My New Best Friend While Welding

[Lunchbox]

Pic up one of these little tools from eastwood, and was very surprised today how nice it worked. Mad it really easy filling those little pin holes that you find here and there on your body. Sure beat those flattened copper pipes I was using in the past. 

[bb71challenger]

I give, how does it work?   

[Katfish]

Me too,   

[Lunchbox]

The black piece is a pretty powerfull magnet. So when I was filling some pin holes on the cowl I would place the copper pad on the oppisite side that I would be welding. Turn the red knob to tighten the copper pad against the sheet metal. Then weld the hold shut. If you can keep the copper pad flat against the metal I had zero burn through issues.

It even worked good on a few 3/8" holes that I got a little crazy with the spot weld cutter. Put a spot weld cutter in a drill, used a scrape piece of metal and made a couple little plugs. Then I used this thing told hold it together while I welded the plug in.

[Alaskan_TA]

Ohhhhhhh....... I want one.

I have been dreading re-doing the trunk on the T/A because I tend to burn through on practice parts. This will be a great help! 

[Topcat]

Dang, I wish I knew of that when I first started. Chasing burn thrus and copper pipe like you did is old school.

[gkring]

Cool. Quick search turned it up at
http://www.toolsource.com/magnetic-plug-weld-tool-p-101511.html?osCsid=bu4oqvqknn1cb4tajmmafq7od1
$10 cheaper than Eastwood. $25 is a little better to handle than $35 for what looks to be a simple yet useful tool.

[Lunchbox]

I also pickedup one of these at the same time which is nice when you ahve to join to panels together (i.e. trunk extension to trunk)



I still use the copper pipe trick if I need to get into a odd area that is curved or bent, but the copper is just not thick enough to act as a good heat sink. Ill have to try and find something. 

Lunch

[cudazappa]

ooo handy!  They also come in handy when butt-welding too!

[Lunchbox]

ooo handy!  They also come in handy when butt-welding too!

This would work great for butt welding but at $77 its a little spendy.



The EASTWOOD Master Welders Panel 11 Piece Clamping Kit allow you accurate hands-free welding for MIG, TIG, Butt Welding and Leading. This special kit includes our most popular panel clamping and holding devices including a Intergrip miniature panel 4 clamp set (EW#19016) for edge-to-edge/surface- to-surface clamping, one 4"(EW#22994) and one 8" (EW#22995) solid 1/8" Cooper Magnetic Weld Backer plates and one Might Midget Panel Welding Clamp 5 pack (EW#21859).