Magnetic Ground Clamp

[dragoneggs]

I just checked out those reviews, Mark and found the one regarding the weight of the cable pulling the magnet off the workpiece questionable.

I just bundled up 20 pounds of welding lead to see how it would fare.
Magnet held the weight without problem and I didn't see the point in ADDING more weight to see when it would fail.

Even if one was up a fifty foot pole I'm certain they could loop the lead over something to alleviate the weight/strain on the Magswitch ground.

* I realize this may have been more appropriately posted in the "Get a Life" forum.

View attachment 508406

Terry

I like it... something that I would do... suppose we should talk to the mods about a 'Get a Life' forum and the only way you could post a new thread in it is if you were nominated by a fellow TBNer. It would be exclusive club. :laughing: Posts should be redneck tests, over analyzes, etc.

Definitely like the idea of a switchable magnet.

 

[Rustyiron]

it's great for large pipe, large flat surfaces AND my 3" thick steel welding table top.

Terry

How do you ever avoid damaging a welding table only 3" thick:laughing:

I just checked out those reviews, Mark and found the one regarding the weight of the cable pulling the magnet off the workpiece questionable.

Terry

Very true, I was "caught" on a Sunday needing a new ground clamp, TSC was the only place open and my choices were the cheap pressed tin (clamp) model or the magnetic with a very light spring model. As soon as I got a chance to replace that cheapo magnetic, I got another brass clamp.
I do like the looks of your magnet and I prolly would still be using it if that one was available:thumbsup:

 

[PILOON]

It all depends on clean bare metal contact area.
Metal filings between the magnet and the metal surface will give poor results, and that magnet will sure attract any filings or grinding residue.
Personally I still prefer a good rugged clamp style ground.

 

[yomax4]

I have 8-9 of these laying around new without box.. Switchable 300-600 amp. If they weren't so heavy to ship I would offer them up N/C. You really want switchable trust me. Also. Yes they do attract filings but they are used after all that cutting and grinding so blow it off and it's not a prob. You can use them as did ( because I have so many ) To hang Christmas Wreaths on your steel siding.

 

[muddstopper]

Magswitch Magnetic Ground Clamp - 300 amp 8100746

 

[yomax4]

I have a couple of 600 amp magswitch clamps ( Tweco version ) Once switched on, Very difficult to remove without switching off. So when shopping for a mag ground clamp the amperage matters too. Higher amp, Bigger magnet, Higher cost.

 

[DaveK OR]

I've found that any grinding dust/filings come off just about ANY magnet by blowing it off with high pressure air; a quick back and forth movement seems to work best. The air gets the "stickies" far enough away from the magnet (even a NON-switchable one) not to return... Steve

If your air supply isn't enough to get all the little bits off, you can finish with a piece of duct-tape. The little bits stick quite well to the duct-tape adhesive.

 

[BukitCase]

Dave, thanks for that tip - probably woulda been even handier when I had a smaller compressor. About 8 years ago I got tired of waiting for air during projects, so sold my little Campbell Hausfield 2 horse and bought a REAL one

Heavy Duty Industrial Air Compressors: 5 to 3 HP

Mine's the TAPV-5052, shuts off at 170 psi - just the MOTOR weighs more than SOME "5 horsepower" compressors ...Steve

 

[bdog]

I bought one a few years ago and really liked it at first. So much so I bought three more so I had them for all four welders. Over time my love for them declined and I know have gone back to clamps. There are some situations where they work great where a clamp won't by they pop off to easy. I have pretty heavy gauge welding lead and just the weight of it puts a good deal of force on the magnet making the slightest tug on the lead cause it to fall off. For some situations they are great but I no longer use them.

 

[Big Barn]

I have Tweco connectors on all my ground leads so I can swap between regular clamp and mag clamp.

 

[4570Man]

This would have been a good use for one.

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought one a few years ago and really liked it at first. So much so I bought three more so I had them for all four welders. Over time my love for them declined and I know have gone back to clamps. There are some situations where they work great where a clamp won't by they pop off to easy. I have pretty heavy gauge welding lead and just the weight of it puts a good deal of force on the magnet making the slightest tug on the lead cause it to fall off. For some situations they are great but I no longer use them.

So you are saying your spring clamps will take more load than the magnetic ones???

 

[Big Barn]

So you are saying your spring clamps will take more load than the magnetic ones???

I would say it depends on the age and amp rating of a spring clamp. I've got some big amp Tweco's that I dare anyone with medium sized hands to use them one handed.

One good thing about traditional ground clamps is that you can wiggle them around a bit to get a better connection. Can't really do that with a Magswitch.

Terry

 

[dragoneggs]

I would say it depends on the age and amp rating of a spring clamp. I've got some big amp Tweco's that I dare anyone with medium sized hands to use them one handed.

One good thing about traditional ground clamps is that you can wiggle them around a bit to get a better connection. Can't really do that with a Magswitch.

Terry

Gotcha... I have never played with a spring loaded ground clamp with serious clamp up. But I'm just a hack. I get it that there are weak magnets out there... just play with the HF magnet holders. Sort of worthless except for very light weight materials.

4-3/4'' Multipurpose Magnet Holder

I do have an appreciation for powerful magnets, especially those that you can 'turn on'.

 

[IslandTractor]

Gotcha... I have never played with a spring loaded ground clamp with serious clamp up. But I'm just a hack. I get it that there are weak magnets out there... just play with the HF magnet holders. Sort of worthless except for very light weight materials.

4-3/4'' Multipurpose Magnet Holder

I do have an appreciation for powerful magnets, especially those that you can 'turn on'.

I think those magnetic angle holders are just made for sheet metal and 1/4" at most. They do a pretty good job at that.

 

[Big Barn]

Gotcha... I have never played with a spring loaded ground clamp with serious clamp up. But I'm just a hack. I get it that there are weak magnets out there... just play with the HF magnet holders. Sort of worthless except for very light weight materials.

4-3/4'' Multipurpose Magnet Holder

I do have an appreciation for powerful magnets, especially those that you can 'turn on'.

Mark. StrongHand Tools makes a good switchable magnet for welding. Much better than those little red ones.

Here's a pic of one amongst some of my spring type ground clamps. Tweco's , a Lenco, Jackson and a couple of decent 'no name' brands.

Just didn't want anyone to think I thought a Magswitch ground was the "cure all - end all".

Terry

 

[IslandTractor]

Mark. StrongHand Tools makes a good switchable magnet for welding. Much better than those little red ones.

Here's a pic of one amongst some of my spring type ground clamps. Tweco's , a Lenco, Jackson and a couple of decent 'no name' brands.

Just didn't want anyone to think I thought a Magswitch ground was the "cure all - end all". View attachment 509108

Terry

Yes, I've seen those. But $$$$ compared to the little HF versions.

 

[BukitCase]

Another thing that I've NOT seen mentioned - ALL magnets work stronger with THICKER metal, up to maybe 3/4" thick - the thicker metal brings more of the magnetic lines of force into play.

So, if you're using a mag ground on thin metal it WILL come loose if you hang too much ground cable on it - to some extent, you could maybe figure out a way to support the cable SEPARATELY under those conditions, but personally if I decide to get a mag ground I'll just put another set of tweco connectors in play - everything else I have is converted to those so I can use extra leads wherever I need 'em, so it'd be easy to just "unplug" the mag ground and plug in a clamp type (with a SHORT WHIP, of course) - best of BOTH worlds that way... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

Another thing that I've NOT seen mentioned - ALL magnets work stronger with THICKER metal, up to maybe 3/4" thick - the thicker metal brings more of the magnetic lines of force into play.

So, if you're using a mag ground on thin metal it WILL come loose if you hang too much ground cable on it - to some extent, you could maybe figure out a way to support the cable SEPARATELY under those conditions, but personally if I decide to get a mag ground I'll just put another set of tweco connectors in play - everything else I have is converted to those so I can use extra leads wherever I need 'em, so it'd be easy to just "unplug" the mag ground and plug in a clamp type (with a SHORT WHIP, of course) - best of BOTH worlds that way... Steve

 

[bdog]

So you are saying your spring clamps will take more load than the magnetic ones???

Yes. It some instances the magnet was great but in others it was constantly falling off anytime I accidentally brushed against the ground lead. I also fried a magnetic one but that was a rare deal. I welded for about three hours straight at high amperage on some 7/8" plate and the mag clamp got so hot it quit working. The knob on the top would not turn anymore and it wouldn't stick anymore. Mine were the tweco 200 amp units and I was welding at 150 amps when it failed. Don't get me wrong I am not bashing them they are great for some things and maybe having a quick connect to swap between a magnet and a clamp would be good. For all my welders I use the tweco GC-300. They have not let me down yet.