much appreciated! I got a quote from Stronghand tools for some smaller 4 in 1's. I might add 2 more so I have 4 total.

As far as corner clamps, StrongHand makes a very nice 90 degree corner jig that I use frequently. Fireball tool’s offerings are also great for their various cast iron and aluminum corner clamp blocks.

I couldn't find anything like the Fireball one anywhere else. I like the tabs they have as well.

 

[terrific]

The C-clamp style of vise grip is used daily.

Why do you prefer the vise grips over the kant twists? Speed for repositioning?

 

[BTL-A4]

Which came first? The table or the clamps?
Really depends on what you’re doing.
Building a trailer frame? Building a housing for a clock?

In my case, it was the table. I used some metal c-clamps I had. I just started learning to weld, but I know there are tools and methods that will make it easier. As I worked on my little first project, I found myself wondering if there was an easier way to do everything. So, here I am!

 

[dr_clyde]

Why do you prefer the vise grips over the kant twists? Speed for repositioning?

Depends almost entirely on use.

The Kant twist are smaller and have grooved jaws which is handy occasionally. The vise grips are faster and have a different throat configuration.

They are very different clamps that excel in different situations.

 

[Gutman]

Roger the word salad on brand names for the zon.

The Maxpower ones were based on a recommendation I saw from a heavy duty weldor on welding web.

They look identical to the berger ones in size and measurement, except the name on the clamp. I've acquired 8 of the bergers at this point, usually when they've been on sale for ~$18-$20 at HF.

I just ordered a pair of the larger maxpower 15" clamps to compare, but won't have them till Wednesday. They're a little beefier dimensionally than the 12", and a little wider too.

A plus for the berger though is lifetime warranty.