Welding clamps refers to leg holders or metal sheet that is capable of holding two materials tightly together on a temporary basis. With this, the welders will find it much easier to run the arc and have the pieces welded together without having to worry about the sheets movement. In case you are just getting into the welding industry, it is advisable that you always have clamps in the list of tools you will need. This is because they will help in making your welding much easier and educate you on the good habits that will help you in improving the quality of your finished work.
Since our work at weldinghubs.com is to help make welders work easier, we will be looking at how one can make their welding clamps. Although the welding clamps are not that costly, the process of making your own welding clamp is much easier and you do have the freedom of choosing the quality of materials to use. Despite the quality of welding clamps you will make on your own not being any close to the commercial grade clamps, they are still able to ensure you get the job done.
Common Types of Welding Clamps
The welding clamps are always available in different sizes and shapes. It is important you know the common welding clamps and their roles since every type of clamp does serve its own purpose depending on the clamp type. The most common type of clamps includes:
- F-Clamps
- Bar clamps
- Hose Clamps
- C Clamps
- Pipe Clamps
- Beam Clamps
- Miter Clamps
- Spring Clamps
- Sash Clamps
- Web Clamps
- Parallel Clamps
- Bench Clamps
- Locking Clamps
Why Use Welding Clamps
There are times when you will have to hold two metal pieces together so that you can create a perfect weld. However, since you will have to hold the welding gun well but do have only two hands, it can be quite difficult to put all these together. This is where the welding clamps come in as they make it possible to easily achieve the task. The clamp will ensure the metal sheet is securely held into place allowing you to weld the joints from any angle.
It is also possible to use the clamps in creating corners with different angles and be able to make the welds both outside and inside of the joint.
How to make the Welding Clamps
It is possible for one to create different clamps for your requirements. In case you are just getting into the welding industry, it is advisable that you consider getting something easier such as the angled jig that will assist you in holding metal legs in place. Below is a step by step guide on how you can make your own welding clamps.
Type of materials required
You will not require lots of material when making the welding clamps. It is possible to create an angle jig using a 2x2x1/4” bar of angle steel and a 2×1/4” bar of flat steel. In case you are interested in using a heavy duty item and get up to 10 inches pieces of angles, then heavier steel will not warp that much as you will be in a position of keeping this piece of equipment for a long period of time.
Constructing the Clamp
You will start the process by cutting two angle steel pieces into equal lengths while the flat bar should be on a length that can easily be joined to these. Ensure that the flat bar is cut at 45 degrees angle at any of the ends to help make a smooth joint using the angle steel.
When you are done with cleaning the metal legs using a flap, place them at a 90 degrees angle to each other. It is also possible to use the L-square to help align the pieces together. Have them secured in place at all the corners with the help of the four C-clamps. Have a look at the inside corner using the framing square to ensure it is accurate. Check and ensure there is no any wiggling movement of the square when it is at adjusted at 90.
When you are through with the assembly and have it where you need it, ensure that you flip the piece over and start your welding. Remember to tackweld the pieces in place check if the alignment is correct and then complete the welds.
Never go full on and just weld the entire corner clamp in one go. Let the form to cool down and check it on a frequent basis with a framing square. Do not forget to keep the c-clamps on the assembly until such a time when the clamp is done.
When you are through with the welding process, take some time and using another framing square, check the preciseness. At time, the framing squares can get tweaked and are no longer square. It is advisable that you always check them using more than a single scale especially when you have an extra scale around. This will help in creating a basic, 90-degree clamp which can be used in securing the legs of the metal. It is also possible to fit the bolts on the clamp or you can consider using some powerful magnets to ensure it is kept firmly on the welding table.
Conclusion
We do hope that this article has been of great help in educating you on what is and how to make a welding clamp. It is important that you always use the welding clamp correctly to ensure you benefit from it fully and that you are safe and secure as it can be dangerous when not used correctly.
You also need to note that when working on a welding table, you can always manage it with one or even no clamp at all. When out in the field or not in a position of using a table for your welding, it is always advisable that you at least have clamps capable of holding metal pieces strongly into place.