Quote:
Originally Posted by Cothron Theiss
We often spend more time on the jigs than the welds themselves...
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I just had this same conversation about two hours ago by e-mail on a totally different topic -- cutting PVC to provide proper tension to blackout curtains in frames of temporary cubicles. About three months ago, I cut over 50 pieces to one length and 100 to another, but spent way more time on getting the jigs right than on the cutting. (Actually, I did these on opposite sides of the same piece of lumber.) Someone else is interested in copying my pattern - glad I didn't chuck that jig!
Back to the welding jigs -- we only did a welded chassis one year, and I only went to one welding session. I recall that Bruce had a pretty generic clamp that could do just about any weld on square/rectangular tubing or c-channel and sometimes angle, as long as the pieces were within the same plane, or (with spacers) nearby parallel planes. It was a long time ago, but it seems that it had two square j-hooks which could be put in holes spaced every inch or so along a "plank". It required manual alignment of the stock for each weld, but it secured the stock well for the weld.