Welding question
 

I am going to have some 1/2" plates welded to the side of a 2" square bar. Its for a trailer drop hitch. This is beyond my welding know how and 110 wire welder. I'm going to try and get it done where I use to work, if they have the time. If not I'll find someone to do it. My question is should I grind the edges of the square bar to make a bevel?

This is not the actually plates that I'm going to have welded on, but this is the idea.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300240336.jpg

I plan on cleaning up the steel of coarse. Also would it help if I tack welded a few spots? Or should I just let the guy doing the welding do it. I'm not sure who I'll get to do it, and since they will be doing me a favor, I want to make it as easy for them as I can.

What you have mocked up is scary...

drop some coin and buy a proper hitch!!

Lap joints don't require bevels. The common use of the bevel is the butt joint so you can get a "root" weld down in the V and build up from there. On a lap, you run the root weld at the bottom of the lap and build up. Same with corner joints, inside or outside.

Thanks milt.

The receiver hitch will come apart before this.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300326825.jpg

Engineering CAD programs can stress-test a design theoretically, but image what that joint will be subject to: foreward and aft stresses up to 30degrees offset.

If you are unsure of the strength of a perpendicular connection, add a brace at the center of rotation. Even a plane outside that will reinforce it.

Here are the commercial versions. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1300334970.jpg

There is a gusset welded on the back side of the drop bar on mine. You just can't see it in the pic.