Joints for a bracket Help please

[Tommyf]

Hi Guys

I need to make 4 brackets to hold a filling cabinet off the floor.

I am using 30x30x3 mm box section to make 90 degree L brackets that will be bolted to the wall,
my question is : is there any benefit mitering the joint and welding it or just butting them together and welding it ? Also with 3mm steel is it better to v groove the edges before welding it ?

Many thanks in advance

Tom

 

[cumbriasteve]

There is no benefit other than a visual appearance of the mitre looking nicer.

You should not need to prep the joints unless you are down on power with your welder, a v prep will then be an advantage.

Do some calculations though, a full filing cabinet can be a hell of a weight, especially if it is one of the full height one's.

 

[mike 109444]

There is no benefit other than a visual appearance of the mitre looking nicer.

You should not need to prep the joints unless you are down on power with your welder, a v prep will then be an advantage.

Do some calculations though, a full filing cabinet can be a hell of a weight, especially if it is one of the full height one's.

Especially if top draw is full and then opened. Even if flat on floor they can tip! Some may have a catch mechanism to stop more than one draw being opened at same time to avoid toppling, this comes from past information when I worked on microfilm/fiche which would be stored in similar types of cabinets.

 

[Kent]

not convinced, I shouldn't do such a thing at 90 degrees without a gusset as there is no point other than a little bit of time. If it were me I should use angle iron of say 40x5 and gusset it with flat bar or plate with this you will get better bolting in points back to the wall and into the cabinet. I cant think it could be going very high or you should never get into the top drawer so why not just lift it off the floor with a base frame?
To be honest without trying to insult if you are not sure how are you 100% up to doing it yourself even the best planned joints need proper fusion ? a full cabinet is going to do more than smart a bit if it lands on you, I have a feeling even with a half load it could easy snap both your knees or far worse

 

[norlander]

I'd go with what Kent says-ie use angle and gusset, I'd probably use angle again as the gusset bar and I would make up a third bracket which I would fix to the wall above the cabinet in an inverted position as an anti tip stop