What kind of clamp is this?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 6:50 pm
Does anyone know what that type of clamp is called. Looking to buys some.
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Re: What kind of clamp is this?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 7:01 pm
Called a third hand. Make your own.
Re: What kind of clamp is this?
Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:17 pm
Don't take that answer wrong. It is pretty standard to weld up your own when it comes to third hands. Make them in a size appropriate to the task at hand. I suggest a dab of silicone bronze at the tips to prevent arcing due to weak contact. Jody does a video where he forms a bird head out of SB for a contact point.
Re: What kind of clamp is this?
Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 10:26 am
A 3rd hand clamp can be made from many items you may have around the shop
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Re: What kind of clamp is this?
Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 3:28 pm
I've used railroad spikes to make third hands. I took two 10" pieces of 1/4" steel rod and welded them to the pointy end of the railroad spike for the legs, then welded a 6" piece of the same stuff to the head of the spike pointing down.
Kind of like this:
I also used the torch to melt some copper from romex wire onto the tip of each leg to improve electrical conductivity between my steel welding table and the workpiece.
If you spread out the rear legs (mine are about 12-14" apart), you'd be surprised how much you can stabilize a tall, skinny, rickety assembly while you tack it. For example, I've lengthened bolts by welding 1/4" or 3/8" steel rods in the middle of them, and they never would have stood up on their own. But with the 3rd hand you can stack them up and get them nice and straight and concentric, and if you don't bump the table, they'll stay there all day until you tack em. 3rd hand also helps if the bolt and rod are different diameters, too -- a piece of angle doesn't work very well for that situation.
Kind of like this:
I also used the torch to melt some copper from romex wire onto the tip of each leg to improve electrical conductivity between my steel welding table and the workpiece.
If you spread out the rear legs (mine are about 12-14" apart), you'd be surprised how much you can stabilize a tall, skinny, rickety assembly while you tack it. For example, I've lengthened bolts by welding 1/4" or 3/8" steel rods in the middle of them, and they never would have stood up on their own. But with the 3rd hand you can stack them up and get them nice and straight and concentric, and if you don't bump the table, they'll stay there all day until you tack em. 3rd hand also helps if the bolt and rod are different diameters, too -- a piece of angle doesn't work very well for that situation.