quick question

[Peloquin]

My rod holder clamp thing (stinger) has just broke apart.
A quick look on The Bay comes up with 400 or 600 amp ones.
The only numbers on the broke one say 200.
Would I be ok getting a 400 amp one?
Also, the old one is a crocodile type clamp, the one I'm looking at is a twist.....are these better/worse/no different?
Cheers folks.

 

[Bill Edwards]

You are fine to get a higher amp one. Depending on the work you do the lower ones may overheat - 200a doesn't mean it'll handle 200a continuously, they have a duty cycle and can get a little hot for comfort sometimes, even at a little over half that.

As to the type - twist or clamp - that's mainly preference. As with a lot of things, a poor quality, nasty one of either type can be horrible to use and put you off that type for a long time.
Twist ones that don't tighten enough to grip smaller rods well or that bind/are stiff.
Clamp type that are weak and don't hold the rod firmly and jump out, particularly when the rod sticks.

I like good clamp type ones at times for being quick and easy to use allowing the rod to be put at any angle without having to bend it (some flux won't tolerate that well). On the other hand, sometimes the twist type is nice for when a rod sticks well you can give it a good yank to break it free without it coming out of the holder!

 

[brightspark]

get the twist 400 amp one there as cheap as chips

 

[skotl]

Yep - a cable that can withstand higher amperage will be absolutely fine.

Just make sure it's the same connector at the box - it's most likely a dinse.

As for crocodile vs twist, it's pretty much personal preference. I just started using a twist and I prefer it for getting rid of a stuck rod.

 

[skotl]

Glad all three of us said the same thing

 

[Peloquin]

Cheers gents. I'll get one of them then.
I only really use 2.5 and 3.2 rods, I take it a twist one will grip a 2.5 ok?
Thanks again

 

[Bill Edwards]

Glad all three of us said the same thing

I'm not; this is a new thing to me on here, what's going to happen next? WW3? Some kind of apocalypse?

 

[Bill Edwards]

Cheers gents. I'll get one of them then.
I only really use 2.5 and 3.2 rods, I take it a twist one will grip a 2.5 ok?
Thanks again

Yes, unless it's of seriously poor quality/defective (in which case you'd take it up with the supplier and get it replaced). I've only really had issues gripping 2.5 rods with old and very tired ones, and I've been able to get by with tweaking it using a grinder.

 

[PTvor]

No probs gripping a 2.5mm electrode in my 400A twist grip holder. 1.6mm rods have to be put in carefully.

As to screw type or clamp, it's a matter of personal preference. I prefer the clamp type.

One thing to watch is the connection to the electrode holder, some clamp the bare cable, others have a lug which bolts down.

 

[brightspark]

i saw one at the autojumble and asked how much .guy said 4 quid so i put it down he said what did i want to pay for it err least as possible if i can in front of everyone he said u can have it for nowt seeing as though u cant aford it ok il give u 3 quid and got it walking away he said tight b stard

 

[Peloquin]

i saw one at the autojumble and asked how much .guy said 4 quid so i put it down he said what did i want to pay for it err least as possible if i can in front of everyone he said u can have it for nowt seeing as though u cant aford it ok il give u 3 quid and got it walking away he said tight b stard

Haha, my parents did a car boot sale ages ago. They took a load of my sister's old baby clothes and had them up for sale for 50p each. Most had never even been worn.
A woman walked over again and again picking up the same item then asked the inevitable question...how much is it?
Mum said 50p.
Well you take 20p?
Mum says "if you are that hard up for 30p then just take it luv"
Woman says "oh ta!" And ****** off with it.

 

[PTvor]

I picked up three 40p packets of resistors at a radio boot sale and asked the bloke how much for three.

Answer, "3x40p = £1.20 but I have a feeling you knew that and are negotiating a discount".

Reply, "100p is a nice round figure and I happen to have a pound coin in my hand and it saves messing with change".

Counter-reply, "Oh alright".

I don't think people in this country negotiate over price enough - generally. A stall holder at a boot sale doesn't want to take the stuff back home, especially if it's heavy.

 

[brightspark]

if the price is fair and cheap i dont insult them by asking cheaper. if its a rip off i take the p...ss and ask where there mask and guns are and if they say there selling for x number of ££ on ebay i say why dont u go sell it on there then and walk off

 

[PTvor]

Haha, my parents did a car boot sale ages ago. They took a load of my sister's old baby clothes and had them up for sale for 50p each. Most had never even been worn.
A woman walked over again and again picking up the same item then asked the inevitable question...how much is it?
Mum said 50p.
Well you take 20p?
Mum says "if you are that hard up for 30p then just take it luv"
Woman says "oh ta!" And ****** off with it.

But the thing is that if you go to a place where the people have the power to negotiate (usually not part of a chain), if you just ask for a discount, they often knock 10% off, basically just because you asked. It's worth doing but I think a lot of people feel bad about it. It's a bit like skip diving. I've never had any qualms about skip diving but a lot of people I've spoken too wouldn't be seen dead skip diving.

 

[brightspark]

Technically, removing items from a skip without the permission of the person throwing said items away is theft

i love thieving then

 

[brightspark]

I've been shouted at in the past for 'stealing' somebody's 'rubbish' that they have to pay to get taken away...

Just go back after hours

skip rat

 

[PTvor]

if the price is fair and cheap i dont insult them by asking cheaper. if its a rip off i take the p...ss and ask where there mask and guns are and if they say there selling for x number of ££ on ebay i say why dont u go sell it on there then and walk off

It depends how I feel. Often I think it's worth what they ask and don't argue, sometimes I feel up for the game and it is a game. Arguing over a few quids worth of stuff at a boot sale is good practice.

 

[PTvor]

Technically, removing items from a skip without the permission of the person throwing said items away is theft

It would be the property of the skip company/council or the chucker - not you. By being in the skip it would be classed as waste and subject to regulations. Technically the chucker shouldn't fish it out once it's entered the skip and become waste.

There'd almost certainly be the question of trespass. There'd have to be the will and the means to pursue the case and the provision of evidence.

20 yards of rope or flex, a bed frame made of angle iron, a pressure washer and no one much is going to argue. One person's rubbish could be another person's worthwhile acquisition. 15 yards of clapped out stair carpet is pretty good for a path on an allotment and no one is going to buy new carpet for that.

Getting rid of rubbish has been all the rage when buying and selling houses for some years. Back in the 70s a friend of mine bought a house with sheds containing three old cars which the seller's lawyer was clearly embarrassed about. He agreed to take the place with the cars and negotiated a small discount. The lawyer saw rubbish and and an impediment to the sale. My friend saw 10 years free motoring and a chance to pay less for the place.

 

[pedrobedro]

Technically, removing items from a skip without the permission of the person throwing said items away is theft

Once it's in the skip it is technically the property of the skip owner so you are not stealing from the person disposing of it.

 

[PTvor]

skip rat

Sticks and stones....

A couple of years back I saw a good looking fluorescent light fitting with tube in a skip, so snaffled it with a spare tube. One of the neighbours saw me carrying it back and had a larf. I said it was going in the garage to replace the old one with light bulb type ends which was dying. He said some people had curtains and carpet in their garage. I said that was obviously dangerous and there was no question that some people were obviously stupid. In any case, re-use was much better for the planet than recycling.