Choice of electrode holder for manual arc welding. DIY holder. Homemade holder for welding Features of the operation of the trident

An electrode holder for MMA welding is a device designed to hold a stick electrode and supply electric current to it.

Good electrode holder:

• provides reliable fastening of the electrode and the ability to quickly change the angle of the electrode exit;
• guarantees full electrical contact;
• provides quick replacement of the electrode.
• lightness is not the last parameter that you need to pay attention to. At the end of the day with a heavy electrode holder, your hands will fall off.

Normal weight - from 350 grams for a current of 125A to 750 grams for a current of 500A.

Helpful Hint: Don't buy an oversized electrode holder, based on the common misconception that it will last longer. In fact, professional electrode holders accurately withstand the load that they claim, but only on the condition that you have purchased a branded product.

The most common types of electrode holders:

• spring;
• screw (or clamp)

The most popular at present are universal electrode holders, which, thanks to a spring-loaded clamping mechanism and specially designed brass or copper jaws, allow you to place the electrode in various spatial positions. The body of the welding holder, handle and moving parts must be made of high quality insulating and heat-insulating materials. It can be plastic or ceramic-plastic.

Due to the large influx of low-quality products from China to the markets of welding equipment, when buying an electrode holder, it is recommended check its current-carrying parts with a magnet. It often happens that they are made of steel, on the surface of which a copper-like coating is made. It is recommended to subject the ground terminals to the same procedure by checking with a magnet, so as not to end up with a fixture that will quickly overheat and burn out during welding.

Newbies in welding often ask the question: why buy a new electric holder if when buying a welding inverter, everything you need for welding is already attached to it?

The answer is very simple: often, the electric holder that comes with the welding machine quickly fails, regardless of whether you use it in production or cook it at home from time to time. Usually this is the KV-200 model. Due to the fact that cheap materials are used for its manufacture, the first thing that fails is the clamping jaws, which burn and do not provide reliable fixation. The electrode begins to dangle, which gets on the nerves of the welder and affects the quality of the welds.

By the way, the quality of other components, especially when it comes to cheap welding machines for home welding such as , and so on, as a rule, leaves much to be desired. This also applies to welding cables. Resanta has an aluminum cable, which may look fantastic, but it's true. The cunning Chinese put a few microns of copper on it so that when you remove the insulation, the forgery would not be visible, but this should not mislead you. Make a notch with a knife, and you will see that the core is light metal. There are also questions about the length of the cables and their rigidity. But this is a topic for a separate article. All components should be purchased separately.

Let's get down to specifics...

• Well-known German company . It is primarily known for its TIG welding torches, which are widely used. For manual arc welding, BINZEL has a simple assortment of four models of spring-type electrode holders DE 2200, DE 2300, DE 2400, DE 2500 "KURT HAUFE", similar to each other like two drops of water and differing only in current strength (from 200 to 600A) , respectively, by weight and dimensions. They are reliable, made of high-quality materials that provide the necessary mechanical and thermal properties and provide fixation of the electrode in four positions. In the welding market, the KURT HAUFE series is very fond of forging, so be careful!

• Swedish industrial company Esab. Series Eco Handy, PRIMA. The screw-type electrode holder provides a more secure attachment of the electrode. It is fixed in the mounting holes without play: in the position of 90 degrees in the end hole and in the position of 90 and 45 degrees in the hole located on the diameter.

Minus: the electrode holder is heavy, but this is its only drawback. Included: a powerful hexagon and a copper plate, which wraps and crimps the cable.

• Telvin. They are cheaper than previous brands, although they are positioned by sellers as Italy. But we know where they make products that are cheaper. Although the quality is acceptable. There are high-quality insulators that do not burn even at currents of more than 300A during prolonged operation, the fasteners are not weakened. Of the minuses: heavier than the same ABICOR BINZEL
• Electrode holders Eagle/Falcon. From Trafimet, Italy. In our humble opinion, one of the best representatives of its kind. There are no complaints about fittings and fasteners. A definite plus: light weight, fits comfortably in the hand.

Do-it-yourself electrode holder

Holder "Trident"

Raising such a topic, it is very difficult to ignore the version of the “trident”, which every self-respecting welder collects for himself. Its design is simple and uncomplicated, so it is difficult to resist the temptation to make it with your own hands, no matter what, but creativity, to which, undoubtedly, the soul of every real welder lies. At the same time, you will be able to independently evaluate all the pros and cons of a home-made holder, and you can only scold yourself for poor-quality assembly. This folk art is also suitable for those who do not like factory holders.

There are many assembly methods. Let's take the simplest one.

The body of the holder (trident) is made by bending a reinforcement (or rod) made of carbon steel with a diameter of 8 mm (6 mm is possible, but it quickly burns out, you can take a diameter > 8 mm). As experience shows, the eight is enough for a long time and it is more convenient for her to work.

Further, a tube is made like a terminal, divided into two parts, one part compresses the cable, stripped of insulation, the second holds the cable insulation. All this is welded to the trident. This operation is the most critical, since unreliable contact leads to heating. An insulator (for example, a piece of reinforced hose) is worn hot. To prevent loosening of the insulator, for example, a high-strength anaerobic thread locker Done Deal can be used.

Holder "Corner"

It has a similar design with a trident, why it is called that, can be clearly seen in the photo. Minus: in the trident, all the clamps are springy, in the corner version, the entire load falls on one central rod.

Plus: no need to hit or strike, the electrode is removed by the next electrode and you always know where it will fly.

"Trident" VS factory electric holder

According to some welders, a more reliable holder simply does not exist. Others prefer to keep up with the times and purchase a factory holder. Let's try to compare them and come to a common opinion, which is better for welding?

Advantages of a homemade holder:

• Minimum manufacturing costs;
• Does not require careful attitude and is not afraid of falling from a height;
• If you have to weld painted metal and there is no way to clean it, for example, with a grinder, then this can be easily done by the holder itself.

Flaws:

• Prohibited by production;

It is clear that no one will inspect us which holder we use, however, this gives us the opportunity to think, because due to its bareness there is a high probability of electric shock, especially in wet weather or when working with wet metal.

• The design limits the options for fixing the electrode, since sometimes it is necessary to clamp the electrode strictly vertically in order to get to hard-to-reach places;
• Replacing the cinder in a trident also leaves much to be desired, because in some cases it is even traumatic (when you knock out the electrode, you don’t know where it can fly - it can easily hit the eye);
• High probability to close on the design. This is especially tragic when repairing structures sheathed with profiled sheets. The slightest touch of the electrode holder on the profiled sheet - and an instant burn, which will spoil the appearance.

At home, you can make a good screw holder from a copper tube, which air conditioner installers always have in abundance in the form of scraps.

In our case, this is a ¾ pipe (ø out. = 19 mm) You can use steel, but we do not recommend it - it is very heavy and does not conduct electricity well. Due to the high resistance, the steel will get very hot. The handle can be made from a metal-plastic pipe ø int. =20 mm; ø out. =26 mm (but it is better to use a rubber hose). She will put on a copper tube and completely close it.

To prevent metal-plastic from slipping in your hands, you can wrap it, for example, with a piece of leather cut from an old jacket or an obsolete welding glove. Next, you need an M12 anchor bolt with a hole drilled through, which will be glued into the cap of a plastic bottle.

Epoxy can be used as glue. This is done for safety, in order to completely isolate the holder from electricity.

A homemade rebar holder cannot be compared with the data on the quality of the insulation or the value of thermal conductivity!

The COG cable is inserted into the tube from the cut side together with rubber insulation and crimped.

What is the difference between COG and CG? KOG is a highly flexible cable; CG is just flexible. In COG, the veins are slightly thinner and there are more of them, due to this it is more plastic and mobile.

The handle should be made a little longer so that the cable does not break.

A bolt with an anchor nut is hammered into the tube and soldered with copper-silver solder to improve contact.

If you have a brass or copper bolt with a nut, it will be generally gorgeous! True, this still needs to be looked for ... But with a suitable bar and a familiar turner, you can turn it all very quickly. The operation will not take long.

To fix the handle, a hole is drilled on it. A hole is also drilled on the tube and a screw thread is cut. Also, the handle can be simply glued on.

The screw holder is made for small diameter electrodes, maximum 3.2. Holds the electrode very well, nothing dangles. Those who do not like the location of the electrode at 90 °, it can be bent to a more convenient angle.

The electrode holder turns out to be very small, compact, lightweight and, most importantly, absolutely electrically safe! It can be thrown anywhere, which you would never do with a rebar fork!

The holder is the main tool in the hands of a welder, so take his choice most responsibly!

The terms of a simple welding machine and welding electrode, we already know. Let's continue the topic of welding and homemade welding machines and consider how to make your own holder for a welding machine.

Let's watch a video on making a homemade holder

So, before starting work, we will prepare the necessary materials and tools:
- half-inch tube;
- plate 30x30 mm;
- two twigs 6.5 cm long;
- workpiece in the form of a wire;
- PVC plastic tube;
- two transition rings;
- screw;
- bolt.

Separately, it should be noted that the use of stainless steel is an important factor, since stainless steel does not oxidize, does not rust and conducts welding current well. Therefore, the author advises using stainless steel elements in the process of making a homemade holder. Let us also explain that two twigs can be cut from old welding electrodes, and the workpiece can be knitted from a piece of the same electrodes.

We figured out the materials, you can start assembling. Let's start by assembling the inside of the holder. To do this, take a stainless steel tube and cut it along under the thickness of the plate. The depth of the cut should be approximately 3-4 mm in order for the plate to hold firmly. For more stability, you need to weld the base of the plate.

Then we move on to the next stage. We take pieces of electrodes. We cook straight pieces on the sides of the plate, and a spring piece in the middle. Also required is a small cut on one of the side pieces. This is necessary so that the electrode can be inserted into the holder more easily and held more stable.

We proceed to the next stage of making a homemade holder. Now we need to secure the cable. To do this, take a nut and bolt. To do this, we need to drill a hole in the side of the tube and grab a nut there. In order to fix the cable, you need to insert it in a stripped form into the tube and tighten the bolt, tightening the cable.

Finally, let's start making the holder handle. We put the rings on the tube and pull the PVC tube onto the stainless steel tube. Rings also need to be welded to a stainless steel tube.

Welding is developing by leaps and bounds: a new type of equipment makes welding accessible, useful and interesting for beginners and professionals. Let's add one more word - "comfortable" business.

What does it mean to work comfortably? It means convenient, pleasant and efficient. Such comfort is added by various modern accessories. These certainly include the electrode holder, whose new and varied forms have appeared on the market in large numbers.

What is he doing? In short, it controls the electrode during welding: fixes it and supplies the welding current. Hence the desired properties.

Homemade holder.

Functions and technological properties that a holder for welding should have:

• provides a strong fixation of the electrode with a changing angle of the electrode exit;
• gives a reliable and complete electrical contact;
• durability of work;
• capable of quick replacement;
• should be light weight so that the hand does not get tired. The usual weight of the holder is about 350 g. For a current of 500A, the device is more powerful and can weigh up to 750 g;
• obligatory ergonomics: comfortable position in the hand, requiring no effort.

One of the classic stereotypes is buying a bigger and more powerful device with a pipe dream in your head so that it works longer and better. In fact, this does not happen. This also applies to the welding holder.

Classification of electric holders

Generally speaking, these devices are divided into two large groups: specialized and universal, regulated in GOSTs.

Homemade electrode holder.

The most popular types of universal holders are as follows:

• Holder - clamp type clothespin can be presented in two versions: spring and lever. This device, which can be called an electrode clamp, has an extremely simple design and low cost. It is compatible with almost all welding machines. Gives excellent characteristics: good ignition of the arc, high quality of the seam and, importantly, energy savings.
• The trident fork is perhaps the most common version among professional welders. There are some nuances associated with these electrode holders for manual arc welding. The fact is that in the traditional form it is poorly protected: many parts are energized, which carries a high risk of harm to health. In addition to injury by electricity, there is a risk of radiation damage in addition. There are, of course, modified automated models that are considered safe and show good technological performance.
• Holder - clamp type collet is used in the narrow direction: only in torches for argon arc welding.
• Screw holder in several versions: the clamp can be straight or bent in shape with different thread directions - both left and right.
• Bezorogkovy holder works on a different principle. True to its name, it prevents the formation of cinders and reduces the time of fixing the consumable, which is not clamped, but welded to the end of the electrode, so that it will eventually melt during welding. After that, the next consumable is taken.

Dimensions

Electrode holder designed by Anikin.

What is behind the concept of ergonomics? This is compactness and suitable dimensions for the specific hand of the master, light weight. If you have a line of welding holders with the same specifications, choose the one that is lighter and smaller in size.

If you travel to different locations, purchase a second spare copy of the welding holder.

Degree of reliability

The reliability of the devices is tested under non-standard operating conditions. Holders for welding must work steadfastly and without loss of their qualities at critical temperatures, high humidity, dust pollution, etc. The plastic of the handle should be durable with good insulation.

It is better if the clamp is cast and massive. Very reliable are screw electrode holders with rigid threaded fixation. They are the most durable in operation and, in addition, make it possible to change the angle of the cathode end.

Price

The range of prices is impressive: from one hundred rubles to fifteen thousand. Of course, the cheapest models, by definition, cannot be considered safe or reliable. If you are not going to buy disposable equipment, you need to pay attention to the average price categories of models.

Expensive options are designed for professional work of a large volume, these are also unlikely to suit you. If you decide to purchase an expensive model, analyze its characteristics in the most careful way. Clamps for professional work cannot cost less than three thousand rubles.

Do-it-yourself electric holder

Varieties of homemade holders.

Trident

Most often, craftsmen make a homemade holder for electrodes in the form of a notorious trident. In more detail, they make the very simple version of the trident, which is difficult to find on sale due to health risks.

Types of holders for welding.

With all this, the trident can be made quite safe, according to the algorithm of actions:

• Do-it-yourself reinforcement or a metal bar made of steel after bending acts as the basis for the holder with your own hands. The diameter of the rod must be at least 8 mm.
• Two parts of the tube are welded to the trident: one part fixes the cable insulation, the second one compresses the cable without insulation.
• The insulator can be a piece of reinforced hose. The thoroughness of its installation is the most responsible business; the safety of the device will depend on this. It is impossible to loosen the fasteners of the insulator, for this you can use a special anaerobic thread lock Done Deal.

screw model

How to create a screw holder model:

• Copper tube can be used to make an excellent screw-type holder. Copper tubing scraps can be found in abundance at air conditioner installers. Usually it is a pipe with an outer diameter of 19 mm.
• The handle can be made of a metal-plastic pipe with an outer diameter of 26 mm. The best option would be a rubber hose. The handle must be pulled over the copper tube so that it completely covers it.
• The handle should be wrapped with a piece of a jacket or glove so that it does not slip in your hands.
• The final action will be gluing an M12 bolt with a through hole into the cap of a plastic bottle. Your homemade electrode holder is ready.

Electrode holders for both manual arc welding and argon welding are an excellent tool for craftsmen to work more conveniently and improve the quality of products. These devices can be bought, or you can make your own. The main criteria in all cases are safety, stability and reliability.

Despite the high reliability of the design, the proprietary holder for the welding machine may fail at some point in time. At the same time, situations are not uncommon when no spare parts help to fully restore its performance.

Given that welding operations do not tolerate any delays and stops, there should always be another holder on hand. Professional welders prefer to make their own spare electrode holder.

First of all, you need to pay attention to the fact that a home-made holder for welding must meet the following requirements, consistent with welding safety standards:

• the handle of the holder must provide reliable security for the welder (that is, it must be made of a dielectric);
• the holder as a whole must have good thermal security;
• the current-carrying wires should be mounted on the holder in such a way that during the welding process they cannot be damaged;
• the electrode holder is designed for electric currents of hundreds of amperes;
• the welding rod itself must be fixed in it quite rigidly and as reliably as possible;
• changing one electrode to another should not cause any difficulties and time delays.

Considering that the last two requirements for holder design are almost mutually exclusive, its manufacturer must have a good imagination and practical ingenuity to resolve this dilemma.

To all of the above, it should be added that home-made fixtures for a welding machine will be more reliable and productive if, in their manufacture, they focus on time-tested branded products.

Factory made products

The domestic manufacturer produces several varieties of products of the class we are considering, among which the following items stand out:

• welding holder, made according to the principle of collet fastening;
• clamp type "clothespin";
• fastening, shaped like a trident (fork).

Let's consider each of these options for their implementation in more detail.

The collet holder for welding equipment allows you to easily change the electrodes and fully complies with the requirements for operator protection.

In addition, it is very convenient to use and looks quite aesthetically pleasing. However, all these advantages are quite expensive for the consumer, since such a holder surpasses all other models at a retail price.

A special collet grip has another significant drawback associated with limiting the allowable current through it.

The holder for welding of the "clothespin" type belongs to the category of the most popular products, manufactured with a wide variety of sizes and diameters of the rods inserted into it.

In accordance with these indicators, such holders are designed for various strengths of welding currents. They are not always convenient to use, but they provide reliable contact with the rod, have no maximum current restrictions and do not need additional devices.

The disadvantage of this type of welding holders is the difficulty of replacing the used electrode and significant size.

But the welding holders of the “trident” or “fork” type are time-tested and reliable designs, so they will be considered as an example of assembling a product with your own hands.

DIY options

A homemade holder is assembled taking into account the features and advantages of well-known branded designs. There are more than enough manufacturing options for any of the performances we have considered, however, among independent crafts, the classic trident usually occupies a leading position.

This type of welding fixture has a very simple device and can be assembled even by a non-professional.

Trident

Welding holders of this design in their shape resemble a large fork, pre-welded from corrugated rebar blanks of a given diameter and length.

As a protective coating for the handle of the product (insulator), the handlebar of an old bicycle or a piece of unnecessary rubber hose can be used.

Sometimes, in order to improve the insulating qualities of the coating for the holder to the welding machine, rag tape is used.

However, many users most often do not stop at the simplest design, since it is quite old and not convenient enough to use.

This is explained by the fact that not all performers manage to combine two conflicting requirements for this instrument, which require the rigidity of the electrode attachment and the ease of its removal. In addition, reinforcing bars quickly oxidize and cease to meet the requirements for them.

It is for this reason that many amateurs and professionals choose an improved version of the welding design and modify the trident by equipping it with an additional spring.

Such a holder looks like the same fork, the teeth of which are located almost in the same plane. The working electrode is fixed between the extreme teeth, and the central tooth additionally fixes it with simultaneous springing.

For the manufacture of welding equipment in this design, the user will have to stock up on blanks made of especially strong metals, such as, for example, high-alloy stainless steel.

Only they are able to ensure reliable contact of the trident with the electrode and the convenience of replacing the latter. As a protective dielectric coating of the handle, a rubber tube of a suitable diameter can be used.

Threaded and collet

The welding holder, arranged according to the principle of a threaded collet, can in principle be made from any metal at hand, while ensuring reliable contact with the working rod and ease of its renewal.

The only drawback of this design is the difficulty of making it yourself. That is why, before starting welding work, it is necessary to carefully familiarize yourself with all the details and nuances of its device.

In order to modernize this version of the home-made welding electrode holder, specialists have developed its improved sample - the so-called "clamping" collet. In this model, instead of the previously used threaded fastening, a special spring mechanism made of brass or copper is installed.

The advantages of such a modified design are quite obvious, since in this case the reliability of the electrode rod fastening increases sharply, and its change is noticeably simplified.

It should be noted that each amateur welder has the right to independently decide whether to purchase a suitable holder in a store or make it yourself.

The second of the options for choosing the required tool is more preferable if you want to save money or make it, as they say, “for yourself”.

When carrying out repairs or construction, welding work is always in demand. The main component is the electrode holder for the welding machine. Regardless of who will perform these works, craftsmen or amateurs, all safety requirements and regulations must be observed with optimal convenience and simplicity. The key to comfortable work can be a high-quality trident electrode holder for a welding machine.

Classification of electrode holders

The main task of this tool is to fix the electrode, supply the working current and exercise full control in the welding process. From this follow mandatory requirements that apply to such equipment:

The development of welding equipment and the required equipment also affected the holders, which were also modernized and developed, expanding the range of electrode holders on the market.

Mainly welding machine holders can be divided into specialized and universal, the manufacture of which is regulated by the requirements of GOST:

Along with the above options, there are also specialized holders that are intended to create a certain type of seams and products. Such models include holders for several electrodes at the same time or for working under voltage of a three-phase arc. The main difference is considered to be heavy weight and complex design, which classifies such models as specialized and not widely used. Each master individually makes the choice of the necessary equipment, based on personal needs and working conditions.

The main nuances for the right choice

Choosing the right holder is a very responsible task, which determines how safe and comfortable the work of the welder will be. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:

Specifications

A very important point of functionality should be instrument compliance welding power of the machine. When choosing a holder with a lower operating current, it may fail with further destruction. In the opposite situation, when choosing a holder with a margin, difficulties in work, excessive physical exertion and inconvenience during work may occur. Therefore, it is imperative to choose a holder that matches the strength of the welding machine and the range of electrodes that will be used to weld parts.

Dimensions

For comfortable work, the tool should be as compact and lightweight. Excess weight and a margin of safety will not affect short-term welding work, and during long-term work it can cause severe discomfort and muscle strain, followed by a decrease in the quality of the weld. The aggressive operating environment of the tool must be compensated by a calculated margin of safety to prevent premature failure. The body, handle and insulating elements are usually made of highly insulating plastic.

Professional craftsmen recommend choosing a tool with a massive cast clip, which, unlike type-setting plate clothespins, is not subject to heavy wear. The screw type is distinguished by maximum reliability, in which the electrode is fixed using a clamping screw. Fixing it in one position, thereby ensuring reliable contact.

Price policy

The choice of different holders on the market is very large. Prices can vary from 100 to 10 thousand rubles. It should be taken into account that cheap models may not structurally differ from expensive branded ones. The price can only be justified by the use of the highest quality materials with the correct fit and installation of parts. But even so, the expensive model is not designed for long-term and active use in several work shifts by craftsmen.

Cheap and simple models will justify themselves in everyday life for one-time work by novice craftsmen who do not have serious requirements for the tool and are not ready to invest large sums in it.

Additional tips include a recommendation to buy a spare holder, which can help out in the event of an unexpected failure of the main tool. Do not forget that the holder not only implies its correct use during work, but also appropriate care. The tool needs to be lubricated with moving elements, not exposed to excessive impact in aggressive environments, properly stored and transported, and also cleaned contact surfaces to prevent them from burning in case of poor contact. Thanks to this, the holder is sure to last a long time.

DIY manufacturing

It is not necessary to look for the most suitable tool for the required requirements in the store. To learn how to make a welding holder with your own hands, you need to study the required information, have the material and tools.

The trident is considered a classic of welding production. There is no such master who would never use it. It consists of three reinforcing pieces arranged in a triangular pattern. The role of the insulating element is performed by a piece of rubber hose. Sometimes rag tape was used.

The main features are a simple design, but with low safety and comfort during operation. An additional tool is required to remove the electrode cinder. When working with such holders, the electrode is almost completely used. But due to the poor-quality surface of the reinforcement, on which oxides are formed, the contact for the supply of operating current is very poor. To create a normal contact, it is required to periodically process the reinforcement with a file.

The electrode collet is made from any material at hand, but the process will take time and effort. The finished product is quite reliable and easy to use. To make such a holder for a welding machine with your own hands, you will need a metal plate and a screw clamp where the electrode will be inserted and clamped.