Plug welding with an arc?

[Strangelymade]

Hi yer, first time poster here.

Need to make a set of handlebars for my trike, they are provisionally going to be 1" tube 3.25mm wall thickness with 7/8" tube (3.25mm wall thickness) tube fitted into the end for throttle and switches.

My question is, would I be able to plug weld or slot weld the 7/8" tube in with a stick/arc welder? Reason I ask, is that I have only ever seen tips about plug welding for MIG welders.

Oh yeah, I'll be using 6013 rods, because they are all I have.

 

[johnny max]

If your compenent enough with the arc I don,t see why not
If not get someone else to do it

 

[GeorgeB]

My question is, would I be able to plug weld or slot weld the 7/8" tube in with a stick/arc welder? Reason I ask, is that I have only ever seen tips about plug welding for MIG welders. Oh yeah, I'll be using 6013 rods, because they are all I have.

Welcome to the forum. I've only ever done plug welds with an arc welder using the cheapest possible 6013 rods, and I've always achieved what I set out to do. With your wall thickness of 3.25mm it should be a piece of cake. As always, practice on scrap first to get a feel for the best settings.

 

[Strangelymade]

Cheers for the welcome and advice.
Going to have to practise a bit first any way, haven't picked up a welder in 6 months.

Also, what size hole would you recommend I drill for that size tube?

 

[Drains]

Also, what size hole would you recommend I drill for that size tube?

As big as you like. A doughnut plug weld is better than a simple plug, as you can just run a bead in a wee circle and fairly guarantee to do the job right. Depends how much room you've got.

One of these I mean...

 

[GeorgeB]

Also, what size hole would you recommend I drill for that size tube?

I think I drill a hole of about 8mm, i.e. not too small, and then seek to fill the hole with new metal, in more than one hit, usually. I do, of course, remove all slag before I add any new layer of weld metal. I aim to get good penetration into the lower plate, with the new metal spilling out 'above the rim' of the upper plate, so it ends up looking a bit like a rivet. Leave as it is, proud of the surface, or grind back, level.