While buying anything the first question that comes to mind is why we need a certain thing. So, in this best welding ground clamp reviews we’ll first talk about the importance of welding ground clamps in the welding profession.
In any profession, the health and safety of the workers come first. Welding process can lead to the exposure of workers to electric shocks or other health hazards related to UV radiations. Welding ground clamps earthen the work object so that to reduce the chances of workers getting the electric shocks. In addition to that ground clamps also ensure constant current supply for smooth functioning of the welding process. Following are the top five welding ground clamps thoroughly reviewed for you to choose according to your needs.
5 Best Welding Ground Clamp Reviews
| Brand | Reviews | Image | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hobart 770031 400-Amp T-Style Ground Clamp Brass | ★★★★★ |   |  |
| 2. Tweco 9205-1120 GC-200 Welding Ground Clamp, 200-Amp Capacity | ★★★★☆ |   | |
| 3. Forney 54410 Welding Ground Clamp | ★★★★★ |   | |
| 4. US Forge Welding Heavy Duty Bronze Ground Clamp 300 Amps | ★★★★☆ |   | |
| 5. 300 Amp Heavy Duty Arc Welding Ground Clamp for Welders by LifBetter | ★★★☆☆ |   | |
1. Hobart 770031 400-Amp T-Style Ground Clamp Brass
Description:
- AMPs:Its best feature is that it provide 400 AMPs electric current in a reasonable price range.
- Dimensions: It is 8.4 inches long and weighs 1.3 pounds. These dimensions make its use more efficient and easy to carry. The clamps open wide enough to be used for 3 inches wide object.
Pros.
This particular design has used bolt to hook the wire instead of a stud and nut that most of the clamps have. Now, how does this feature help? The bolt provides a firmer attachment support for the wire and helps in keeping the ground stable.There is a little cylinder in which the bolt is installed that has a contact pad for the attachment of wire and smooth flow of current. The teeth inside the jaw makes its grip more firm on the object and contact surface.
Cons.
The real thing comes in how to use this product to minimize the chances of getting an electric shock. If you attach the clamp with the working table then the table becomes grounded too. Your contact with the table can cause an electric shock. The best approach is to attach the clamp with the object so that the working table would be safe for you to work on.
2. Tweco 9205-1120 GC-200 Welding Ground Clamp, 200-Amp Capacity
Description:
- AMPs: Its best feature is that it provides electric current in range of 200AMPs and 300AMPs with varying prices in a reasonable range.
- Dimensions: It is 6.6 inches long and weighs 1 pounds. These dimensions make its use more efficient than the first one and easy to carry.
Pros.
When it comes to this design’s specifications it is similar to the first design that we talked about in several ways. It does have a bolt for firmer attachment of the cable. Also, the teeth inside the jaw to make the attachment with the object more stable. The difference comes in the weight and size of the product. Its weight is lesser so it is easier to carry. Moreover,it can be used to ground certain objects like medium and light duty metal fabrications. It can also be used for several welding processes like gas metal arc, submerged arc welding, and stick welding. So, it is going good so far.
Cons.
Maybe you’ll be thinking that’s the one I should go for. There is just one limitation to this design that is the size of the object that it can be used to ground. It cannot be used for object that are too wide. To deal with that you can use a wider clamp at first to hold the object and then attach the ground clamp with it that can then ground the object successfully.
3. Forney 54410 Welding Ground Clamp
Description:
- AMPs:It provides 300 AMPs electric current.
- Dimensions: It is 8 inches long and weighs 0.9 pounds.
- Material:This ground clamp unlike the first two is made up of steel.
Pros.
The main manufacturer of this product is China. This particular clamp can be used for light work like welding of small products. This type of ground clamp is well-suited for grounding materials like steel plate, iron work, and angle iron It is mostly used for maintenance of shops or field work. Its weight makes it efficient and feasible for workers to carry to the fields. The type of welding that this clamp is mostly used for is arc welding.
Cons.
It has the stud and nut for cable connection. It can be unstable while used for larger objects. The loose cable can cause electric shock to the user. It has a jaw opening of 1 ¾ inches wide. It mean you cannot use it for objects wider than that. The teeth inside the jaw are also not available in this design. The preference towards with product is due to its wide price range that makes it economical for workers that cannot afford to buy the high priced stuff. In addition to that, this clamp is user friendly and portable.
4. US Forge Welding Heavy Duty Bronze Ground Clamp 300 Amps
Description:
- AMPs:It provides 300 AMPs electric current.
- Dimensions: It is 15.5 inches long and weighs 2 pounds.
- Material:This ground clamp unlike the first two is made up of bronze.
Pros.
In need of a ground clamp that can be used at a large scale? You have found the perfect clamp for yourself. This ground clamp ensures a constant current supply of 300 AMPs. It can be used for operations involving heavy-duty objects. It also has a designated safe place for firmer cable attachment. The grooves are present inside the jaw for more contact surface with the object and stable connection. It has an oval-point screw type connection for the cable that makes it useful for the heavy operations. It ensures the stability of the cable attachment with the ground clamp while reducing the chances of exposure to electric shock hazards.
Cons.
Its only limitation is its weight and the power required to clinch the ground clamp to attach with the object. It requires more manpower than the first three to operate.
5. 300 Amp Heavy Duty Arc Welding Ground Clamp for Welders by LifBetter
Description:
- AMPs:It provides 300 AMPs, 500AMPs, and 600AMPs electric current.
- Dimensions: It is 6.7 inches long and weighs 0.3 pounds for the ground clamp carrying 300 AMPs electric current.
- Material:This ground clamp unlike the first two is made up of iron and copper.
Pros.
The jaws of the clamps are coated with copper that is a good conductor of electricity. It also has extra copper straps attached to the inside of the jaws. This features make the grounding of object possible and the current flow constant. The copper plated jaws also ensure that the clamp remain attached to the object for constant grounding conditions. It is also used for arc welding and welding of heavy stuff. If we compare it with the bronze ground clamp, this remains more economical than the bronze one.
Cons.
This clamp does not have a secure cable connection for the safety of the worker. It has stud and nut available for cable attachment and heavy operation can cause the cable to be unstable. Making the worker prone to the electric hazards. The durability of this ground clamp does not comes with the price. The copper strips inside can be less efficient over time and the current supply may as well not remain constant due to that feature.
How To Choose The Best Welding Ground Clamp?
After reading all that information about the different ground clamps now you might be having a lot of questions in your mind. As to which ground clamp should I buy now? Or which ground clamp will best suit my purpose for welding? No need to worry, we have got you covered. All these questions will be addressed in this section. We’ll provide you with the step by step guide to select the best ground clamp for you.
Quality of Material
The first thing you can do is look at what is the welding ground clamp is made of. In the above mentioned ground clamps, they are made up of materials like copper, brass, silver, iron or steel. Chose the materials according to your needs.
Dimensions
The length or weight of the welding clamp is important as it affects the efficiency if the worker to use a particular product. You should look for the ground clamp that is most user-friendly for you. Not too big or hard for you to operate and not too fragile for you.
Stability of Cable attachment
There are two types of attachment provided for the cable. One is the bolt and the second is the stud and nut. Choose this feature according to your frequency of usage of the ground clamp. If you’re not using it too often then the stud and nut would be fine for you but if you’re using frequently then you need to think over it twice.
AMPs
Your electric current supply requirement is important too. You should choose the ground clamp according to your constant current supply needs. There is a range provided for some clamp according to different range of the current supply having different prices.
Price
Price is always an issue whether you are buying welding machine or welding safety equipment.The above discussed point leads to a very important factor in your decision making that is what is the price range that suits you.Are you willing you pay more for a reliable product? Or are you going to save money for the time being and reduce the time period after which you’ll be needing a new welding ground clamp? These are some questions that you need to ask yourself while deciding the price range you’ll be taking your clamp in.
Welding Type
In the above mentioned product’s specifications, there is also mentioned what type of welding that the product can be used for. This feature can also affect your decision significantly. It depends if you’re using the ground clamp for arc welding, stick welding, or glass-metal arc etc.
Operation Type
The type of operation you’re going to perform also affects your final decision for the purchase of welding ground clamp. If you are using it for big scale or heavy duty operation or if you are going to use it for field work or if you are going to use it for the small objects. There are all the things that you need to keep in mind while selecting the ground clamp for certain operation that you’ll be performing.
So, these were a few basic things that you should consider while selecting the perfect ground clamp for you. These parameters will definitely help you land a decision for purchasing the best ground clamp for welding
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the use of the welding ground clamp?
The welding ground clamp is essential to connect the ground cable of the welding with the welding work material to put it shortly. The ground clamp will adequately hold down the metal to ensure safety and easy to weld. As the clamp holds down the welding material securely, so the workpiece won't move when you weld. So, your welding task will become better and result in smooth welding. Also, it helps you weld the material without being tensed about the arc connection anymore.
2. Which is a suitable welding ground?
In most cases, the welding ground clamp that is available with the welding machine package should work fine for you. The welded part and the electrode must complete the circuit to accomplish the welding arc smoothly. The welding ground clamp will hold down the welded part securely in the position. It prevents the welded part's movement, so the circuit doesn't break down in the middle of your welding job.
3. What happens if I don't use the ground for the welder?
The ground clamp is also known as the work-lead. When the arc comes close to the electrode, the welding ground allows the current to flow to the arc. The electricity flow creates the necessary heat for the welding job. So, without the weld ground, it is impossible to perform the welding job. The clamp securely holds the welding ground on its location.
4. Will the magnet affect the welding?
Yes, the magnet's presence while welding will affect the welding result, and it is not in a positive way. If the welding pipe has the presence of magnetism, it will create a magnetic arc flow. The magnetic flow will result in low welding. Hence, if the welding material has any magnetic residual presence, you must find a way to remove the magnetism.
Conclusion
Welding ground clamps are a very important tools at the workplace for protection the health and safety of the worker. The welding ground clamp should be chosen according to the work operation and the need and demands of the operation. The right type of ground clamp can protect a worker and helps in the smooth functioning of the process. In the review above, all the details that you might need for the selection of the appropriate welding ground clamp is mentioned to assist you in the process. We hope you enjoyed reading this review and this article will help you to find you perfect match.
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