You cannot weld anything without welding clamps. It is a must-have tool that helps to hold metal or plates in the correct position. Welders will face many difficulties if they do not have welding claps. Sometimes after welding, metal turns out so hot which you cannot hold with your hand.
And that’s when the clamp is needed. The metal won’t move when the arc is running on it, so clamps make any welding easy.
If you are a DIY lover, surely you will want to make your clamps in your home or any working space. Making clamps will help your hand more comfortably that in the future.
You can make any project better. But you need to learn some basic knowledge about welding clamps because owning welding clamps is not the end of the job. You should get the right welding clamps for your project. For a more significant and smaller project, braces are different.
What Are Welding Clamps
Welding clamps are made with metal. They are shaped like leg holders, which designed to keep two pieces of metal or objects together tightly without them being welded. The closeness between the two metal objects helps the welder to weld them in a precise way. Sometimes it holds any metal shit to the welding table so that you can cut them accurately.
Sometimes working with metal shit for welding becomes tough if you do not keep them tightly together for a long time. Sometimes they tend to move around if you do not bind them tightly. That makes the whole welding operation ruined. Here the clamps will wrap them tightly and make your welding hassle-free.
Types of Welding Clamp
There are many types of welding clamp you will get in an online or market place. Their sizes and shapes are different for different work. Some common types of clams are given below,
1. Bench Clamps
2. Bar Clamps
3. C Clamps
4. Beam Clamps
5. Divide Long Series Clamps
6. Edge Clamps
7. Hose Clamps
8. F Clamps
9. Parallel Clamps
10. Web Clamps etc.
How to Make Welding Clamps: Process of Making F Clamps
If you want to make welding clamps at home, do not get confused. It is straightforward to do if you follow some steps correctly so that you do not need to buy clamps from the market. Do not miss the chance to save your money. Here I will tell you how you can make your F clamps quickly.
Things You Will Need
· 4 pieces of tubes. 2 are significant, and other 2 are small in size
· A ruler
· Two F clamps for getting the right measurement.
· Cutting torch
· grinder
Safety Equipment
· Hand gloves
· Face shield
· Goggles
· Loose shirt and pants
· Fire extinguisher etc.
Use safety equipment before starting the process of making these clamps. Wearing these items will not only make things safe and sound but also will give you proper comfortable environment to start it without worries.
Step 1: Marking the Tubes
Cut four pieces of small thin tubes with the right measurement. The tube thickness will be in a way that one of them can get into another one.
The big and small pieces should be the same as together. Put the large two pieces in parallel position and small two pieces in the two sides so that it looks like a rectangle shape.
After that, set the tow F clamps on both sides so that those clamps can hold the frame tightly.
Step 2: Cutting the Tubes in Small Ones
Now put the two big tubes alongside on the ground and mark the length of your choice. Mark two times so that you can get 4 pieces of metal tubes. Now place one of the tubes on the wooden bar then and hold it with your one hand.
Then cut the marked area properly, and you will get 4 pieces of same-sized tubes. Do not forget to wear your safety equipment.
Step 3: More Tube Pieces
Again, mark two small-sized tubes, two of them are at least 9 inches long, and the other two are minimum 5 inches long. Cut them in the right measurement and get 4 pieces of small tubes.
Remember, you should clean them properly before cutting and welding them. After cutting them, remove dirt from inside using a thing stick.
Step 4: Drilling Hole for Screw Joints and Welding
Place the four same sized tubes alongside and marked them a little away from the edge. After that, make a hole in 4 of them at the marked area with a drill machine.
Now take those two 5 inches small tubes and attach it to the opposite corner of the big tubes. Remember, do not attach it on the side where you make a hole—after that, welding it properly so both pieces will attach tight.
Step 5: Making L Shaped with Pieces the F Shape Tubes
Take one of the big holes containing tubes and place the 9-inch tube in one corner where the hole is made—welding them properly.
So, you are now attaching two 9 inches tube with two big tubes and do the same but in reverse process with another two big tubes. Keep in mind that two of them should be thinner than the other two tubes so that you can put them into others.
Step 6: Finishing the DIY Welding Clamps
The tubes already look likes F shape; just one part is missing. Weld the joints properly so that any space won’t be left. Fill the space with a small metal plate.
Grind the area properly so any roughness may be removed. Now you get 4 F shaped tubes. Two of them are big, and two of them are thin. Now cut 4 thin plates and attach it in those small tubes.
Insert the whole tubes in big ones and attach another plate in it. Put a nut on the hole in both sides, and your F clamps are ready.
Cost of Buying Welding Clamps
If you want to buy welding clamps, you do not have to spend much money on it. First of all, you have to choose quality and types. The cost is under 100 dollars, although you may not need it a lot. So I think building your clamp is far better than buying one.
It may seem difficult for you for the first time, but not for long. Although you may not get high-quality clamps if you were making it, and it helps to warm up your hands, and you will be more comfortable for your next welding project.
Quantity of Having Clamps
You cannot cover your welding job with one clamp as you have to do a variety of work. And I mentioned before that different work needed different clamps. So a question that may pop up your head is how many clamps you should collect.
Well, it is a confusing question because no one can say the exact amount. But if you think about the most common welding work, you should get 5 to 6 clamps. And day by day, increase the number when needed.
Some Question Around Welding Clamps
What are Welding Clamps Use for
Welding Clamps are used in various projects and works. If you are doing a metalworking project and want to cut any metal pipe or shit, the clamps will be very useful for holding them with the machine, so they do not move while cutting them.
For woodworking, you can hold two wooden items if you want them to be cut in the same size. Also, you can attach them with the welding table and cut them in precise order.
Sometimes, you need to hold two metal closely, so do not move while welding. This is the major reason for using f clamps or welding clamps before welding them in proper order.
What is a Welding Magnet?
Many people would recommend using a magnet for making welding clamps. They tend to have a better grip on the metal sheet or rods than normal items. You can do better with reliable hand tools in these cases.
The metal will give a better attachment at first while keeping two metal objects together in the clamps. Though, for the professional, using magnets isn’t very necessary. But if you want quick and accurate placing at first, you can use a magnet.
Safety Tips for Making the Metal Clamps
You cannot deny using the clamps because your work maybe not complete properly without a clamp. Correctly, you have a bracelet the correct brace for your job. Do not use different features clamp in other projects as your metal and clamps both may get broken or damaged. Also, not too tight the clamp as it can even cut the metal.
It would be better if you chose two clamps when working. Two clamps help to hold the piece more correctly, and you will be comfortable enough to work. If you use more clamp, it will be easier for you to do the welding/Butt welding.
You can also buy cushions for your clamp so that the brace and metal won’t get any scratch. And last but not least, do not forget to remove your clamps when the welding is done. Weld every joints appropriately and keep your clamp clean regularly.
Leave a Reply