Useful Welding Clamps

[JayL]

I'm trying to build up a reasonably sized clamp arsenal for some DIY metal working. Would be using these on square tubes, pipes and sheets. Probably build a welding table and cart as first projects.

These are the welding clamps I currently have.

Vise Grip 11R ( 2 pcs )
Vise Grip 18R ( 1 pc )
Vise Grip 18SP ( 1 pc)
Vise Grip 12LC ( 1 pc )
Vise Grip 9R ( 1 pc )
Vise Grip 8R ( 1 pc )
Vise Grip 310R ( 1 pc )
Vise Grip 310S ( 1 pc )
Vise Grip 318S ( 1 pc )

and a couple of different sized c-clamps

Any suggestions on other useful ones to acquire ? Something that will make fabrication easier for a garage shop setup.

Thanks

 

[t100]

depends on your budget. C-clamps are not precision instrument, not for structure strength. basically you are gonna use them to hold pieces together so you can tack weld, then let go.

buy as many as you can because you will never know how many and how big/small you are gonna need. I have the cheap ones also good ones, they work the same for my home garage use.

don't waste big money on them.

 

[Ed_EOD]

What about the magnetic clamps? I am interested in welding clamps also.

 

[Zrexxer]

What about the magnetic clamps? I am interested in welding clamps also.

Waste of money for most applications, IMO. They don't hold that strong, the magnetic field can cause arc blow in a DC arc, and they usually end up looking like a pet hedgehog after they've picked up five pounds of grinding swarf.

Re: the OP's question - add at least another half dozen of those 11R's. I personally like the swivel pad ones. If you're working with structural shapes - as opposed to sheet metal - they're the most valuable welding clamp you'll find.

 

[MXtras]

I like the Bessey or Bessey copies - quick acting bar clamps. They are fast, adjustable and powerful.

I use the bar clamps the most, swivel pad vise grips are a close second. I find having a few 6", 8" and 10" c-clamps handy for straightening, but I don't often use them during welding - unless I have run out of the bar clamps and vise grips.

Scott

 

[tube_guy]

Heavy duty corner clamps. They hold what you're welding flat and square. The really good hefty ones are quite expensive. With some imagination, and time, you can fab up your own. The corner clamps I've made for myself have already saved me more time than I spent making them.

For me, the most versatile clamps are the really hefty forged steel *********** C-clamps. Nothing fancy like the faster no-turn movements. Just a simple forged steel C clamp. Sizes from 4 to 12 inches are useful and they apply upwards of 5000 pounds of force when needed to stop movement of the metal during solidification and cool down.

Long pipe or bar clamps also come in quite handy when clamping large items where a *********** is not required.

 

[back2class]

I am a bug fan of the magnetic clamps. But only if you dont drop them in piles of metal chips...lol. Another favorite is the adjustable jourgenson clamps often used in woodworking. I have a few 3 footers and use them pretty often. I seldom use C-clamps though I seem to be flypaper for them as of late.

 

[eborcim]

Grinding swarf....never heard that one before.

Jack Olsen has a pretty good DIY welding clamp setup to look at.

 

[GN4WHLN]

If you are building a welding table, you might consider drilling and tapping it in a 4 or 6" grid pattern and use bolts and fixed clamps to hold your work down? When i get around to redoing mine this is the approach I want to take. Also, go thick on the table top.

I use magnets for tack up purposes and use C and Vise grip clamps as appropriate. Keep the threaded side of the clamp away from the welding area to keep from ruining them. I noticed you mentioned welding on Sq tube, pipe, and sheet. Clamping the entire work to the table and stitching your welds can keep you from ending up with a warped part.

 

[Monte]

Bessey grip pliers with adjustable jaw

 

[Griff93]

I seem to use my 9" swivel pad vise grips on a regular basis. Tubing clamps can be useful if you are building things out of round stuff.

 

[JayL]

Thanks for the replies. Taking notes for now.

These are the Petersen VG w/ adjustable throat. I found a few more NOS. Do you think I can use more of these?

These Unior Welding clamps are also available at around 34 USD each.

http://www.uniortools.com/product/welders-lock-grip-pliers-432-d

http://www.uniortools.com/product/welders-lock-grip-pliers-432-v

 

[StupidHippie]

All of the clamps mentioned so far are great...but I gotta add Cleco clamps to the list for tight spots and detail welding...

They have something like 70 pounds pressure and are dirt cheap...two bucks each and another four for the pliers. I have thirty or so in my welding kit and wish I had more.

I use these wee clamps -every- day.

Rob

 

[bushhawg73]

I have been looking at the Kant Twist line for welding clamps. They look nice but I am not sure how well they would work or hold up as I have never used them.

http://www.clampmfg.com/

 

[tigmusky]

One can never have enuff vise grips and Bessey

Daye

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Another fan of the magnets. Mid and large size. I'm on a budget, and I often use the plastic HF grip clamps and tack away from them so the heat doesn't melt them. I remove them before anything gets too hot. Can't ever have too many clamps, no matter the style.

 

[Brad54]

I agree--you can't have too many clamps. I've got a lot of vise grips in different sizes, regular pliers-style, and welding clamps with swivel pads and rounded tips. I've also got a bunch of the cheap Chinese knock-offs, and they ****. They're okay if you don't have anything else, but every time you use them, you really want something else.

I've also got a lot of C-clamp in all different sizes, from a couple 2-inchers all the way up to a huge 12-inch clamp. I pick these up at swap meets, garage sales, and Craftsman had a 2-for-1 sale a couple years ago.

I've also got a couple of "pony" brand pipe clamps, and three different lengths of pipe: 3 foot, 5 foot and 8 foot. It's rare that you use these, but when you need them, nothing else will work. Plus, you can revers the clamps on the pipe and use them to spread things or hold something up off the ground (like a shelf I hung in my dad's basement).

Self-tapping screws also work well for holding sheetmetal together. Just weld the holes up when finished.

-Brad

 

[Kent Skinner]

I have been looking at the Kant Twist line for welding clamps. They look nice but I am not sure how well they would work or hold up as I have never used them.

http://www.clampmfg.com/

They are great, and expensive.

 

[msnow]

Bessey and Kant twist. We use besseys all the time for our installation work and they have not failed us yet.

 

[JayL]

Here are the rest of the VG clamps. Some Petersens and older Irwins. I try to shy away from the PRC Irwins specially the 11Rs as these *****. The secure adjustment bar just won't stay in place and tends to get out of it's rail when the tool is unlocked.

We also have some Pony Pipe clamps and several 6, 12, 18 & 24 incher Pony and Jet F-clamps in the wood shop so I can just wing these when needed.

How about these. The prices are a bit stiff but is it worth it?

http://www.stronghandtools.com/products/vises.html

 

[JayL]

I'm considering to get some of these Unior Welding clamps. Any thoughts on the design and practicality of usage.

Flat and Angle bars

http://www.uniortools.com/product/welders-lock-grip-pliers-432-d

Round Stock

http://www.uniortools.com/product/welders-lock-grip-pliers-432-v

Thanks

 

[garfunkle24]

Bessey clamps FTW

 

[speed bump]

I use the heck out of my vice grips. Lately I have been buying the cheapies from Cummins tools to keep from scuzzing up my Irwins so much. If you pick the ones from Cummins they are pretty reasonable and you don't feel bad messing up a $2 pair of VGs versus a $10 pair.

I also have some C-clamps, pipe clamps, Bessey bar clamps, and a magnet for just in case.

 

[JayL]

 

[JayL]

I purchased a few more 11R and 6R Vise grips. I'm now thinking to add several magnetic angle clamps but am at a loss as to which ones and sizes to get. Planning on around 4 pieces.

Please advise.

Thanks

 

[Monte]

I have several different styles and sizes. It depends on what you are welding to determine the size/style.

The small ones on top are rebadged "MOB/Peddinghaus" but originally come from "Strong Hand Tools" (click and click). The blue ones are from CFH, the red ones are from Eclipse and the last ones from Bessey. The Bessey magnets OEM is Serpent-Dove from Australia. Available in America also as "SAV" for example from Grainger.

 

[JayL]

The Besseys' I can get from amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006694SC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

How about the blue arrow ones. Are these very useful?

Thanks a lot for the info.

 

[Monte]

The blue ones are good for welding metal with 45 degree. Amazon has them in red.
ps: Bessey has a distributor in the Philipines:

http://www.toolsfromus.com/bessey.htm

 

[JayL]

You are right about www.toolsfromus.com. They are the local Bessey dealer. I have seen their showrooms in passing but have not visited yet. I find that I can buy tools from the US online market cheaper than I can get these locally. Shipped as personal effects ( on an appropriate quantity per run ) I don't have to pay import taxes and VAT too.

 

[JayL]

Found some NOS Crescent 11C grip pliers from a small tool store. I purchased one and looks like its a good US made tool. Guy still has 2 or 3 more left. He wants $16 a pop. Am I better off with these instead of NOS Petersen 11Rs that are still available here and roughly priced the same?

 

[Monte]

The Crescent has a better "Euro-style" release lever imho.
What do you prefer ?

 

[JayL]

If these are as durable as the Petersen 11Rs then I prefer the Crescent's release lever a lot more.

 

[lilredex]

If you do exhaust tubing work, make up some of these........

 

[JayL]

If you do exhaust tubing work, make up some of these........

Thanks for sharing the idea.

 

[Monte]

If you do exhaust tubing work, make up some of these........

nice idea, also for a roll cage etc.

ps: i would buy the Crescent pliers

 

[atari]

No love for the 16in C-clamps? I would say you need at least one 16 if not 2. nothing ***** worse than getting in a hurry and not tacking the parts all the way around and welding one side only to realize the darn thing pulled. Thats when you have to break out the power and size of the 16. I dont really use a lot of clamps in my day to day. I tack one side and then "adjust" the part into place with a dead blow. Its alot faster that way and the parts I work with are all CNC cut so they fit pretty well most of the time. When Im fabbing tube I use magnets mostly but only to hold the tube to sorta 90 then make fine adjustments with the deadblow before tacking the other side and finish welding. I dont really do enough of that to justify the cost of a set of corner clamps and the magnets work well for me.

 

[Vinko]

In addition to the vise-grips and Bessey's that I've used, I recently bought 3 diff. pairs of the Blue Point-branded Grip-On C-Clamp pliers with swivel ends. They're great. Also they make them with aluminum jaws as well. For a lot of work, that goes by quickly, I prefer the GripOns to the Vise Grips.

 

[JayL]

I just purchased this Grip On below to try their welding pliers.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015S6CDA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Is there a benefit on using Aluminum alloy jaws?

Am planning to order some Bessey welding magnets too. Which size is the most useful ( 3, 4 or 5 " ). I will get a pair only to see first if these would come in handy when available to grab and use instead of other clamps.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006694SM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks a lot.

 

[IndyGarage]

How about these. The prices are a bit stiff but is it worth it?

http://www.stronghandtools.com/products/vises.html

I have a bunch of strong hand tools and I like every one of them. They are very well built.

I have several pairs of their vice grips, which are pretty good, including the Pipe vise grips. I have several of the bar clamp style.

What I really like about theirs is the interchangeable pads they have - you can put a magnetic mount or an extension on either the grips or the bar clamps. The only thing I've found that is kind of annoying is the spring bar clamps - the springs are a little tight for me.

I also have a couple of their shark clamps - which are good for certain situations. They have a set of "spreader" vice grips - which I've used rarely, but saved me both times I needed them.

My favorite tool of theirs is the Nomad folding welding table - about the size of a workmate, but has many features that make it great for welding. Check it out.

http://www.stronghandtools.com/pdf/welding_table_2007.pdf

I'm going to try their 3-way corner clamp and a few of their magnet clamps next.

 

[JayL]

Are the switchable welding magnets better? Any cons?