Often, skill alone is not enough to carry out high-quality welding work, which is why various auxiliary devices are used, such as a magnetic corner. It is designed to fix metal parts during welding work, when soldering or assembling structures, and a good owner will find a dozen more uses for this design.
welding magnets
- Allows you to work with round pipes, rectangular section, with sheet metal and products of complex shape;
- A good fixture has a number of standard angles - 45, 90.135, 30 and 60 degrees, there are also universal models that can hold parts at any angle;
- Quick fasteners, unlike clamps, it is enough to lean the corner against the parts; it will fix itself;
- Simplification of the welding process, due to the absence of the need to use an assistant for the welder, plus the ability to adjust the location of the parts to be welded after they are fixed;
- The device can work in any planes, at any angle and on any surfaces;
- Thanks to the preset template angles, work with in-line products is facilitated.
It is also worth noting that for most welding work, such a detail is not just a recommendation, but an integral part of the workflow.
Types of magnetic holders for welding
Models existing on the market can be classified both by form factor and by the principle of operation. For example:
1.Magnetic square monolithic design simplest form products that allow you to set the workpiece at one of the provided angles.
Magnetic square
2.Magnetic clamp- a flexible tool that can be adjusted to any angle.
Magnetic clamp
3. Retainer- may be monolithic or complex structure with variable angles, its feature is the function of "off" fasteners. By pressing a button, the magnets are loosened and the fixture is very easy to rearrange, which is especially useful for powerful magnetic corners for welding.
Magnetic retainer
Also, the squares are divided by power into standard ones, in which the simplest magnets are used and for especially heavy structures, magnets with a high degree of retention are installed in them.
Reference! The power of the magnet is expressed in kilograms and is attributed to each such product.
Cost is far from the last parameter, which directly depends on the capabilities and quality of the magnet. For domestic needs, devices of simple monolithic structures with a low holding force can cost from 300 rubles. More complex moving products of similar power will cost 500 - 1000 rubles. Finally, the most expensive monolithic, clamp-type holders, with powerful magnets, will cost 3-5 thousand rubles.
How to choose the right model
First of all, you should decide how you will use the holder. If it is needed for a one-time use, then the cheapest option is suitable, which will come in handy in the future, but will not hit your pocket. For those who work on an ongoing basis welding equipment models with a large number of preset angles and inexpensive universal models that allow you to independently set and fix the angle are suitable. For professional use or completing a small workshop, it is worth purchasing a set of magnets, with a high degree of retention. Very often, one magnet is indispensable in work, so the presence of a whole, even minimal, set will greatly facilitate the work of the welder.
The next parameter is the retention force. The stronger the magnet, the heavier the parts can be used in work, the longer it will retain its holding properties and better fix the parts. When buying magnetic devices for welding with a high-quality magnet, make sure that you can remove it yourself, but it’s better that it has the ability to “unstick” on its own, that is, it can be turned off.
Magnet quality is a parameter that most young welders forget about. Here it is important for us that the magnet can retain its properties for a long time and, more importantly, does not deteriorate when heated. The work of the welding magnet takes place in close proximity to the welding site, so the entire product is subject to heat, which degrades the quality of the magnets.
A simple do-it-yourself magnetic square
Since this device is quite simple, you can easily do it yourself. This option is suitable for those who like to make things on their own, did not find desired product on sale or for cases where it is necessary to obtain fasteners for a non-standard template.
Execution options may be different, here we will consider two manufacturing methods. The choice depends on your ability to manufacture and availability. necessary materials and tool.
In the first case, we need:
- Metal sheet 2-3 mm thick. It is very important to use non-magnetic materials so as not to weaken the magnetic field;
- Round magnet (such can be found in acoustic speakers);
- bushings;
- Fasteners (screws and nuts).
Manufacturing algorithm:
1. On a sheet of metal, using a triangle, we draw the outline of the future product. Try to make the corners as straight as possible, the quality and accuracy of the finished tool will depend on this.
2. Using a grinder, we cut out our blanks and make smooth edges.
3. We prepare plastic bushings (remember that the material must be non-magnetic) You can take pieces of a polypropylene pipe. We carefully process the ends, the dimensions of the bushings should be the same. So that the magnet does not hang out, we select a piece of plastic and securely fix it in the inner diameter.
4. We mark the attachment points of the two plates and assemble using bolts and nuts.
5. Ready product in work
DIY magnetic welding holder
We will need:
- Sheet metal (1-3 mm);
- magnets;
- dry board;
- Fasteners.
First of all, it is worth understanding the scheme of the future product. For starters, it is better to use monolithic structures. Templates can be found on the Internet or you can create one for your own needs. We apply the template to the sheet metal and cut out two identical blanks. At the same time, it is very important to preserve their geometry.
Aluminum sheet blanks
The next step is to prepare the central part of the magnet. To do this, we cut out a piece of wood in the form of metal plates, but we do not completely repeat the size, but retreat from the edges so that after assembly the magnet is buried between the steel plates by a couple of millimeters. Its thickness should be 1-2 mm more than the width of the magnets.
Cut out a template from wood
The outer part of the product is ready, now you need to make the inside. This is where magnets come in. We will place them between the plates so that the thickness is in the range of 10 - 50 mm. It is best to use round magnets with a hole inside, they are called “self-tapping magnet”, but others are also suitable for work, which should be pre-processed and prepared holes for mounting.
We fasten the magnets with self-tapping screws
The last step is drilling holes and assembly. First of all, we fasten steel plates on both sides of the wooden workpiece, and we fasten magnets into the grooves. The product is ready - you can test our magnetic welding square.
Magnet Geometry Check
Special welding magnets (corners) are used to fix the processed steel parts, providing convenience and comfort in handling them during the welding process. Most often, magnetic corners are used when welding pipes of arbitrary section, as well as sheet or strip blanks, various profiles and other metal products.
One of the varieties of magnets for welding includes special squares that completely replace bulky clamps and provide fixation of parts at angles of 45, 90, 135 degrees.
There are many versions and variants of such magnets produced by different manufacturers. They differ not only in their working dimensions and attachment angles, but also in their grip strength.
The magnetic clamp or welding angle can have a wide variety of configurations, providing the ability to set the required mounting angle. Such magnets can have the following designs:
- ordinary squares, through which it is possible to set fixed angles determined by the profile of the workpieces;
- clamp-type fasteners with the ability to adjust the angle of fixation, which ensures their universal use as welding elements on structures of any degree of complexity;
- modern samples of squares with several fixed angles, also related to multifunctional tools and used in the organization of complex welding work;
- squares with various clamping forces, designed both for massive elements of welded structures, and for small (compact) parts.
In addition to all of the above, a permanent or switchable magnet can be built into the mounting samples, which allows you to remove the product without any noticeable effort.
The cost of each of the magnet models is formed taking into account a number of indicators related to the design used (the possibility of setting different angles, their adjustment and the power of the magnet). It ranges from 300-400 rubles for a standard sample (800-900 rubles for a set of standard corners) to 3000-5000 rubles for special models for professional use.
Each such magnetic welding holder has its own performance characteristics that determine its sales value. However, for those who are not "obsessed" with branded products and want to save on purchases, the option of making them yourself is always possible.
Benefits of magnetic weight holders
The principle of operation of the holder in the form of a magnet extends to the so-called "mass", which is directly connected to the workpiece during welding. Its use during electric welding is quite justified, since it provides the welder with tangible advantages, expressed in the following:
- due to the use of a reliable, compact and quickly installed contact, the freedom of action of the operator is noticeably increased;
- the magnetic corner mass holder is attached before welding, so that its installation does not need any third-party assistance;
- the possibility of reliable and stable connection with almost any serviced surfaces;
- the simplicity of the magnet device, which does not contain any complex built-in elements;
- the ability to withstand loads and stresses in a wide range of mechanical influences, which provides sufficient strength for fixing metal structures;
- and, finally, a significant area of contact with the workpiece, which guarantees reliable closure with it during welding.
However, the method of fixing the mass has its drawbacks. The main one is that it is inconvenient to install the magnet on small metal parts (on a bar or fittings, for example).
Another disadvantage of these is undoubtedly convenient devices is the impossibility of using them when welding non-ferrous metals, because the magnet does not stick to them.
To all of the above, it should be added that during welding, small metal chips and other waste stick to the magnet, which are recommended to be cleaned with a metal brush.
Taking into account the indicated inconveniences, the use of such a mass as a whole is quite justified, since it gives concrete and tangible results.
Homemade magnetic clips
You can make a magnetic square for welding with your own hands, it is not difficult, especially since there is more than enough information on the order of the operations performed.
Design
A magnetic fixture or device is usually made from two separate parts. Firstly, it is the contact or point at which the lead cable is fixed on the holder. Secondly, it is the magnet itself, which can have different shapes and dimensions.
Two parts of a prefabricated product for welding are connected by means of a special fastening that ensures their reliable coupling. Wherein Special attention refers to the total weight, which must not exceed a certain value.
Thus, ESAB magnetic welding triangles have a total weight of about 850 grams and guarantee easy handling.
Taking into account the design features of welding magnets, you can proceed to their direct assembly.
Self-manufacturing
You will need a sufficiently “strong” magnet, which can be used as the base of a powerful speaker that has become unusable. Further, it will be necessary to find sets of thick washers suitable for them in size in the amount of two pieces.
And finally, you should stock up on additional fasteners (bolt and nut) necessary to connect the welded cable clamp. When assembling the system, first a hole for the bolt is drilled in one of the washers (which will serve as a contact pad). After that, it is inserted into the workpiece and welded.
The head of the fixing bolt is ground with a file to the thickness of the washer itself (flush with the contact plane).
After welding, the structure in the form of a fungus is carefully cleaned with a file, and then a magnet from the speaker is strung on it. At the end of the work, a second washer is attached to the protruding threaded rod and the end of the cable is fixed here, and then the entire structure is tightened with a nut.
At the end of the review, let's pay attention to the fact that, despite significant savings at, branded magnets are still more reliable and durable.
Hello. Today I want to talk about a magnetic welding square that I recently made. I will soon have to make several gates and entrance gate, so I decided to make some magnetic squares this winter. They will save me a lot of time and effort when welding rectangular structures from profile pipes.
Here's what I needed for this:
1. An old speaker from a car stereo.
2. "Magnetic" sheet metal(steel) 1 mm thick
3. Thin aluminum strip.
4. Blind rivets.
As you know, the speakers have quite powerful ferrite magnets.
Using a hammer and chisel, I separated the "magnetic part" of the speaker. (It is attached with four rivets).
After that, it remains to remove the magnet. It is located between two steel plates and secured with glue. It was necessary to lower it for some time into acetone, or into the 646th solvent ... But I just took a knife, which I don’t mind, inserted between the plate and the magnet, and, with light blows of the hammer, separated the plates.
I used to get it "clean", but this time the ferrite magnet chipped a little ... Oh well ... I'll grind on a diamond cup.
Next, I started making plates. I cut them out of an old window tide. (I myself am surprised, but it was made of "black" non-galvanized iron, 1 mm thick!). The metal was very well magnetized, which was what I needed in the first place.
Using a locksmith's square, attaching it and the resulting magnet to the workpiece, I determined the dimensions of my future product, drew it and cut it out with a grinder:
Next, I marked and cut out the corners. Corners need to be cut for several reasons:
Firstly, when cutting a profile pipe (and especially, with a thick circle on, burrs remain on the edge. When welding, they will easily melt and do not interfere. But the square will rest against them. (But even half a millimeter will greatly change the angle in this case). Therefore, after the pipes are cut to size, you will have to clean up these burrs, and waste time on this.
Secondly, if there is not a large gap in the corner, you can accidentally weld the square itself to the workpiece !!!
So I cut them like this:
I did not mark the second plate. I just attached the first one to it (already with cutouts) and, according to this template, marked it and also cut it out: 
Next, I went into fine tuning. Indeed, it is not possible to cut very accurately with a grinder, and accuracy is needed to a fraction of a millimeter. Therefore, I had to bring it up manually. I took a piece of a wide profile pipe, spread a strip on it sandpaper, and manually, on it, I grinded the sides of my metal triangles, periodically putting them into a locksmith square and checking "for clearance"
After that, evenly folding the blanks and squeezing them in a vise, I drilled holes in them for rivets. (I forgot to take a picture of this process). And after that, just in case, pulling them through the holes with M5 screws, I “finished” them again on sandpaper, already two together.
Next, I want to focus on a common mistake when making homemade squares. Many do-it-yourselfers make them "open". That is, they do not cover the butt with anything! It is unacceptable. Because when working with metal, there is a lot of sawdust, frozen spatter of scale, small scraps and other magnetic debris. Since all this debris is very light, it adheres to the magnet abundantly. Here, for example, is a photo of a weak (!!!) magnet, with which I deliberately "poked" on the workbench after I cut and finished my workpieces:
See how much he got?!!! The magnet itself is not even visible behind the garbage!!! This is how garbage and a magnetic square will collect. And even stronger, because its magnetic properties are more powerful!!!
That is why its shape should be such that it can be easily cleaned!!! That is, its ends should represent smooth planes. I made them from thin aluminum plate. Some kind of edging from the shelf of an old refrigerator fell under my arm.
From it I cut out a strip with a width equal to the thickness of the magnet:
And from it he bent a frame around the perimeter of the plates. It will be nested between them, and tightly clamped with rivets. The ends of the square will be tightly closed, magnetic dirt will not get inside, and it will be easy to remove it from the surface of the plates.
By the way, pay attention: I had to cut the magnet at the bottom a little. This is my mistake - when estimating the dimensions of the plates, I did not take a correction for the thickness of the aluminum plate, and then the magnet did not fit in it ....
So, let me focus on one more thing. A ferrite magnet is quite easy to cut with a grinder. But, unlike metal cutting, apply abrasive wheel not worth trying!!! It will slip and you will just overheat the magnet. (By the way, if anyone does not know, permanent magnets lose their properties from overheating.). You need to cut with a diamond wheel. The diamond wheel for wet cutting, popularly called the "tiled" wheel, is best suited. It has a solid cutting surface and does not chip the cut:
And when cutting, the magnet needs to be cooled with water.
Next, I want to explain why I made the ends of aluminum, and at the same time focus on another common mistake. As you know, any magnet has two poles, conventionally called "north" and "south". Both poles are equally well attracted to the metal. For magnets of this shape, the poles are on planes. That is, when we apply metal plates to the planes, then these plates are already the poles of the magnet. And it is with them that our square will "stick", and not at all with a plane between them.
But, most importantly, the poles of the magnet cannot be "short-circuited" with magnetic material! This reduces its properties, and, in addition, contributes to the fact that the magnet, albeit slowly, but demagnetizes! And another mistake is that many people connect the plates with steel (!!!) screws. This, of course, is already a trifle, but if possible, then it is better to exclude it. And here's how I did it...
I decided to connect the plates with rivets.
Magnetic square designed for fixing metal parts during welding, soldering, assembly of structures. It is used to work with round pipes, rectangular pipes, strips, angles, profiles, sheet, solid and other types of metal. square quickly and reliably connects parts, reduces work time, facilitates installation and replaces bulky clamps and clamps. Angles: 45°, 90°, 135°.
There are many types and designs welding elbows from different manufacturers. For various kinds works magnetic squares are available in various sizes, different forces, even with a continuously variable working angle.
Naturally everything welding corners different in price. But if the brand is not very important to you and appearance, That magnetic square can easily be done with your own hands. A homemade fixture is quite enough for welding and installation work in a garage or a subsidiary farm, and most importantly homemade device nicer and cheaper.
Anyway welding square will find its application.
Let's start manufacturing. Store sample was taken as a basis magnetic square. Its dimensions have been changed to fit magnet, from the speaker, from the old TV. It turned out such a drawing.
Steel grade can be any, in my case it is steel 3. Plates welding elbow you can cut it manually, you can use a grinder, the main thing is to be accurate corners. In my case, the plates were cut out of metal using laser cutting. We got such blanks.
Now you need to make a spacer between 2 plates magnetic square she needs to protect magnet from sticking of metal filings and to give rigidity to our structure. The simplest thing that turned out to be at hand is plywood, we cut out a blank with a hole under magnet and reduce the contour of the part by a couple of mm. This is done so that the spacer does not interfere with fixation. magnetic square such as a water pipe.
Now that we have everything necessary details collect magnetic square using aluminum rivets, having previously smeared the parts with glue, for greater reliability. The plates must be assembled strictly in parallel.
When the glue dries, it remains only to paint homemade magnetic square, first with a primer, and then with paint, in the color you like.
As a result, we get welding square similar in its characteristics to store samples. The main thing to remember is that during operation it is undesirable to allow strong heat magnetic square, since temperature can lead to loss magnetic properties.
When welding small metal parts, it can be difficult to keep them still. To fix the elements in this case, the welder most often has to resort to the use of additional mechanisms and devices so that the parts do not move during the process.
The use of vices and clamps allows them to do an excellent job with this task, but the main disadvantage of such products is the need to carry out a large number of additional movements to set the part in a static position. And also in the inability to fix the details at a certain angle.
The magnetic holder for welding is devoid of such disadvantages, therefore, if you often have to weld parts in this way, it is recommended to purchase or make this device yourself.
When performing welding, the most commonly used magnetic devices of the following designs.
Angle: permanent action
The advantage of this model of squares is the ability to quickly fix the parts to be welded in 6 positions. The device consists of 2 plates with a powerful magnet located between them.
If you often have to weld parts under different angles, then it is recommended to purchase a holder with the ability to adjust.
A design with fixed angles will cost much less, but such a device should be purchased when the main part of the welding work is fixing the elements in the most commonly used position.
Disabled
The switchable magnetic welding holder is a device in which the magnetic field can be neutralized using a rotary lever.
Such devices are several times more expensive than a regular square, but thanks to the shutdown function, it is easier and more comfortable to use the product.
Also disconnected models can be easily cleaned of metal chips and other small parts.
See interesting video, where a person talks about a home-made switchable magnet for welding:
Which type of welding holder to choose depends on many circumstances. If a corner is needed for frequent use, then it is recommended to purchase a switchable model with a pull-off force of at least 20 kg.
Main selection criteria
If a magnetic holder is necessary for professional use, then it is difficult for a beginner to deal with models on the market.
Below are the main criteria for selecting such a device, taking into account many factors.
- The acquisition of a low-quality product will complicate the performance of welding operations on high level. The holders are exposed to high temperatures, which can lead to a significant decrease in the magnetization coefficient of poor products. When buying, you should inspect the product for mechanical damage. Even a small notch or unevenness of the tool at the point of contact with the fixed elements will not allow you to work at the required angle.
- If you often have to weld parts at different angles, then it is recommended to purchase an adjustable holder or a set of several triangles.
- Not the last selection criterion is the price. The cost of many Chinese-made models is very attractive, but often such devices fail after the first use.
To purchase a high-quality magnetic holder, it is recommended to consider products of Russian and European production.
Homemade magnetic corner
If there is no desire or opportunity to purchase a fixing device in a store, then you can independently make it from improvised materials.
A do-it-yourself magnetic welding holder can be made using the following materials:
- a magnet from a powerful speaker;
- steel sheet 2.5 mm thick;
- heat-resistant adhesive for metal;
- rivets.
To carry out the work you will need the following tools:
- electric drill;
- riveter;
- square;
- file.
A home-made magnetic holder for welding is made in the following sequence:
- On a metal sheet using a square and some sharp object, a triangular blank is marked.
- With the help of a grinder, the workpiece is cut strictly along the intended stripes.
- The cut piece is applied to metal sheet and again the sheet is marked.
- An exact copy of the previous part is cut.
- Both triangles are filed in such a way that their side planes are perfectly even, and the details are exactly the same.
- The triangles are aligned with each other, clamped in a vise and holes are made at their corners with a diameter equal to the thickness of the rivet used
- A magnet from the speaker is placed between the two triangles, on the plane of which glue is preliminarily applied.
- The square is placed in such a way that the holes of the plates are aligned and they are fixed together with rivets.
- Once the glue is completely dry, the product can be painted in any color with a special heat-resistant enamel.
The assembled product will allow you to qualitatively fix a mass of up to 3 kg at a certain angle.
If a more powerful holder is required for welding, then the device can be manufactured according to the above scheme. Only use neodymium magnets from a computer hard drive as a magnetic material. In this case, you can get a free and high-quality device with increased power.
In the manufacture homemade design the use of glue and rivets is the best option. If bolted connections are used, then over time the fastening will weaken from vibration and high temperature.
