Box Section Joints

[Rrunnach]

Mitre, then fully weld them into two L's, square them up, then bring the two together to make your square. Once cool, check diagonals, give a dink, if required?

 

[Mid Wales welder]

I always cut 45 and a 1/4 degrees just to give you a bit of play when squaring up.

 

[Kent]

I always cut 45 and a 1/4 degrees just to give you a bit of play when squaring up.

cut them slightly shy on OA length - you must have some sort of saw to get 1/4 of a degree

 

[Kent]

For butt & cap yes very easy mate , don't take 2 mins to cut flat plate then corner to corner weld

Yes but like I say your adding three welds a fair amount of extra grinding and cutting the plates x4 on each op for a squared frame. To be fair I don't even bother squaring the ends for a corner 2 corner on the outside much if its not important aesthetically.

 

[lshigham]

If its just for a bench, i'd just square cut it all personally.
Mitres if it needs to look good and open ends arn't desireable.

I did my bench in such a way that there were no open ends visible it's possible in most cases I find

 

[Richard.]

I've nearly always done this joint with two 45 degree mitres. Even if it's not needed. It looks better it's easy to make squaring adjustments it's a strong joint and it's easy to cut and weld.

 

[Mid Wales welder]

cut them slightly shy on OA length - you must have some sort of saw to get 1/4 of a degree

Just set the saw slightly over the line of 45. I find if there is a gap all round then it will close up when welded and you'll loose your OD. Just set the box up with both points touching, put a tack on outside do that all the way round if making a square and it should be pretty close with only a slight gap on inside, quick check of diagonals, tack and weld from inside to out to stop it pulling.

 

[roofman]

i mitre and use my vice to hold...one of these

 

[Richard.]

i mitre and use my vice to hold...one of these

Snap. I got one of those. Super tools for that exact job.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I have one too...

Fantastic except for the things that aren't big enough to fit, sometimes I'll get a weld with it then have to manage without. Could do with a tiny one sometimes!

 

[ukracer]

i mitre and use my vice to hold...one of these

Super price though as well.

 

[Wedg1e]

Snap. I got one of those. Super tools for that exact job.

I have 4!

Someone on here posted that Halfords were having a clearance sale of welding gear so I went online and reserved all the stock at three local branches

If I recall right they worked out at about £12.50 each.

I got several sets of those Mole-grip type welding clamps too

 

[ukracer]

I have 4!

Someone on here posted that Halfords were having a clearance sale of welding gear so I went online and reserved all the stock at three local branches

If I recall right they worked out at about £12.50 each.

64 quid each now then

 

[Wedg1e]

64 quid each now then

Sixty quid each and they're yours

 

[Hitch]

A decent fabricator would have a frame tacked together in the time you wou;d have clamped the two bits together in one of them

 

[ukracer]

A decent fabricator would have a frame tacked together in the time you wou;d have clamped the two bits together in one of them

problem is most of us are hobby users mate. lol

 

[Richard.]

I've worked in enough fab shops and clamping pre welded fabrications where possible is pretty standard practice.

 

[Kent]

Just set the saw slightly over the line of 45. I find if there is a gap all round then it will close up when welded and you'll loose your OD. Just set the box up with both points touching, put a tack on outside do that all the way round if making a square and it should be pretty close with only a slight gap on inside, quick check of diagonals, tack and weld from inside to out to stop it pulling.

mmm, with most saws I have used not cutting spot on to a single degree that well at least of the marked calibrations.

 

[Kent]

A decent fabricator would have a frame tacked together in the time you wou;d have clamped the two bits together in one of them

Well I think you make something of a point here, I must say this thread has really surprised me at the unconventional way guys are doing things. I do get using corner clamps but actually I have not seen them used much in industry. If its worth ant degree of setting up for a jig is usually made up

 

[Richard.]

For repetition work a jig is the most productive way forward. For a tool in the box for clamping two bits of box Section up square To get a few tacks on every now and then the corner clamps are ideal . It's down to the individual really. Some people square it up and tack it free some tack to the bench some use these corner clamps. I've seen all these methods used to good standards in industry.