Easy DIY Welding Tool My Dad Taught Me About

This might just come in handy some day...it has for me.
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[@TimWelds]

You can learn to weld. I'll show you exactly what to do in my affordable online welding courses at courses.timwelds.com.

[@edbennett8257]

2 hose clamps, 4 pieces of 1/8 inch filler rod. Clamp the rod evenly spaced around the end of one tube, slide the other tube in and clamp it. Gives access to a lot more of the joint for welding.

[@thomasbarlow4223]

I just pinch it with my fingers....

[@bfflorida2311]

Personally I just use magnets... I have a few magnetic V-Blocks or jig that is machined to 90° like (angle iron) that are about 2"-12" long and all you do is drop them into grove and slide against each other. Never had alignment issues when welding smaller pipes. if welding/brazing shaped pipe or non-metalic pipe I do same as ED B explained... 4 rods and 2 hose clamps

[@nsboost]

Or just tack it a few times and finish welding it. People over complicate things

[@edbennett8257]

@@nsboost You only use the clamps to hold it in alignment while tacking, then remove them. I don't know about you, but I've never been able to hold precise alignment solely by hand.

[@edbennett8257]

@@bfflorida2311 Have you ever tried to get a good TIG weld on something held with magnets? What if you're welding stainless that isn't magnetic?

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Great tip, Tim. That's genius, right there! Another tip, if you're having trouble seeing while welding, especially if you can't get good light on your work, mount a little adjustable LED light to your welding hood with some Velcro.

[@TimWelds]

Awesome! I’ve seen that done a few times, but never tried it myself. I’ll have to give it a go.

[@thefreedomguyuk]

Awwww!! That's genius !! Will get myself a led Thank you

[@mikemcgown6362]

Or the tiny light could be mounted on the welding gun to point directly at the joint to be done.

[@jimurrata6785]

I've always used a piece of angle iron to keep my tubing aligned.... This is a great trip Tim! Thanks for sharing these nuggets of knowledge.

[@jewelhome1]

Like V blocks in machining. But I’m not welding on my V blocks!

[@jimurrata6785]

@@jewelhome1You can get 30' of angle iron out of any bed frame on trash day..... It might not all be straight enough for what you want, but it sure as hell is straight enough to jig a muffler.

[@TimWelds]

Great tip! I have done that on straight sections - the angle iron is nice when there are straight runs because it keeps things straighter than the hose clamp will.

[@jimurrata6785]

@@TimWelds The fact that you can weld up bends out of all those pie cuts is freaking awesome! I've known a couple of guys that would make 2-stroke expansion chambers that way. _WAY_ more skill than I'll ever have.

[@ethandahlstrom7098]

great tip mate . ill definitely use it in the future

[@66block84]

I worked for 2 years as a welder in the 1970's. Production welding gets boring real fast. It is a very good skill to have. Early 1980's I went with a friend to one of his co-workers house who was trying to weld on the inside floor of his car, I mentioned that I had been a welder, he stood up, took the helmet & gloves off, gave them to me & said here you do this.

[@royfrye2871]

That happens a lot if people find out you can weld

[@JDnBeastlet]

Hey Tim, this is a great tip. Thanks! My Dad was an auto mechanic in the early part of his career in the Canadian Armed Forces. Growing up in Alberta, he learned how to properly torque parts from an experienced oilfield technician - especially useful for parts that are hard to get at. On a wheel, for instance, the key is not just torquing in a cross pattern, but the gradual application of torque. First the pattern with one third of the spec, then two thirds, then full torque. Dad taught me many things - this one just pops into my head.

[@nicksshitbro]

So my years of being a perfectionist and checking my lugs 3-4x was actually worth it?! Awesome.

[@tt600pch]

I was a mechanic on the log yard equipment at a sawmill in the late 80's. Occasionally we had to take the wheels off of the Letourneau that unloaded logtrucks in one bite. When the nuts on the 33.5x35 wheels needed torqued I asked the service rep how we torqued 2000 ft lbs. He asked "How much you weigh?" When I said 200 lbs he handed me a 10 foot piece of 2" pipe and a SnapOn breaker bar with socket and said "perfect" if you bounce on it twice. 200 lbs x 10 feet = 2000 lbs. Never had a wheel fall off.

[@JesusChrist_IsTruth-LoveForALL]

@@tt600pch cool!

[@MA69Supra]

Some manufacturers recommend tightening wheels like that, like Mercedes for example. They say to hand tighten all in a star pattern, then 75ftlb, then to spec usually 95-110ftlb depending on the car and wheel. Also good to torque them when the vehicle is still being supported by your lift/jack so it centers on the hub correctly ✌️

[@jheetman]

When cutting exhaust pipe with a hacksaw or sawzall you can clamp a muffler clamp on the pipe and use the u-bolt portion as a guide to get a straight cut.

[@nolansprojects2840]

Good idea! I like it.

[@wrthrash]

Great tip, my Dad taught me to use "angle iron as a saddle" for butt joints of most any diameter pipe. Rest the pipes inside the angle, clamp and tack, turn tack.

[@deegee8032]

I was just about to type out this same technique and thought I'll scroll down first because I couldn't be the only one who thought of this and sure enough I wasn't. DG

[@henryrossouw930]

I use the same method and it ensures that you have a straight pipe.

[@peter-peter5929]

Thank you for sharing this tip. The greatest tricks of the trade hide for years in front of our faces until a wise one shows up and notices.

[@markd6777]

Great idea for use in places where work-holding is difficult and you need your hands elsewhere, nice! Thanks Tim! (oh yeah and thanks to your dad)

[@mbterabytesjc2036]

When shortening the hose clamp excess, I will mark the length needed with a marker, back the tail out of the clamp, and use a pair of tin snips to set the proper length. After cleaning up the end with a file reassemble the clamp and it's ready to go. Saves the trouble of getting out the Dremel tool.

[@noelpatrick5074]

Your Dad is a genius,,, thanks for the tips,,,,, Simple yet effective

[@nolansprojects2840]

Knew what you were gonna do as soon as the hose clamp came out! Great idea. I can see this being useful for welding many of the same sized tubes for a frame or something, otherwise a piece of angle iron and some straps may be a little quicker. But this is more handy if you don’t have angle iron around!!

[@SimonElenor]

I tack weld two pieces of steel to my two hose clamps so I can have a bigger weld area and it also allows me to bend the clamps at angles. Works well also.

[@victoryfirst2878]

This trick was the first one I learned when I started stick welding. This brings back fond memories.

[@NickC_222]

Simplicity is the cornerstone of brilliance. This is absolutely brilliant. I just love little tricks like this.

[@idahopotato5837]

Great tip for bends. For straight pipe 3 mini strong magnets work good.

[@boosted2.4_sky]

That's what I use I got some ridiculously strong rare earth magnets.. they'll pinch you if you're not careful

[@timthurston3601]

That is so genius! I'm definitely going to share this with my shop teacher

[@louisaziz1235]

Incredible tutorial. Always like to learn something new. Many thanks.

[@Melvinious]

Not a welding tip but an automotive repair tip. When installing new spark plugs in vehicles with hard to reach to reach areas, attach a length of 3/8ths hose to an extension on a drill. Stick the plug into the hose, then the hole it goes into, give it a wiggle, then tighten it till it stops. It gives you an easier time getting it where it needs to be, and prevents crossthreading. You can then torque them down afterwards.

[@ypaulbrown]

You were looking great with the collaboration with Justin this weekend......

[@TS-qd2uj]

Great tip! I'll get on a few of these to use on my fence tubing extensions.

[@rtkville]

Great idea! One of those good to have in the back of your mind when the time comes to need it. Thanks!

[@SANDSCORCHER]

Simple yet brilliant. What an elegant solution. 😎👍🏻

[@kerrygibbs8198]

Good presentation and great information!! Yea! I’ve learned something that I’ll keep in mind for future projects!! Thank You.

[@tinkermouse-scottrussell3738]

Thanks for the heads up, Tim if only I found this 30 years sooner. Play safe from Elliot Lake Ontario, Canada

[@craigkeller]

Thank your dad for all of us.

[@208Concepts]

I use hose clamps to hold sensor bungs in place while I tack them. Also works OK for BOV flanges if they're short and stable enough.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

👍Good tip. Simple, quick and looks like very good alignment between the two pipes.

[@cyrilnorrie8450]

That video and info will definately come in handy. Thanks for sharing this tip!

[@mattchilders3123]

Great vid Tim... I would have never have thought of any of these tips.

[@lewis2553]

I love it! I'm gonna download this! Thanks for the tip. I suppose, with those pie cuts, the hose clamp will help greatly if you have to rotate the pieces so that the oval shapes of the ends are at 90 degrees to each other so that they don't match up exactly. The hose clamp will pull them in line, deforming each just a little, so that they do match up and you can weld them. It's brilliant!

[@thomasliver]

Know is a great thing ! Thanks for passing this on!

[@northerntranquility1614]

That's a fantastic tip little tricks like this are so helpfull thanks Dale

[@wzg8s7]

Useful tips, thanks to your dad.

[@randbaldwin]

I love tips and tricks like this. I find it quickest and easiest to just lay the pipes in piece of angle iron. That lines them up, just hold them in place by hand for the first tack.

[@mikemcgown6362]

That won't work for pieces that can't lay flat. For example near a bend or flange.

[@jeremybrambles7992]

Nice tip well done thanks to you & your dad for sharing

[@michaelflagulant]

thanks for the tip, your dad seems pretty savvy!... 👍

[@Paul-mt7dq]

Another great idea, keep them coming.

[@davidmaxwell7275]

As a beginning welder thanks for sharing a great idea, have subscribed

[@davehoward2791]

Wow that’s cool, great idea. Thanks for passing it on! 👍

[@barrykilts4506]

I would leave the clamp as is and use the same beginning process to in stall three metal legs around the sturdy piece to do the same thing,square up the 2nd piece to be butt welded,you could even use a 2nd clamp to add additional strength to the piece being added.I a lot to take in with no pic

[@mb7a4fmlg]

Dang that's so cool. Thank you for sharing. I really appreciate it.

[@andyvoytko]

Using a little bit of trigonometry (triangle math) and a saw where you can adjust the angle you can make a wide range of elbows with different center line radii. Used to do it all the time at work.

[@moonshadowdrifting]

Just what I needed for a project that's coming up! Thanks Tim

[@TimWelds]

Awesome!

[@super73uk]

Superb Tip - Keep'em coming... Thank you very much for your wisdom! Best wishes from the UK!!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks so much!

[@stricht8]

Ingenious idea and so simple.

[@davehuxley6689]

Thank you Tim that's a great tip.

[@Jamespennington71]

That is an AWESOME tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@derekboardman9995]

A former work buddy told me a welder's trick for welding a gas tank. He had gone to several welders who refused to do it. Finally some old codger agreed. The trick was to fill the tank with water.

[@joeshumo9457]

That’s a terrible idea. On a metal tank you would drain it of fuel and then ventilate it until dry. You then fill the tank with nitrogen and weld. That water myth will get someone killed.

[@rm3141593]

@@joeshumo9457 Actually he just didn't quite finish. After the tank is filled, and all the lighter volatile gasoline components float up and out, you drain everything back out leaving nothing but air. No one is going to die.

[@rcytb]

Excellent idea. Thanks!

[@rodneyhaley1734]

That’s a great little tip thanks for sharing

[@rogerbalay188]

Thanks for the tips !

[@ZenThruAnger]

A good old school technique that still works. These days, magnet holders especially neodymium magnets have taken the need for that away, however, only for ferrous metals. It is still useful for non-ferrous welding like of course for aluminum pipe, but this is a low budget and cost-effective way of getting things done. Great share.

[@jadymulqueeney]

Brilliant idea, thanks!!

[@billybobjones4317]

Very clever, I enjoy these types of tips as they are useful for many things not just for welding, Cheers

[@veightkiero9015]

I love the story about your Dad. This is a great tool and I could have used it literally yesterday when welding a bicycle seat extension post for my kids custom "Tiger Bike". Thanks for all you videos and insights. You have helped me become a better welder and not be afraid to just jump in and learn something new.

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! So glad to hear that!

[@ModernNeandertal]

Very nicely done.

[@laserfalcon]

Tips from our dads are always the best

[@dennisgeroux4483]

Good tip, I’ll keep that in mind

[@ralphbarnes2994]

very good, learned something. Thanks

[@dougc78]

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

[@jimurrata6785]

When you cut the tail off, cutting it back at a 45 on each side will not only make it much easier to get started again, it will also not be so likely to snag things (like your sleeve or flesh)

[@TimWelds]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@jimurrata6785]

@@TimWelds Thank you for all you share. I'm really glad I found your channel. It's a nice change from most of the other welding channels I find on KZbin. With your calm demeanor and concise explanations you make a great teacher

[@rustygoldfanatic8830]

Thanks for the tip that's pretty useful to me.

[@terrykleypas50]

Great idea. Just hope I can remember it now .......

[@MrWayneploof]

I love this tip thank you for showing it

[@tthams73]

That’s an awesome idea!! Your dad’s a genius

[@BruceLyeg]

That's a great idea. Thanks for the tip

[@johnbird8605]

That's a really neat idea Tim! 😎

[@Enonymouse_]

Nice, never thought of trying that.

[@KapteinFruit]

This was a nifty little trick I will keep in mind. Thanks :)

[@VictorRodriguez-rd5xl]

This is a good tip amigo..when you least expect it you need to do something like this..thanks for sharing...learned something new🙂👍👍

[@1FASIMP]

I did this same thing. But i used an soild exhaust clamp. Nice tip for pie cuts. Ill be trying it out. Thanks 😊

[@_mylastname]

Pretty cool Lil trick. I'll be sure to use it at some point for sure..

[@2litrepeter.]

Great little trick!

[@wrathmachine7609]

This is a very cool trick thank you very much for sharing

[@dashobie]

Great idea Thank You.

[@colt10mmsecurity68]

When welding two pieces of thin pipe together that both have straight “even” (not angled) cuts, one doesn’t have to go through all that. Just use a piece of angle iron and lay both pieces of pipe “end to end” in the groove on the angle iron. Then quickly spot weld away. Easy.

[@netneedingsystems2318]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@frederikmare9002]

Thanks! Great video and a great idea that I will definitely use! 👍👍👍

[@maxnine57]

Thanks Tim for the awesome tip! I always learn everytime on your great posts have a great day

[@TimWelds]

Thanks so much! I appreciate it!

[@asadabdulqaabir4006]

Very clever. Kudos

[@markwatters6875]

Great hint mate. Thanks for sharing 👍🇦🇺

[@adirondacker007]

I build a lot of tube railings. I have a couple of C-clamps with angle welded to both faces. They're fast and accurate.

[@FlakeBoss]

Man, awesome tip! thanks for sharing this!!!

[@irgtk]

Fantastic tip ,thanks!

[@TalRohan]

Thats a very cool and cheap little "super tool". Thanks for sharing

[@SkullKram]

Super idea. one up would be using a Quick disconnect style worm gear clamps. Also using the clamps as a cutting and marking aid.

[@TimWelds]

That’s a great idea! I’ll have to look into it.

[@snaponmark]

Wow! Awesome tip! Thank you!

[@MySickstring]

This is a great tip! And, a few of these in different sizes don’t take up much room at all…unlike clamps and jigs

[@rickmcdonald1557]

What a great useful tip and one that I need to save for the future. This one is a keeper~! 👍👍✌

[@TheRockeye007]

cool trick. love it!

[@brianjainese5290]

Very cool. Dig your videos. Thanks

[@NickFrom1228]

If you have a piece (straight) that either needs to be stronger or is at risk of damage from rocks, rust, whatever, then you can do the following: 1. Before bending pipes etc, if possible, cut a piece of the same size pipe to cover the risky area. 2. Slit it end to end 3. Pry it open a touch and slide it onto the part needing protection 4.Weld the slit, then weld one end into place solidly. Whether you weld the second end is up to you but it is possible that the heating of the inner pipe will happen faster than the outer and you may create stresses. I don't think it's a huge issue but it's possible (depends on several variables). If you have a situation where you cannot slide the pipe on in step one, then you can either open it far enough to slip over and squeeze it back down (hose clamps or even C clamps) or slit it on opposite sides and weld back together. There you have it. Quick and effective protection that can make a risky piece last much longer.

[@cwduch]

Great tip! Beefier Dremel cut off discs with fiber reinforcement are available, they work much better and last longer.

[@TimWelds]

Thanks!

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@TimWelds you can stack 2 of the lesser ones also,that can help.

[@apacheone3643]

Good Tip never thought of that 👍.

[@joeshumo9457]

I was taught to do this with copper pipe . Slit the pipe lengthwise and then flatten the two sections use a bolt to form a clamp and drill holes for the spot welds. Also you can make some copper backing spoons for filling holes in sheet metal while you’re at it. The copper won’t stick to the welds and can be used indefinitely.

[@griffmillerii1885]

I've used a couple of that type of clamp spaced closely together (the kerf thickness plus a smidge) on large PVC pipe in the wild so that I could get a square cut with hand tools.

[@richardw3294]

Good tip thanks.

[@ericjohnson4768]

Great tip!