Need help for shim in Tweco work clamp !

[G-ManBart]

First off, kudos for calling it the correct name (work clamp, not ground clamp)! If the wire is thick enough you don't need the shim, but you can use almost anything as a shim as long as it's conductive....a sliver of copper or brass is fine. I've taken something like a .40S&W case and cut a section of it out to make a shim...worked fine.

Shockingly, Harbor Freight sells this same basic clamp for around $15 and seems to be the equal in quality. I've used them on dozens of welders I've refurbished....really a pretty nice clamp.

 

[Cr2348455]

I usually cut a piece of copper tubing, split it, wrap it around the wire, then bolt it into the clamp.

Does copper tubing have a thinner wall then copper pipe. I took a 1/2" copper union and split it into two pieces. They were much too thick to even make it into the hole in the work clamp.
Thanks

 

[Cr2348455]

First off, kudos for calling it the correct name (work clamp, not ground clamp)! If the wire is thick enough you don't need the shim, but you can use almost anything as a shim as long as it's conductive....a sliver of copper or brass is fine. I've taken something like a .40S&W case and cut a section of it out to make a shim...worked fine.

Shockingly, Harbor Freight sells this same basic clamp for around $15 and seems to be the equal in quality. I've used them on dozens of welders I've refurbished....really a pretty nice clamp.

Thank You,
I wish I knew the exact wire size, but the electric tape has covered what ever was left as a marking.
I saw that at Harbor freight, but I thought the one on eBay looked closer to what I have
Have a lot of items from HF, and are of good quality.

 

[Cr2348455]

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice. After finding the 1/2" copper coupling was too thick, I used my mini lathe to chuck up the 1/2" coupling.
I turned it down until it parted it self , and fell to the rear of the lathe table.
Now, I can easily cut to fit , and secure the ball end screw in the work clamp.
Here are some pics:


Sorry for the added copies, IPhone has a mind of its own.

 

[cathead]

You could likely bend on the brass in a vise on both ends to get it to pinch or stretch or replace the spring if you had to.

 

[Weldingrod1]

You should anneal and clean it before you use it!

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[Cr2348455]

Heat it up with a propane torch and cool it in water,
it is only .010" thick, I would think it would melt !
?