I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the
top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to turn
and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table top and do
what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly to
use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick hitch
to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using whatever scraps
and drops I have around. For now I am just grinding and v-grinding
enough to get a good weld. Because its drops and scrap some is cover in paint and others are covered in old paint or powder coat. I had been clamping direct to good surfaces on the work piece prior to taking it
out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely terrible. Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and solid round bar
for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and it was just doing a
dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on
the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started a
weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It looked
ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was that
possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a concrete
floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my brain to catch up
with my vision. The clamp might have been touching a piece of stainless angle that might have been touching a piece of stainless plate that
might have been touching one leg of the table. Maybe. Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose and there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often get easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even have to attach the work piece clamp. LOL.
On Sat, 23 Oct 2021 14:06:54 -0700, Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the
top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to turn
and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table top and do
what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly to
use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick hitch
to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using whatever scraps
and drops I have around. For now I am just grinding and v-grinding
enough to get a good weld. Because its drops and scrap some is cover in
paint and others are covered in old paint or powder coat. I had been
clamping direct to good surfaces on the work piece prior to taking it
out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely terrible.
Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and solid round bar
for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and it was just doing a
dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on
the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started a
weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It looked
ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was that
possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a concrete
floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my brain to catch up
with my vision. The clamp might have been touching a piece of stainless
angle that might have been touching a piece of stainless plate that
might have been touching one leg of the table. Maybe. Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose and
there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often get
easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even have to
attach the work piece clamp. LOL.
Sounds like you have an unintended return path for your welding current.
If this path includes your welder power ground, as can happen if the
welder return connection and the table are separately connected to your
power distribution safety ground, then you are at risk of melting the
welder safety ground conductor and/or starting a fire since welding
machine output current can be much greater than welder input conductor current rating, suggest you check it out.
Glen
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the
top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to
turn and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table top
and do what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly
to use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick
hitch to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using whatever scraps and drops I have around. For now I am just grinding and
v-grinding enough to get a good weld. Because its drops and scrap
some is cover in paint and others are covered in old paint or powder
coat. I had been clamping direct to good surfaces on the work piece
prior to taking it out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely
terrible. Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and solid
round bar for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and it was
just doing a dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on
the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started a
weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It looked
ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was that possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a concrete floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my brain to catch
up with my vision. The clamp might have been touching a piece of
stainless angle that might have been touching a piece of stainless
plate that might have been touching one leg of the table. Maybe.
Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose
and there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often get easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even have
to attach the work piece clamp.
On 10/23/2021 4:06 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the
top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to
turn and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table top
and do what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly
to use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick
hitch to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using whatever
scraps and drops I have around. For now I am just grinding and
v-grinding enough to get a good weld. Because its drops and scrap
some is cover in paint and others are covered in old paint or powder
coat. I had been clamping direct to good surfaces on the work piece
prior to taking it out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely
terrible. Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and solid
round bar for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and it was
just doing a dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on
the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started a
weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It looked
ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was that
possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a concrete
floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my brain to catch
up with my vision. The clamp might have been touching a piece of
stainless angle that might have been touching a piece of stainless
plate that might have been touching one leg of the table. Maybe. Just
barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose
and there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often get
easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even have
to attach the work piece clamp.
Me thinks the clamp fell off just as you finished your weld. Your not going to get any decent current to flow through even a low ohm resistance.
Even 1 ohm is not trivial here.
Mikek
On 10/23/2021 4:06 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the top.
Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to turn and
rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table top and do what
I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly to
use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick hitch to
quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using whatever scraps and
drops I have around. For now I am just grinding and v-grinding enough to
get a good weld. Because its drops and scrap some is cover in paint and
others are covered in old paint or powder coat. I had been clamping
direct to good surfaces on the work piece prior to taking it out for a
test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely terrible.
Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and solid round bar
for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and it was just doing a
dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on the
floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started a weld
bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It looked ever bit
as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was that possible? Ok,
steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a concrete floor. I just
stood there for a moment waiting for my brain to catch up with my vision.
The clamp might have been touching a piece of stainless angle that might
have been touching a piece of stainless plate that might have been
touching one leg of the table. Maybe. Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the table.
I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose and there
were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often get
easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even have to
attach the work piece clamp.
Me thinks the clamp fell off just as you finished your weld. Your not going to get any decent current to flow through even a low ohm resistance.
Even 1 ohm is not trivial here.
Mikek
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:smu9m3$h3o$1@gioia.aioe.org...
On 11/14/2021 6:34 AM, amdx wrote:
On 10/23/2021 4:06 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the
top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to
turn and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table
top and do what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly
to use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick
hitch to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using
whatever scraps and drops I have around. For now I am just grinding
and v-grinding enough to get a good weld. Because its drops and
scrap some is cover in paint and others are covered in old paint or
powder coat. I had been clamping direct to good surfaces on the work
piece prior to taking it out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely
terrible. Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and
solid round bar for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and
it was just doing a dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on
the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started
a weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It
looked ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was
that possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a
concrete floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my brain
to catch up with my vision. The clamp might have been touching a
piece of stainless angle that might have been touching a piece of
stainless plate that might have been touching one leg of the table.
Maybe. Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose
and there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often
get easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even
have to attach the work piece clamp.
Me thinks the clamp fell off just as you finished your weld. Your
not going to get any decent current to flow through even a low ohm
resistance.
Even 1 ohm is not trivial here.
Mikek
I would generally agree, but the work piece had minor autogenous welds
to the table top. Like the arcing of a dry contact that has no
protection. maybe that was purely incidental. I do not normally see
that.
----------------------
Maybe the clamp was lying on the table until you stopped welding and
knocked it off by moving the cables.
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:snb76b$9fi$2@gioia.aioe.org...
On 11/17/2021 4:59 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:smu9m3$h3o$1@gioia.aioe.org...
On 11/14/2021 6:34 AM, amdx wrote:
On 10/23/2021 4:06 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically
a frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for
the top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have
to turn and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the
table top and do what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch
assembly to use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in
the quick hitch to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am
using whatever scraps and drops I have around. For now I am just
grinding and v-grinding enough to get a good weld. Because its
drops and scrap some is cover in paint and others are covered in old
paint or powder coat. I had been clamping direct to good surfaces
on the work piece prior to taking it out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely
terrible. Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and
solid round bar for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and
it was just doing a dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying
on the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just
started a weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped.
It looked ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How
was that possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a
concrete floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my
brain to catch up with my vision. The clamp might have been touching
a piece of stainless angle that might have been touching a piece of
stainless plate that might have been touching one leg of the table.
Maybe. Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose
and there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often
get easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even
have to attach the work piece clamp.
Me thinks the clamp fell off just as you finished your weld. Your
not going to get any decent current to flow through even a low ohm
resistance.
Even 1 ohm is not trivial here.
Mikek
I would generally agree, but the work piece had minor autogenous welds
to the table top. Like the arcing of a dry contact that has no
protection. maybe that was purely incidental. I do not normally see
that.
----------------------
Maybe the clamp was lying on the table until you stopped welding and
knocked it off by moving the cables.
Maybe. I certainly suffered a moment of cognitive dissonance when I
lifted my hood and saw the work piece clamp laying on the floor.
-----------------
You missed your chance to be a billionaire ray gun inventor.
-Tony Stark
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:smu9m3$h3o$1@gioia.aioe.org...
On 11/14/2021 6:34 AM, amdx wrote:
On 10/23/2021 4:06 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got a decent if not great welding table in my shop. Basically a
frame work of 2x2x1/8 inch steel tube with a 1/4 steel plate for the
top. Often when working on relatively clean pieces that I have to
turn and rotate I'll just attach the work piece clamp to the table
top and do what I need to do. It usually just works.
Yesterday I was making (its not finished yet) a 3PT to hitch assembly
to use on John Deere tractor. Something to I can drop in the quick
hitch to quickly and easily more trailers around. I am using
whatever scraps and drops I have around. For now I am just grinding
and v-grinding enough to get a good weld. Because its drops and
scrap some is cover in paint and others are covered in old paint or
powder coat. I had been clamping direct to good surfaces on the work
piece prior to taking it out for a test fit.
Even I was able to lay down welds that didn't look completely
terrible. Mostly 1/4 wall tube salvaged from a trailer axle, and
solid round bar for all the pins. I had the welder set for 3/8 and
it was just doing a dandy job in spite of my low skill level.
When I came back in to weld the upper cross pin in place I was still
amazed with how well the beads were laying down. Then I paused and
realized I had not reattached the clamp to the work piece. I looked
around expecting to see it clamped to the table. No, it was laying on
the floor. My brain short circuited for a moment. I'd just started
a weld bead and was half way around the pin when I stopped. It
looked ever bit as not totally terrible as every other weld. How was
that possible? Ok, steel table (to heavy to lift) directly on a
concrete floor. I just stood there for a moment waiting for my brain
to catch up with my vision. The clamp might have been touching a
piece of stainless angle that might have been touching a piece of
stainless plate that might have been touching one leg of the table.
Maybe. Just barely.
When I tried to move the hitch I found it had welded itself to the
table. I don't mean firmly, but enough that I had to break it loose
and there were a couple pits in the table top.
They always told me when you crank up up the juice the welds often
get easier, but I never thought it would be so easy you didn't even
have to attach the work piece clamp.
Me thinks the clamp fell off just as you finished your weld. Your
not going to get any decent current to flow through even a low ohm
resistance.
Even 1 ohm is not trivial here.
Mikek
I would generally agree, but the work piece had minor autogenous welds
to the table top. Like the arcing of a dry contact that has no
protection. maybe that was purely incidental. I do not normally see
that.
----------------------
Maybe the clamp was lying on the table until you stopped welding and
knocked it off by moving the cables.
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