??s on Welding Ground Clamps

[RivennHewn]

I noticed my ground clamp is starting to wear at the attachment to the wire, so I did a search on Ebay and a few other sites.

Seems there are about 50 different variations, and price ranges up to more than I paid for my welder.

Other than amperage rating, is it just personal preference?

Are there specific types for specific task?

What is your choice for convenience and durability?

Thanks

 

[smiffy]

Locking pliers with a bolt welded to them for the ground cable to attach to nothing beats it

 

[MJD1]

I prefer the 300 amp tweco that is solid brass and has the long coil spring by the handle. When you install a new clamp slide a short piece of copper tubing on the stripped are where the setscrew tightens down. This will make better contact and help keep the wire strands from breaking.

 

[sberry]

My load is low, most any in decent shape work but I like electrical lugs and you may need to fix bond straps around springs. The one on my Maxstar simply come unclamped.
I am just about to replace a good 300 with a lug I scored and add it back to a lead. I never move the machine, I can bolt the connection and put the clamp in service3 elsewhere.

 

[txvwnut]

I prefer the 300 amp tweco that is solid brass and has the long coil spring by the handle. When you install a new clamp slide a short piece of copper tubing on the stripped are where the setscrew tightens down. This will make better contact and help keep the wire strands from breaking.

What he said, I switched to this style of clamp a couple of years ago and it has been a great improvement.

 

[gungatim]

Tweco or Jackson solid brass...replaced all my machines with them. the clamps on homeowner machines that they come with ****...

 

[Cope]

What he said, I switched to this style of clamp a couple of years ago and it has been a great improvement.

I have been using the Tweco in 200 and 300 amp since 1970. There is no reason to use anything else. Some of the new OEM ground clamps do a good job, but if you need to replace, it's Tweco.

 

[RivennHewn]

Anybody try the Magswitch type?

 

[dr_clyde]

I really like the tweco clamp that has a copper strip connecting the two jaws. The spring is stronger than the solid brass ones and won't lose force over the years as bad.

 

[Zrexxer]

I really like the tweco clamp that has a copper strip connecting the two jaws. The spring is stronger than the solid brass ones and won't lose force over the years as bad.

Those are the ones I use. Plus, the jaws open a little bit wider.

 

[Ign]

I prefer the 300 amp tweco that is solid brass and has the long coil spring by the handle. When you install a new clamp slide a short piece of copper tubing on the stripped are where the setscrew tightens down. This will make better contact and help keep the wire strands from breaking.

This is what I did when I noticed my cheap clamp getting very warm after use.

The only thing is that the spring is really strong and proved too much for my wife so I swapped in a weaker spring. It ***** for vertical use on the bottom of the work (wants to slip off) but it's rarely something I can't accommodate - plus it makes the wife happy.

edit: my friend's Eastwood 135 MIG came with the copper-strand-connecting style. Kinda cool.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I noticed a marked difference in the quality of the welds when I changed the ground clamp from the stock lightweight thing Hobart provided to the heavy Tweco 300A model. Yes, they aren't the cheapest, but neither is my time when it comes to producing a good weld and this is one area where you can afford a little luxury and instantly realize and enjoy the benefits.

 

[Engine]

This is a very good clamp, with a real strong spring:
400 Amp Welding Ground Clamp

You can get it at Harbor Freight for about $15 or the same Hobart branded one from Amazon for around $19.

They are an old-fashioned type, but they work as good as any of the rest for most uses.

 

[tarbellb]

Anybody try the Magswitch type?

I have a good classic spring clamp that I have been wanting to exchange for the Magswitch.

Why... I often need to clamp 2"+ or round tube and the spring clamps proves to be a issue sometimes.
Magnets* seems a like a great compromise and a possible way to hold a piece, even if just temporarily.

(* I have a unhealthy obsession with rare earth magnets, take this for whats its worth)

 

[tarbellb]

Anybody try the Magswitch type?

I have a good classic spring clamp that I have been wanting to exchange for the Magswitch.

Why... I often need to clamp 2"+ or round tube and the spring clamps proves to be a issue sometimes.
Magnets* seems a like a great compromise and a possible way to hold a piece, even if just temporarily.

(* I have a unhealthy obsession with rare earth magnets, take this for whats its worth)

 

[AndyA]

I have one of the Tweco 200 amp ones. It's been in use since the mid 1980's. Still works fine.

This one fastens to the cable with the bolt and crimp on 'ring'. Every few years you may need to remove the cable, cut off a few inches, and reinstall it. This will fix the strands that get broken from flexing too much.

 

[MJD1]

For some reason MIG is the most finicky for having a good ground. On round stock one of the best grounds is hooking a lug to one of the vise-grip chain pipe wrench clamps. I have yet to see a magnetic ground which really holds up, since heat destroys magnets.