Welding holder and features of choice. Choice of electrode holder for manual arc welding. DIY holder What is the difference between KOG and KG? KOG is a highly flexible cable; CG is just flexible. In COG, the veins are a little thinner and there are more of them, due to this it is more

Welding is an integral part of the production process, and is also quite in demand in everyday life. Any welding machine requires an electrode holder, which, like other components, must be given sufficient attention.

Accessories for welding equipment are constantly being improved. As a result, a fairly large assortment of various components for welding is on sale today. One of these is a welding holder, the modifications of which are also quite a large number. Therefore, many people who do not have sufficient experience in welding work find it difficult to make the right choice when buying this tool. Some are scared off by the high cost, others by the safety.

Welding safety requires special attention to:

on the quality of the components of welding equipment;
for their compactness and ease of use.

The welding holder is used in the implementation of welding work by professional welders, amateurs. The correct selection of the welding mode, taking into account the totality of all requirements for the high-quality performance of welding work, is an important criterion.

When choosing a holder for welding, you need to consider first of all:

reliability of fixing electrodes of any diameter;
duration of the operating period.

It is not necessary to look for the most suitable version of the holder for welding work in the store, it is quite possible to make it yourself at home. Consider the design features of various homemade holders.

Trident

This tool is a classic of welding activity. There is no such electric welder who would not at least once use a home-made "fork" of three reinforcing pieces in the process of work. The role of the dielectric handle was most often performed by a small piece of rubber hose or a bicycle handlebar. Rarely used ordinary rag tape.

Features of the trident operation:

the design of the tool is quite simple, but it is not very convenient and safe in the process of performing work. The main disadvantage is problems with the extraction of the cinder;
when using such a holder, the electrode is almost completely consumed - this, of course, has always been welcomed. The cinder in this case was removed with pliers or a hammer. It was often possible to observe how the welder beats the holder on the asphalt, thus knocking out the cinder;
one of the disadvantages of this tool is poor contact. Welders often attributed a poor-quality seam to poor-quality electrodes, but in fact, oxides on the reinforcement served as the reason for this, as a result of which there were current losses. When operating such an electrode holder, you should always have a file on hand.

A more reliable design is a bar welded to a metal corner. Such a device has good contact and securely holds the electrode. The disadvantage is similar to the trident - it is problematic to get rid of the remnant of the used electrode.

Trident with spring

This is an upgraded version of the trident. The tool is made of high quality steel. To achieve the most reliable contact, it is recommended to use stainless steel. A feature of this design is that the finger located in the center springs the electrode - this greatly facilitates the replacement of the used electrode.

The disadvantage of such a holder is that the materials used are more expensive, but the cost is much lower than the product made at the factory.

Threaded electrode clamp

A similar home-made holder for welding is made from any material at hand, the process itself is rather troublesome. The tool itself is quite reliable, easy to use. The main thing in this case is to ensure reliable cable contact.

Collet clamp for clamping electrodes

This is an analogue of the previous tool, only in this case, instead of a threaded connection, a spring clamp is used. The main advantage of the product is the ease of replacing used electrodes. It is worth considering one nuance: the more powerful the spring, the more effort will be required when replacing it. But then the reliability of the contact increases, respectively, the current strength.

Recommendations of experienced welders for the selection of the electrode holder

Experienced welders are advised to pay attention to the quality of the tool and its cost when choosing a holder. It is not recommended to purchase the cheapest products, but you should not choose the most expensive ones either (especially when the holder is planned to be used for one-time work at home).
The most reliable tool is a threaded holder, while having the longest service life. This tool allows you to select the required angle of the electric cathode.
It is better to give preference to products that provide fixation of the electrode, depending on the magnitude of the current.
If welding work is associated with trips to different objects, then you should take care of a spare holder. In this case, saving is inappropriate.
If you decide to buy a welding holder for 500 rubles, then you can not count on its long-term operation. Such a holder can be used at home for one-time work, but not for professional welding.
If, however, you acquire an expensive tool, then you need to carefully analyze its quality characteristics. Welding clamps for professional welding cost approximately 3 thousand rubles.
Also, when choosing a holder, you need to pay attention to what load it is designed for in amperes. Depending on the parameters, the weight of the welding inverter, the current load increases. If you need a welding current approximately equal to the generator current, then it is recommended to purchase holders that can withstand current loads of 200-500 amperes.
If you purchase a 200 amp welding holder for welding equipment, and you weld at 300 amps, then the tool will last a maximum of two working days. During the welding process, the smell of burnt plastic begins to be felt very quickly when the electrode holder is heated. This can also occur due to poor contact of the electrode with the retainer. As a result, the tool clamp burns during welding and fails very quickly, that is, it becomes completely unsuitable for further use.

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”.

Despite the reliability of the factory designs of welding machines during operation, some of its parts may fail, including the device for holding the electrodes. Of course, you can buy these spare parts in the store. They are widely available for sale, but the vast majority of professionals prefer to install a homemade electrode holder. Its design is simple, but it must meet certain standards exactly:

homemade must provide dielectric protection for the welder;
the welding holder must be well insulated;
wires must be fixed securely and efficiently;
the holder must withstand electric currents of several hundred amperes;
the electrode must be held as tightly as possible;
replacement of electrodes should be simple and quick.

The last two requirements actually contradict each other, so a homemade welding holder is always a compromise for the master.

Holder for the welding machine of the factory version

Manufacturers offer three modifications of welding holders:

Collet holder for electrodes. This is an easy to use option. Replacing the cinder with a new electrode is easy, perfectly performs protective functions and looks aesthetically pleasing. But the collet is expensive and has a current limit. In addition, it does not allow saving on electrodes, since it is forbidden to leave a short cinder.
Holder for welding - clothespin. The most popular offer of manufacturers. It is manufactured in a wide range of sizes, electrode diameters and welding current. The clothespin is not convenient enough to use, but very reliable. It is characterized by good contact with the electrodes, the absence of restrictions on electric current, and does not require devices. Its disadvantages are the problematic change of the cinder and large dimensions.
Trident or fork. This modification of the holder for welding equipment has practically fallen into disuse, since it does not meet modern standards. The trident is the Soviet standard.

How to make a do-it-yourself welding holder

Similarly to factory designs, a do-it-yourself holder for a welding machine is made. There are many technologies on how to make a fixture, but the following designs are most common:

Trident. This is a classic do-it-yourself fixture. Even in Soviet times, welders made their tools according to this principle. The holder is a fork welded from three corrugated pieces of reinforcement. As an insulator, a handle from a bicycle handlebar or a fragment of a rubber hose is used. In some cases, do-it-yourself rag tape was used as a dielectric holder for welding. This design is easy to manufacture, but dangerous and inconvenient to use. It provides poor contact with the electrode, it is difficult to remove the cinder, the reinforcement is constantly oxidized. Soviet welders offered very peculiar ways to make a welding holder. One of the most successful designs is a reinforcing bar welded to a metal corner. Its only drawback is the difficulty of replacing the cinder.
Trident with a spring. This is an improved version of the do-it-yourself welding machine holder described above. This is the same fork, but the teeth are almost in the same plane. The electrode is inserted between the fingers, the central one springs it. This do-it-yourself welding holder is made from expensive materials such as high-alloy stainless steel. Contact with the electrode is strong, changing the stub is quite easy. Rubber is used as a dielectric holder for a do-it-yourself welding machine to protect the welder.
Threaded collet. The holder can be made from any metal. It provides reliable contact of the electrode, easy change of cinder, reliable and easy to use. Its disadvantage is the complexity of manufacturing. Design features are indicated in the drawing.

Clamping collet. This is an upgrade of the threaded collet model. Instead of threaded fasteners, a spring mechanism is used. The advantages of the design are obvious - the ease of replacing the cinder and the reliability of fastening the electrodes. Before wondering how to make a holder for welding this design, you need to carefully analyze the electrical circuit. The more powerful the spring, the more reliable the contact, and the maximum current strength increases. If you use a weaker clamp, the current load is reduced. It is important to provide a second connector, which supplies current to the ground. Although he does not need to provide electrical and thermal protection, the contact must be as reliable as possible. It is better if the clamping mechanism is made of brass or copper.

Summarizing

Each welder decides to purchase a holder in a store or make one himself. But, as practice shows, it is advisable to make home-made devices, both for reasons of financial costs and ease of use.

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We make a holder for welding

It's time for a homemade holder for the electrodes. At least the master came up with for welding. You will need a piece of 12 hairpins. Three nuts. Brass lamb. Piece of plastic pipe. Collar. To start, drill a hole. Top 4 mm, bottom 6 mm.

Neodymium magnet in a Chinese online store.

Holes drilled. It turns out a simple design, a plastic pipe is clamped between two nuts. An electrode is inserted into the hole next to the lamb. Elementarily pulled up. There is a bigger hole on the other side. 6mm is better because the wire has to fit. We insert the welding wire, pull the nut and press it. We fix the cable with a clamp. Next, use heat shrink or close the nuts with electrical tape for safe operation.

On the welding machine, the master showed what the fixture looks like on the wire. He went through the hairpin, tightened the nut, wire clamp. We clamp the electrode with the lamb. Simple and very comfortable grip. The electrode is well fixed. When working, there is no such thing that he dangled. Easily removed. Slightly loosened and pulled out. Tightened. High reliability.

Mass on magnets here.

izobreteniya.net

Choice of electrode holder for manual arc welding. DIY holder

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 welding equipment markets, when buying an electrode holder, it is recommended to 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.

Beginners in the welding business 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 Resant, Svarog, Fubag, etc., as a rule, leaves much to be desired. This also applies to the ground terminal and 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...

The well-known German company ABICOR BINZEL. 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
Eagle/Falcon electrode holders. 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.

Disadvantages:

Prohibited for safety reasons at work;

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.

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

On the welding machine, the master showed what the fixture looks like on the wire. He went through the hairpin, tightened the nut, wire clamp. We clamp the electrode with the lamb.
Simple and very comfortable grip. The electrode is well fixed. When working, there is no such thing that he dangled. Easily removed. Slightly loosened and pulled out. Tightened. High reliability.

In the process of performing welding operations, the master uses special devices that increase the safety and convenience of work. Direct manipulations with the electrodes are carried out by means of a holder. This is a kind of latch that can be held and guided by a functional element, an electric current is supplied to it. Since this is a demanding assembly procedure in which every performance is important, the welding holder must be selected carefully and taking into account all technical parameters.

Purpose of the fixture

The general task of the holder is to secure the coated electrode, however, the device and performance characteristics also provide for other nuances of the use of welding consumables. The retainer should also facilitate the release of the cinder on the electrode surface, and this process is carried out without displacement at the clamping site. The fastening itself must be carried out in several positions, but in the same plane. Optimally, if 2-3 clamping points are stably maintained. At the same time, regardless of the mounting configuration, the electrode holder should not interfere with the complete melting of the consumable with a functional coating during the formation and support of the arc. For ease of handling cable wiring, manufacturers also provide fixing points for power lines. Now it is worth familiarizing yourself with the design of the tool in more detail.

Main types of welding holders

Clamp-pin - the most common design for securely fastening electrodes, which can be spring and lever. The base is formed by a handle with a current-proof coating, and the working part is realized in the form of a clothespin clip. The operator in the process of work independently holds the wire in the grip zone, controlling the fastening handle. Trident forks are also in high demand. A typical holder device for a semi-automatic welding machine in this version is based on the same handle, and the hold is provided by metal pins. The design is simple, functional, but in terms of reliability and ergonomics, this is not the best solution.

Collet holders are less popular, but this option will justify itself when working with argon-arc torches. In this case, fixation is provided by a threaded connection with the carrier element. That is, a holder for a welding machine of this type serves screw burners. The appropriate design option should be chosen taking into account the parameters of the electrode itself and the conditions for performing working manipulations. The paramount requirement is to ensure optimal contact with the consumable without burning the retention zone.

Features of non-tangling holders for a welding machine

This tool eliminates the formation of cinders and saves time for fixing the electrode. These advantages are achieved due to a special design, which does not provide for clamping the consumable, but for welding it to the end of the rod. Therefore, during the welding process, a complete melting of the coating occurs. The surface of the holding rod is initially coated with an electrical insulator, which makes the welding holder safer and more reliable. Some modifications in order to increase the rate of renewal and tacking of the electrode are provided by special sleeves, which can contain several ends of the electrodes. A graphite or copper plate is provided at the bottom of the tank, and the sides are protected by ceramic tiles with holes.

Fixture characteristics

A variety of designs also causes a spread in the technical and operational indicators of the holders, but there are also extreme values approved by GOST. For example, the length of the protected area of the handle should be at least 11 mm, and the cross section should average in the range of 36-40 mm. The size of the retainer also affects the ability to work with electrodes designed for different levels of current. The initial range is 200-300 A. Electrode holders with a cross section of 36 mm work with such indicators, and models for 400-500 A, respectively, should have a diameter of about 40 mm. The materials of construction should also be taken into account. They also determine the possibility of working with different indicators of current strength, and resistance to negative environmental factors. The combination of heat-resistant steel and high-strength corrugated plastic will protect the working base of the holder from both thermal influences and frost if work is done outdoors in winter.

Manufacturers and prices

The initial segment is made up of products by Sibrtech, Caliber, Svarog and other domestic manufacturers. Under these brands, standard and simple in design models of clothespin holders come out, the cost of which is 200-300 rubles. In the middle class, there are more reliable and durable devices from the companies Resanta, Elitech, SANTOOL, etc. These are products that are worthy in terms of characteristics, which are also suitable for professional use. Prices vary from 400 to 600 rubles. Especially for demanding work in manufacturing and construction, it is worth purchasing welding holders from brands like Foxweld and Blue Weld. These gadgets can cost $1,000-1,500, but their overall quality, durability, and advanced functionality are well worth the high cost.

Conclusion

Safety is the main condition for carrying out welding activities, regardless of the type of equipment used. Therefore, before using the holder for the first time, check its electrical strength. Using a multimeter or specialized instruments for measuring resistance, current and voltage, the resistance of the handle and the fixing part is tested. If the welding holder complies with the parameters specified in its passport, then the design is in good order, and work activities can begin. There is also the practice of using homemade clamps: as a rule, the trident design is chosen as the simplest. But it is in the interests of safety that experts do not recommend using this method of holding the electrode.

Mass on magnets .

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.

The most common types of electrode holders:

spring;
screw (or clamp)

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"

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

Holder "Corner"

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

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.

Disadvantages:

Prohibited by production;

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!

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