Welding bucket hooks - support plate warpage??

[Ruark]

It's pretty much a standard practice to weld bucket hooks onto a piece of 1/4" plate, then weld the plate onto the top of the FEL. I'm wondering, though: when you weld the hook to the piece of plate, doesn't it make the plate bend up from the heat distortion, so you can't lay it down flat on the FEL? Seems like it would...

 

[dstig1]

Clamp it in place. C-clamps should draw it tight. Dunno otherwise

 

[moored4]

I have just welded hooks right to the bucket! Never had one brake or come off. Some I put on over 20+ years ago with no problems!

 

[mrmikey]

Prebend the plate slightly away from the weld, when you weld the hooks on it'll pull back straight....Mike

 

[Shield Arc]

Putting a doubler plate under a hook is always a good idea. But don't stop there, make sure your doubler plate is round or oval, never use square corners!

Once you weld your hooks on the doubler plate, let it cool to the touch, turn it over, take your torch, and heat a circle the size of the weld zone on the opposite side. Take your garden hose and spray water on the heated area, (not on the hook side).

 

[troutsqueezer]

I welded the plate to the bucket then welded the hook to the plate. Why not do it in that order?

 

[Wombat125]

I welded my support pads on in 6 sections with some cooling time in between. It made the welds not quite as pretty, but I didn't have any warpage.

Here is my original thread with a few pictures.

 

[Haywire]

Wombat, those are some good looking welds on your thread...

Ian

 

[angussprings]

Here's a picture of mine.

 

[TheGreyRider]

I welded 1/4 inch on the bucket, but used a large tow hook and bolted it to the metal, that way if ever i needed or wanted it off i could.