How do you guys hold your pipes to get a tack on them.. I know someone has to sell something or some of you guy have built something.. looking for ideas .. help a noob welder out..

 

I use my hands when tacking.

 

Yeah but sometimes that's almost impossible

 

http://www.vansantent.com/welding_ac...ice_clamps.htm
http://www.vansantent.com/welding_ac...ipe_pliers.htm

im awesome

 

The options depend on what kind of pipe you're talking about. Pipe fitters who weld large iron pipe have a variety of (expensive) specialized fixtures available to buy and some make their own custom ones as well.

If you're talking about schedule pipe the size used in car manifolds, there are different options. A few are the adjustable clamps made by icengineworks like here: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EVT-2000TTWCS/, or stainless steel exhaust band clamps with an access hole cut for use in tacking, holding the pipe in a pair of pipe pliers like these: http://www.stronghandtools.com/produ...g/pgv_pic.html or just on a single or set of pipe positioners like here: http://www.vansantent.com/tube_positioners.htm

Or, you can just put them on a table, put a couple of large metal blocks on the sides of them, and tack away

Remember to get a good ground setup before you hit the pedal.

 

These are what I use

 

I made this thing out of angle iron so the pipes dont roll around. Usually just hold the part im tacking in my hand. I will use welding rod to gap the pipe and foil tape to hold it together sometimes.

 

Nice.. that's what I'm talking about. I knew someone had to make something like that. I just couldn't find it

 

This is what I use on all but the tightest radii, but otherwise it's handheld!

 

i use my hands. it should be possible to fuse tack for just about all applications if the fitup is correct. i also have a vise and a variety of blocks/v-blocks that i can use to prop odd shaped parts to have access to hard to reach areas.