I need to build a ground lead grasshopper and I'm looking for some Ideas.. I have seen a few pictures on here..
Could you guys post some pictures of yours as well as any thoughts on how to make a good one..
I would appreciate any thoughts, Ideas and Pictures..!!
Thanks..!!
RC
Lawrence is that what you call a third hand.
M.G.
LOL.. Those are some pretty cool Hoppers...!!! BUT I meant ground lead grasshoppers.. LOL
I'm wanting to try my hand at a little pipe work and I need a ground lead Grasshopper.. The pictures I have seen are pretty crude but they seem to work..
I didn't know if its worth getting a brass or copper chunk to grind down to fit in the pipe bevel or just get some 1in mild steel stock to grind down..
RC
I wouldn't waste the money on brass or copper. I usually just build mine out of sucker rod
Got rid of mine but it was sucker rod bent in a v with a leg welded at the point of the v to make 3it legs with a piece of strap on top to put rue ground lead on
Love this chrome job. Seen a horse like it that was wonderful!
up-ten just Emailed me these pictures.. I love this design..!! I think I am going to make one like this..!! Thanks for the pictures Bob..!!!
RC
No sweat at all, but weren't they a little bigger when I e-mailed them to you? lol.
Yes sir they were.. I'm not too computer savvy ether..lol This was the best I could do.. These pictures sure don't show them very well..!!
RC
Gotta get the helmet with the cheaters to see 'em. lol
you guys are all getting carried away the handle of an old file works great to drop in the bevel and use some rebar or sucker rod for your legs and slide some garden hose over them..... no need to get all fancy basic works!
That splatter pad can't last long.
actually it does cause it's one of the mats that electrician use to sheild high voltage lines so they are very durable probably the best splatter mat i've ever used
Elton John called.....he wants his umbrella back!
Haha funny......hows TX and that new remote... I used have some of those weldtron's
I see the same one in a welding store just north of Poth Texas. He was asking 100 bucks for them.
That's 3D welding supply in floresville that guy is high dollar on everything
Get ahold of letterburn on this forum. If you are really nice to him he just might make you a whole set of grass hoppers. (meaning they are custom fit to the pipe your welding) They are super sharp and work really good meaning they dont slip off the pipe when your helper has his head in the clouds and bumps your grasshopper off the pipe leaving arc marks halfway around the pipe.
I have some I sell for 60.00 they work on 2" to 42" pipe and are fully adjustable. Has spot for two ground lugs or two t 300 with holders around the handles. They have spot for bungee cord to wrap around pipe to secure grasshopper. I have been using the one in the pictures the new ones are painted gloss black. I have 20 with me in san antonio right now. Pm me for more info.
I am most certainly not giving 60 clams for a grasshopper,
but where you at in SA? I'm up in Schertz.
Its better than 100.00 plus tax though. I started cutting them out and machining them for myself and every time I was on a job I sold mine so I just started bringing some with me. I am working in pleasanton
Where I live there and work in jourdanton
I've been thinking about this grasshopper thing and have had some thoughts. Why the big legs? Multiple hoppers to fit different size pipe? Personally I barely have room for a hood plus helper let alone a selection of hoppers! LOL!!
Why not use the k.I.s.s method. A small block, say 3" long, 2" wide with a v notch in the bottom and wrong magnets. Off the top of your v block an arm xx inches long to reach over to your bevel. Perhaps an adjustment on the arm to move the mag closer to the joint or further away. Possibly extra arms, say you had to go over a pipe clamp or something, just remove and replace the arm. As far as connecting the work lead a simple connection on the arm or v block that the arm is attached to....but not running thru the magnet. Seems as this would be more compact, helper will have a harder time knocking off an 80lbarm magnet then knocking off something just resting on a round pipe. May have to tinker with a prototype this weekend.
F.Y.I.
when you get to the job cut a piece of the pipe and weld on the end of you grass hopper were it makes contact with the bevel.... some smart guy will come by and tell you your contaminating his pipe with foriegn material....i.e. x42/52 pipe make sure you have at least an x-52 base material on the end of you grasshopper
I don't carry a pic of my grass hopper but it looks like most except i use 1/8" flat iron for the legs so I can bend them to fit on the pipe. that way when they slam the bevels togather on the joint in front of me and my helper isn't holding my ground it does not fall off causing an arc burn and knot on my head and keeps my helper from getting a black eye lol
X2 on the black eye some helpers need one anyway
You have way to much time on your hands lol
By rcwelding 
Date 10-04-2011 20:03
Edited 10-04-2011 21:32
Sad but true Shad... Lol..
I think Cactus might be solving some of that problem for a while though..! lol.
There is another guy on this forum who has gone above and beyond anything I would ever dream of to help me too..! Between the two of them I believe my free time has come to an end. Thank goodness Im ready to wear my old Vantage out..! LOL...!
I think mine's 3/8ths round stock. That way you can "he-man-it" to fit your pipe size, I bought some black rubber hose that (barely) fits over the round stock and ran it up both legs and up the front so I don't have to worry about it grounding to the clamp.
throw your spacing tool in your ground clamp and tell your helper to hold it
