Appropriate weld for L4"x4"x1/4" welded at 45degree angle.

[StructureMan44]

What is the appropriate weld to specify for two L4"x4"x1/4" coming together at a 45degree angle? the angels have both their flat faces touching. Is it a square weld or a grove weld with surface prep on one or both of the two angles?

 

[racookpe1978]

lots of different ways to do this.

how are the angle iron actually touching each other? The interior connections on small parts like two 45 degree angle iron parts at 45 joint can be very, very difficult to weld and clean up properly in the little confined spaces - or they can be easily accessible and dirt-cheap to assemble.

how "clean" a joint do you need? Do you care if it looks ugly?

How many joints?

Field or shop welds, or a combination?

How many assemblies?

how good a team of fitters 9the people cutting the steel) and how many welders?
How well trained are they?
Are you going to make a jig-and-fixture to repeat this many times?
Same pieces all the time, or is each piece a unique assembly one-of-a-kind?
Are you going to be doing this overseas with Chinese welders, or locally by yourself?

are the angle iron and assemblies "designed" professionally or did you just assume a 4x4x1/4 is "big enough"?
What are the loads involved on this joint, and are they static, or vibrating and randomly distributed so fatigue is a problem?

 

[Tmoose]

I think the structural requirements of the finished weldment should be considered first.

And, as racookpe1978 said, aesthetics too.

Without a sketch or picture I am likely envisioning the joint completely wrong, but sometime a lap joint is acceptable, and can sometimes be done with square cut end preps and fillet welds.

 

[racookpe1978]

Heck, depending on the 45 degree joint geometry, a square end cut can be an excellent weld prep for a full penetration weld itself. or the worst possible prep angle.

 

[StructureMan44]

In the attached sketch are the angles I'm referring too. The angles form a 45degree mitered angle at the top and along the bottom of the pull box. Where the vertical angles meet the angles along the top and bottom I'm considering a flare-bevel weld. This will likely be done in the field.