Welding question

[dmcummins]

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.



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.

[TimT]

What you have mocked up is scary...

drop some coin and buy a proper hitch!!

[Zeke]

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.

[dmcummins]

Thanks milt.

The receiver hitch will come apart before this.

[john70t]

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.

[dmcummins]

Here are the commercial versions.

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