Tried a magnetic jig for tube welding and it warped my fit-up instead of helping

I picked up a $60 magnetic jig from the supply house last week to hold my tube sections in place while tacking stainless. The magnets pulled the thin wall out of round by a good 1/8 inch on 2 inch schedule 10. Has anyone else had a jig like this mess up their alignment or did I just get a dud?

2 comments

2 Comments

tyler17624d ago

Yeah I had the same thing happen with a magnetic jig on some 1.5 inch tube. Those things are basically just strong fridge magnets with a price tag. The problem is the magnetic field pulls the metal out of shape before you even get a tack down. Youre better off with a cheap clamp and some shims. Or just use a piece of wood and a C clamp like a normal person. Magnetic jigs are good for flat bar maybe but thin wall tube is a joke.

hannaht2924d ago

Did you also pay 60 bucks for a fancy paperweight? Ngl sounds like that jig is better at making oval tube than straight tube.