Welding tube to flat plate

[anto]

Bit of advise needed.

Currently i am trying to weld 3mm thick tube to a 6mm thick plate perpindicular to one another.
My fear is that although i get good penetration on the tube, that i dont get good penetration on the flat plate. (I have been trying to focus the weld more on the flat to help)

I fear i am limited by my welder a Sealey Mightymig 130xt. Is it just not powerful enough to give a good strong weld through the flat plate?

I have welded one with it and it seems strong enough but how can i tell?

Thanks,
Anton

 

[backpurge]

Depends what the end useage is, to be on the safe side you need to weld up a test sample and macro section it

 

[anto]

Its for a "prowler".

Its a bit of gym equipment a bit like a sled that you can load up with weights and push along for training.

The tube is the leg of the sled and the flat plate is the foot.

Im using the first prowler as a test model so i suppose this will highlight if the weld is good or not. I might do a test sample as well as you've said.

 

[backpurge]

You don't want it to fail in service with the risk of someone hurting themselves. Much better to make sure it is right in the first place, any chance of posting some photos of your welds

As you already suspect you may struggle with your current welder it probably is not up to the job, the danger you will have is the tendency to weave the weld around to deposit a large weld bead thinking this will be stronger, big mistake

 

[anto]

Il try and get some pics.

Is there any additional prep work i could do to the flat plate to allow better penetration?

 

[backpurge]

Just make sure it is a good tight fit with no gaps

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

could you cut a hole in the plate, push the tube into it, then weld from the back of the plate as well as the opposite side for extra strength. You could also Vprep the hole for better penetration.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

iv done it with a die grinder to prep holes

 

[s410man]

Il try and get some pics.

Is there any additional prep work i could do to the flat plate to allow better penetration?

the best way would be to drill a hole in the plate

then countersink the plate from the back

then push the tube through and weld around the tube on both sides of the plate