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T-nuts and Magnetic Welding Clamps

Web extra information

From "Freeform Furniture"
episode DFFF-108

Host Amy Devers shares information on T-nuts and welding clamps.

T-nuts

T-nuts are fasteners that consist of a flat flange with a cylindrical barrel which is threaded to allow a bolt to engage the T-nut. Prongs often extend from the flange to grip the material into which the T-nut is being inserted. T-nuts allow you to put a threaded hole in your work piece wherever you want it. T-nuts allow you to put a threaded hole in your work piece wherever you want it. T-nuts are an economical method of fastening a metal mechanism to a component that is made of wood, plastic, particleboard, or for anchoring wooden components to each other.
T-nuts are specifically designed for use on hardwoods. They can be used on furniture, doors, or any other item with a worn screw hole. The prongs on the T-nut permit quick assembly and reduce splitting which results from nuts having longer, flared prongs. Drill the pilot hole to fit the body of the nut. The T-nut will then drop easily into the hole. Insert the screw or bolt and hammer it into place, making sure that is sits squarely. The T-nut should be installed so that the screw or bolt pulls the nut into the wood.

Magnetic Welding Clamps

Magnetic welding clamps are a useful tool when working with steel. These powerful magnets hold steel securing in place for welding. They have a right angle and a 45-degree angle built in. Sometimes a 15 or 30-degree angle is built in as well.
Magnetic welding clamps are available from welding and industrial suppliers. They are available in a variety of sizes. It is useful to have sets in different sizes to meet different welding demands.
They are ideal for custom fabrication because they can be quickly positioned and removed with minimum effort when compared to other manual clamps or jigs. In addition, they are a fraction of the cost.
Magnetic welding clamps are easily locked into place. The clamps provide an ideal solution for welding applications because they are designed to keep the contact holding surfaces well away from the edges to be joined. The clamps can resist temperatures of 100 degrees C.
Magnetic welding clamps work well whenever you tack weld two parts together at either the standard of 90 or 45-dgree angles and can't apply other types of clamps. They are especially useful at holding sheet metal parts in place They can also be used simply as supports for the steel when you are doing layout work.
It is useful to keep other kinds of magnets around as well. Put a magnet behind your bench grinder or chop saw. The magnet helps keep all the metal particles from the grinding operation contained.
Also, you can put a magnet into a plastic bag to clean out machines. To release all the metal particles, simply pull the magnet out of the bag and the material simply drops into your waste container.
Be careful not to put the magnet too close to the weld because magnetic clamps can cause arc blow. The clamp and weld arc are both magnetically charges. If your arc does blow, reset the clamp elsewhere.