Evening all

I've been cutting round tube to intersect other round tubes at various angles - turns out it's not quite as easy as it would first seem!

On one chassis member I've found I have a gap on either long side of an intended join. Both less than 5mm at their widest point.

The guy who's doing my welding is a genuine artist - I don't want to dump him with something unworkable.

Can those in the know have a wee look at the pic and let me know if that gap can be bridged and made structurally solid (it's the same on the top side). Normally I wouldn't;t ask the question as I'd just make another piece until I was happy with the end result, but it's T45 and it ain't cheap... and only sold in 5 metre lengths!



Cheers

That'll weld up just fine, but it'd be better if it wasn't there Can you trim the long ends of the oval to close the gap a bit?

Your tame welder will moan about it then just weld it no problem.
I had similar issues on our rollcage. The odd gap here and there.
Moan moan weld. Moan moan weld.

Have a look at this I found it on mig welding forum

http://dogfeatherdesign.com/ttn_js/

Penetration guaranteed

Cheers guys

quote:

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Originally posted by Simon
That'll weld up just fine, but it'd be better if it wasn't there Can you trim the long ends of the oval to close the gap a bit?

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It will weld but....

You are getting a lot of heat in there, I bet if once done you hold a straight edge against the bit your welding against it will be buckled.... Been there, done that and thrown it away in disgust.

[Edited on 28/9/17 by mark chandler]

Not too fussed about how the joint looks - just need it to be strong.

Can you not just remove a little more material to bring the join closer? Shouldn't make more than a few mm to its location/angle.

I probably can Loggy... it's just that I'm getting tight on the overall length of the piece, so there's a danger that if I shave off too much, then both sections as for the bin. I've since spoken with a pal who is a hands-on engineer. He reckons that there's now't to worry about as there will be plenty penetration on both sides.

For future joins there is a program called tubemiter on google where you specify angles and diameters and it gives you a printout which wrapped around the tube will ensure a perfect join

As Mark says in post 8, distortion is your enemy.


When you MIG or TIG a gap that gap will close, and consequently the joint will shrink.
That shrinkage has to go somewhere.

With welding, quality work starts with quality prep.


Paul G
(pro welder)

Would heat treating the finished product help in strengthening the joint?

quote:

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Originally posted by 907


When you MIG or TIG a gap that gap will close, and consequently the joint will shrink.
That shrinkage has to go somewhere.

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Could you not weld some more materials to the end, then reshape it , then weld to the other tube ?

The reply above just beat me to it. It is a doddle. Weld around the edge of the tube, shape off and then weld the two together. I did exactly the same despite having measured twice and cut....more than that


Description

^^^^^^^^^ Hi there! How's the build going?

I'm liking your style gents. I've plenty T45 left, so I can cut fillets or overlapping pieces. I'd actually thought about doing that in a few area's which are load-bearing anyway. Belt and braces!

It really is a pest shaping round tube to intersect another piece if round tube.

90 degree angle joins are a doddle, but when a piece needs shaped at either end and there's a third joining piece which also needs shaped to accommodate the first piece... then it starts to get a bit of a pest!

quote:

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Originally posted by SPYDER
^^^^^^^^^ Hi there! How's the build going?

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If it's going to be Tig welded I just cut a piece of filler rod and lie it in the gap then weld with a filler rod as normal

https://goo.gl/images/dJgPAs

Cheers Peeps!