Every Fabricator's Best Friend | Plate Dog and Wedge
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Every Fabricator should have a plate dog and wedge in their tool box. If you don't, we're going to show you how to build some from nothing but scrap material.
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Nice tip thanks
As a union Ironworker and home fabricator as well these are one of my best friends, for anyone who's never used dogs and wedges you would be amazed at how much material you can actually move.
The almighty wedge. Such a simple concept with near infinite uses. I know what I'm making in the shop this week!
Have fun! Submit a pic to us in the forum! weld.com/forum
A “dog” like you cut out to use with a wedge - except with a nut welded to it, that a long bolt can screw through - is much easier to make/store/use … Tack on, near the Front edge , on one side(if Lots of force is needed, tacking on both sides does the trick) - screw the bolt in till both edges of the metal are “even”, sometimes just by hand or a pair of channel locks - Super easy to use … Once done, back the bolt off, and using the head of the bolt for leverage, pull the “dog” towards the metal that was initially higher - breaking the tacks - Done… (40 years of use with these, with metal and pipe )
We used them all the time in the field as Union Boilermakers. Then they started outlawing all "job made tools" and replacing our dog and wedge with engineered "screw dog" type mechanisms. They are basically a two part, engineered "grasshopper" device. They work the same as a dog and wedge or what we call a grasshopper. A grasshopper was basically just a heavy duty C - clamp or bridge clamp cut in half with a flat piece of plate welded on where you cut it. They worked great. But, too many cowboys on jobs not putting enough weld on them and or not tying them off in some way which allowed them to fail and take people's teeth out or fall, put that to a stop and now we aren't allowed to use anything like that unless it's "engineered". All it takes is one or two idiots to ruin it for everyone.
no, its the idiots who made and brought up the law that ruin it for everyone, not the fools who are supposed to be protected by the law or who are apparently the cause of it...
@@camillosteuss I don't agree with us not being able to make job made tools, because as Boilermakers, we know exactly what to make and how to make it for the job to go smoother and a lot of the time, safer. But, if people want to make tools and then take shortcuts and not use those tools properly, then it's only a matter of time until they hurt themselves or someone else. That is why contractors made it against their rules. Too many people didn't use the tools correctly, put enough weld on the dog (so it wouldn't fly off), weld a tie off not or washer to the pieces in case they failed and now we have the end result. Period. It's from the workers or certain workers taking shortcuts to try and speed the process up and it bit them in the ass.
Like other commenters (futher down below) I use them homemade screwtype grasshoppers in the shop when fitting heavy flange to large pipe. One pair is tack-welded to the outside in the positions 4:30 and 7:30, they are sticking out from the horizontal pipe end. The flange to be welded is then positioned with an overhead crane or forklift truck, just barely sitting on the screwtype grasshoppers. Perfect tool for controlling high-low in both directions (or axes if you will).
A must have in my arsenal of "might".! I used these in my 45 years as a Union Welder, Pipe and Pressure Vessel Fitter, Millwright and Fabricator.... required residents of our box of tricks... Seth
Old iron worker showed me the plate welded to a pry bar method. tack the one corner of the plate, pry it to 90 tack your seam. This is definitely great method too
Very handy. Make your wedge with a flat on it instead of a point that way you have a surface to hit on when it needs to come apart then you don't need to hammer on the wedge surface.
If you hit the dog on the weld side the wedge pops out
Instead of a wedge, you could weld a big nut (example M16 metric nut) to the dog plate and use a M16 bolt to align the steel plates. Very useful in tight spaces and it gives you the ability to precisely adjust the height with a spanner. Can be used in many other places too. Thats how we Do it in my job.
Metric tf ???
metriq ??? that is for foreigners. (Not the band!)
As a steel fitter fabricating complicated and large steel plate items plate dogs were invaluable to completing many projects. I once had a plate dog, lets say "let loose" and went through an oxygen bottle and through the shop wall. Not to mention that the bottle traveled a quarter mile. And....no one got hurt!! True story, and a warning. Think about the forces involved, but an invaluable tool.
I've been in and around this trade over 40 yrs,the best ideas are the simple ones.I've used this method hundreds & hundreds of times!🇺🇲🇺🇲👍
Iam a escavator attachment fabricator and welder.. I build buckets, fork sets loader buckets ect... I use these everyday ive got all kinds of odd shape dogs and sizes of wedges. Very useful for thick steel fabrication for sure.
You can apply some amazing force with these thing. Ive had some made out of 1 1/4" plate and hitting the wedge with a 12 lb maul to align deck legs on offshore production platforms.
I have so much respect for the welding professionals. I’m retired airline technician with sheet metal skills and composite training. 35 years now . Every aspect for structure building can be assisted by welding. Thanks for sharing the video information
The simplicity of these tools is brilliant! I'm definitely making some.
I have used dogs and wedges every day for over 20 years! Come in handy when bolilermaking, shipbuilding and fabricating large heavy gauge lobster back pipes!!
Excellent tip . Thanks. Also preheating the underside of the cut is new to me . I Learn something extra on a lot of these clips
Thanks for taking the time to share that , great video Jason
Great presentation to you my fellow union iron worker I was third generation out of local 40 NYC The old is now new again love it you do such a good job I Was a shipyard welder fitter at EB Electric boat General dynamics Quonset point building fast attack subs Hold down dogs and wedges were essential and till this day still essential Glad you are passing the old is now new hold down dogs and wedges we could not do our jobs without them you always do a good job on your presentation your knowledge and skill sets are fabulous Keep up the good work Enjoy all of your shop chalk and talks Red iron structural steel local 40 ironworker leather belts days long ago days US Navy Seabees steel worker SW rate welder
As a hobby welder that is always trying to learn I think this is simple and brilliant. I am definitely making a set of these. Thanks 👍
your videos are just the best when it comes to welding and fabrication. I just watched this video about the dog and wedgel I will make some of these something I can do with my scrap metal besides watching it laying around.
The transition at 3:42 and then the music cue with the flap disk was so smooth
i use these on a regular basis. good job letting new folks know how we do
Love the channel.....retired ironworker of 28 years. Keep the videos coming brother...
Thanks man 👊 I learn something all the time watching y'all's channel I'm sure this will come in handy
I used wedges & dogs to put patches (one foot to three feet long x 12-18" wide x 1/2" thick) on steel barges. They are in use on the giant canal that connects Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. I so enjoy the simplicity of the wedges & dog. Moving the mtl close enough for a sound ductile weld...is thrilling. Thank you for a well planned out video. Cherrs, Pete
As a Fab/welder in the u.k I used the same dog and wedge method for plating work also U dogs and screw dogs for pipe alignment all are very good methods and can be applied to all kinds of different situations but like the man said always carry a dog and wedge as one of your go 2 tools also a nice weighty hammer 38 Oz I prefer good balance not 2 heavy not 2 light.
That's one I never thought about and I'll be definitely making some thanks for the tip thumbs up.
Cool tip. Actually not just for steel work but for many uses and materials.
I’ve seen and used these before but never seen them used with such a precise aim. It’s always been the nearest piece of metal laying on the ground and an over sized wedge
Worked with those in excavator buckets and grapple manufacturing back in 2000 made of Hardox 400 and 500 , we had an extensive array and models. When i saw yours it brought me back !! Thanks for the video
Hey buddy I'm thinking of making up my own buckets, do you use hardox for the whole bucket or just for high wear areas, or even just around the G.E.T? Also what material do you use for the pin/hitch area?
Useful thanks! New to welding, definitely see these coming in handy.
Nice. I love simple no cost hand made tools like this.
Used these a ton when I was pile driving, etc.
Thanks Brother. You rock!
Use to use these a lot when I was working at the shipyard
Love videos like this. We use dogs with a push bolt all the time I'm my line of work but never thought of a wedge. Seems quicker and less tools. (no impact or whatever)
Always good information instead of trying to remember it I have been writing it down that is my memory, when you get old lol
dude one of the BEST videos on KZhead
Great suggestion. Thank you!
I’ve been welding for about 42 years, old school, I’ve have theses dogs in my bucket and some dogs with fast thread bolts with a nut welding on the dog plate, I broke them out on some job in South Florida and these young kids always say old man what is those, watch and learn, as you do time in the welding and fabrication field you become a black smith also You are smarter then the metal, make it into what you want, I enjoy it. Brother I enjoy watching your channel, you are A Master Fabricator welder . Good job 👍
That's pretty slick! Definitely going to put that in my bag of tricks.
Nice you can use that to pull up on bowed plates as well just reverse the process and tac weld to the plate and drive the weld . Be blessed-Rastafari
I'm not a welder by trade but in the 70's I welded in a ship yard and these were as used on 1/2 and 5/8 material every day along with a rose bud to shrink material.
Keith if you use a rosebud wouldn't it expand I'm just asking because I have never tried it?
@@mikewolfe5917 As the welder I never used this process myself , but if there was a large hump in an undesirable area after a section was completed they would heat this area up and yes it would expand but after cooling it would shrink and no more hump. I always found that pretty amazing.
Nice!
another great video and very helpful..you seem to be a good man love to shake your hand....thanks again from ireland!!!
Very elegant solution! Well done.
Thanks for the tip mate, I just happen to have a oxy torch in my hand, best I stop work and start making some..
Brilliant, simple. Thanks
Very cool and interesting! Thanks for the tips. Be blessed !!!
Thank you for sharing. I learned something new today.
I'm so glad you do these video for everyone to learn. This tool in particular was invaluable for me when I was putting floors in scrapers and re-skinning blades on dozers and welding heavy equipment. I didnt have the little lips on the end of the wedge, that would have eased my heavy hand a bit. I also didnt know about 1/2 clamps at that time either, they might have made my life easier then too. Unfortunately when I was electrocuted I lost all of that stuff I made even from 25 years before I went to work there. I have to start making everything over better and stronger.
yikes, welding electrocution or you just decided to take a piss on a breaker box a bit too close to it? I still remember my own ``sticking a long nail into the socket`` adventure as a kid and the instant of the cold and hot grip of electricity that i was separated from by parents... i must have been a joy to them, despite all the safety plugs in the sockets, i found a nail outside and used it as a lever to open up the socket and jam the thing in there, to my quick learning that that was a bad move... Funny that i like welding now, must be the magnetic attraction, from back then, if you get what i mean....
@@camillosteuss No!
These work very well I made mine about 30 years ago -- yikes I made the wedge from T 1 steel So it don’t bend Anyway great vid you are very knowledgeable
Love this group
I've used this method many times and it never let me down especially with very thick materials. The "half clamp" works great too on thinner materials. Great job man!👍
It's an oldy but a goody 🔥
I used it on 20mm plate it works
Very good video! The comment section has some really useful ideas based on the dog and wedge principle too! Over a 41 career as a certified welder repairing rail cars, among other things, I’ve made untold numbers of these things and they’ve always done the trick! Was always funny to me when they’d hire some know it all kid fresh out of welding school that would see me using the dog and wedge, and copy the technique when they needed to align plates. Almost universally, they’d brag about how “I made mine better than yours by welding the whole way around it!”, but they weren’t as boastful when it came time to knock it off! Ha!
Great video! I use these on a daily basis building tank cars
I am so glad I subbed. I absolutely love these videos!
Simple and effective. Thank you
Very useful. Thanks for showing that!
Worked in a shipyard for years and used wedges made from 1 inch steel and dogs mad of half inch steel all the time. Portsmouth dogs with 1 inch screws and 2 inch steel body for the big stuff and sometimes we'd cut a C-clamp and weld a nut to the screw and use that for the times when you needed to be real precise.
Awesome. I definitely learned. Thank you.
I use wooden wedges all the time in my guitar repair work, never thought of "crossing over" with the idea to metal. THANKS!
Check out stone cutting with dogs and wedges. Might be one of the oldest machines used by man.
Awesome. I learnt plenty today. Thanks.
the turnbucle with two pieces of angle iron do the job too :) but thats true the best welder friend wedge and dog for sure :)
Love it! Keep them coming.
Thanx I too wouldn't have thought to weld on a tool at first.... cool trick thanx for the tip
Gonna have to make one of these now
Awesome. Thanks for sharing Make u shape version kinda like what's used in tile clips.
Flintstone tools used them for 50 years. I used a thinner wedge more pressure and weld closer to the work piece. less chance of twisting.
I remember as a child my grandfather making wedges like that and still have them but its time to make more like the stop wedge you made
It's a nice little added feature 👌
Thank you. Always great info. 👍🏼👍🏼
Check out stone cutting with dogs and wedges. Might be one of the oldest machines used by man. Great trick for metal working.
Wow I love being a more advanced student from your videos.
We make the plate U shaped and the wedge goes in 90 deg to the edge of the piece worked on, you can then tack right on the distorted area.
Nice! Never seen this before till now..
We used to make dogs with nuts welded on the end, with a bolt in it to align pipe joints.
Some real useful fitting tips love it keep up more fitting videos pipe and structural
Tack bar was goto tech Building vessels/ tanks in factory. 1/4"- 3/16" easy. 3/8" plate requires good tacks and 4'pipe
Thank you sir, cool trick there bud 👍🏼
You got me. I clicked. Good tip!
I used this alot working for a railcar repair company
Used to weld patch panels an old coal cars and loved using my C clamp cut and in half. tack anywhere
Excellent tips!!!
Those things are good to have, but I really like my slide rule, and a sharp piece of soapstone.
The best lay out for a wedge is 7 to 1 ....1 inch high 7 inchs long
Great tip! 😎🤘 Take care, 🤓 -Thomas Western Washington State
Awesome tip!
man...that's so simple its elegant.
Yes I could definitely have used these tools many times in the past. It is time for me to bite the bullet and get out the powerarc to make a few of these.
On the dogs i made, i welded a nut and an m20 bolt on it. Made a big one with a m30 screw. Otherwise i use wedges for assembly. Or demolition. Useful when you disassemble welded parts. And useful when you can’t carry a whole set of shims. (Or you’re too lazy to find shims😉)
I actually found one of these wedges in a site box at work. (As an apprentice) I used it as a hammer at work to annoy my tradesman since it was a big chunk of steel. This was before i knew what it actually was and my tradesman did also confiscate it.
Use them all the time. Works great for wall angle
EXCELLENT!!! Thank you!
Brilliant!!
So good man...thanks for the tips
Very welcome
Thank you more good information
Great tip. I could use that same technique for beam alignment in carpentry.
It's originally from carpentry.
Im primarily a carpenter, I'm always using shims (wedges) that's what we call them.
@@cabbyhubby Shims are for doors and windows.
of course!
One other thought show a tankies key plate and square nuts you can bring flush , raise the upper plate ,or put a radius in your seam can be on round or flat plates .
That is awesome!
That's crazy cool!
Thank you.