Welding Square Tube Question

[crystallake]

The lenght of insert does nothing for the strenght of the weld. From a fabrication standpoint, if it were mine I would insert about 4-5 inches, drill a hole for a bolt or place two plug welds in holes, seam weld the end joint and call it good.

 

[bdog]

The lenght of insert does nothing for the strenght of the weld. From a fabrication standpoint, if it were mine I would insert about 4-5 inches, drill a hole for a bolt or place two plug welds in holes, seam weld the end joint and call it good.

Yes and no. If it is a really good weld it should be just as strong as the tube. Look at how factory made receiver hitch inserts are. They just weld the tube on to the bar that drops down to bolt the ball to. That being said if you can insert the tube a bit and plug weld it you will reduce a lot of the stress on the weld. For example when welding ears on to plate to mount hydraulic cylinders to we never just put the ear on top of the plate and weld around it. We trace the outline of the ear on the plate and cut a hole so the base of the ear can slide down inside the plate. We then slide the ear about halfway down into the plate and tack it and then weld around it on the top and on the bottom as well. Much stronger.