Welding Cable

[maharg]

Looking to buy some verry high strand count welding cable for extreme flexability. (stinger end) any suggestions?

[davedarragh]

"Whips"

What you're looking for is Ultra-Flexible Whip cable. OSHA requires a minimum of 11 feet of "whip." DWC (Direct Wire & Cable) makes it for around $3.00-$4.00/ft., usually in orange. You can buy either #1 or #2 on line from www.ramweldingsupply.com

Hope this helps

Dave

[c wagner]

What you're looking for is Ultra-Flexible Whip cable. OSHA requires a minimum of 11 feet of "whip."

Very interesting, I wonder what their thought process is on that one?

[nfinch86]

11ft. Whip ?

Dave; That's a New one on me as well !!

............. Norm :

[davedarragh]

"Whips"

Dave; That's a New one on me as well !!

............. Norm :

Actually, according to OSHA regulations & Standards 29 CFR

"Arc Welding & Cutting"

Section 1926.351 (b)(2)

The minimum is 10 feet. I made all of mine 11' to be "ahead" of the game.

Dave

[superflux]

Whip length

I would suggest 15' minimum. Connectors are always underfoot if it is any shorter. Of all the things OSHA gets into, this is a new one...

[stick man]

What you're looking for is Ultra-Flexible Whip cable. OSHA requires a minimum of 11 feet of "whip." DWC (Direct Wire & Cable) makes it for around $3.00-$4.00/ft., usually in orange. You can buy either #1 or #2 on line from www.ramweldingsupply.com

Hope this helps

Dave

You saying its a osha rule that you have to have a whip line you can't hook the stinger directly to your 1/0 cables?

[c wagner]

You saying its a osha rule that you have to have a whip line you can't hook the stinger directly to your 1/0 cables?

No I think the rule means you can't have a cable shorter than 10ft. If your stinger is at the end of anything more than a 10 foot cable then your in the clear.

[hunkyjoe]

Carol super Vu-Tron is the cats nuts!!
It's expensive but flexable. I used to do cement plant shut downs in eastern Pa. the shut downs are always in the winter. Rollin back a couple of hundred feet of regular welding cable at the end of the day was like fighting an Anaconda. I got the Carol cable what a difference.
I have a couple of whips made up a 1 for doing cute little welds with 3/32 and a 1/0 for running 1/8.
The amperage rating is higher than the ratings for the same size black cable.

[Wicked one]

Looking to buy some verry high strand count welding cable for extreme flexability. (stinger end) any suggestions?

Phone Texcan in edmonton and get some superflex blue. It stays flexible down to -50c or something like that. I highly recommend it but...... It's pretty spend.

[enlpck]

OSHA reg requires that the insulation barrier be unbroken within 10ft of the business end. No splices, repairs, breaks in the insulation, etc. Reasons: shock hazard, especially in wet environments, and flash hazard (exposed conductor shorting to the work, such as from torn insulation or loose connectors-- risk of injury is higher the closer to you it occurs)

According to our OSHA inspector, connectors are ok within 10ft of the stinger IF they are positive locking and watertight (which knocks out IEC and Tweeco's)

[Wicked one]

OSHA reg requires that the insulation barrier be unbroken within 10ft of the business end. No splices, repairs, breaks in the insulation, etc. Reasons: shock hazard, especially in wet environments, and flash hazard (exposed conductor shorting to the work, such as from torn insulation or loose connectors-- risk of injury is higher the closer to you it occurs)

According to our OSHA inspector, connectors are ok within 10ft of the stinger IF they are positive locking and watertight (which knocks out IEC and Tweeco's)

I'm not doubting you but man that's stiff! Every rig welder in Canada would be shut down if we had the same rules. Where could I find that on the net? Jef

[usmcruz]

If you want extreme flexibility, then get yourself some tig torch power cable and make a whip out of that. I made one, and have used it extensively in the shipyard, and its light as all get out. I wouldnt exceed 200 amps though!

[enlpck]

I'm not doubting you but man that's stiff! Every rig welder in Canada would be shut down if we had the same rules. Where could I find that on the net? Jef

29CFR1910.254(d)(8) Electric shock. Cables with splices within 10 feet (3 m) of the holder shall not be used. The welder should not coil or loop welding electrode cable around parts of his body.

The inspector gave further detail about what a splice is (connector is a splice unless it is positive locking and watertight, etc, and equivalent to uncut cable. Ditto for repairs to insulation) and specified that breaks in the insulation violate this rule based on 1910.254(d)(9)(iii): Cables with damaged insulation or exposed bare conductors shall be replaced. Joining lengths of work and electrode cables shall be done by the use of connecting means specifically intended for the purpose. The connecting means shall have insulation adequate for the service conditions.

He is supported by the published interpretations (references arn't handy to me right now)

see: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...ARDS&p_id=9855

Note that the Canadian rules are similar, and in many cases tougher. See the WorkplaceBC site.

[J hall]

Joining lengths of work and electrode cables shall be done by the use of connecting means specifically intended for the purpose. The connecting means shall have insulation adequate for the service conditions

.

It seems to me that Tweco connectors are specifically intended for connecting welding cables, right?

I would think that OSHA is similar to MSHA in the fact that the compliance officer has his own interpretations that can sometimes be a little over the top, and therefore can be argued.