What is the best way to weld this thick plate on homemade log splitter?

[mschjone]

As you can see we're down to the final stretch on "Homemade Log Splitter Project" Everything is tacked and getting ready to have some fun.

Looking for opinions on the best way to weld this together. GMAW or SMAW?

Main question is welding the wedge to the beam. I want this to be rock solid for obvious reasons. I hope the beveling is obvious from the pics. The wedge is 1 1/4" thick getting welded to the beam that is 5/8" thick on top. I know preheat here will be important, but how much? And how do you tell the temp.?

Stick will give better penetration, right? but can I weld this with my MM251 and get the same end result.

I have .035 solid and .045 solid wire. I also have some Trimark Triple 7 flux core. (I've never used it before) It says, "An excellent choice for a variety of heavy fabrication applications, Triple 7 wire is suitable for use in industries that work with heavy plate or heavy gauge steels such as shipbuilding, railcar and pressure vessel fabrication, along with certain types of pipe welding applications.

If some of you guys think the 251 won't cut it and stick is the only way to go then why?? If it has to be SMAW then what kind of rods??

Any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated. Thanks. Marshall

[Fat-Fab.com]

Stick with what you know best.

Your 251 will work just fine. LWS has temp sticks preheat to 250f-350f and weld till you have a 1/2"-5/8" fillet on the wedge, and fill the rest to full thickness with a 1/16"-1/8" cap.

Good luck

[fun4now]

looks good, just be shore the lil hand is out of the way.

anyone ever tell ya you have little girly hand's.

[MMW]

If the triple 7 is .045 then I would use that. It is a dual shield wire so use gas with it. Either straight CO2 or C-25 is fine. Keep the polarity the same as solid wire. Run a couple practice beads on some scrap to get used to it. I think you'll like it.

[grpweld]

I used to have a 251 & the only way i would use it would be with flux core 232 or 211 min. I could not get my 251 to spray transfer. If you can then mig would be ok.But why take chances on the most crucial weld on your project, I mean if you hit a knot or something very hard & that breaks it could kill someone standing close by

[diamondback]

you'r worried about a log splitter when you've got your hood up in the background. Come on where are your priorities, oh wait your welding!

The cored wire will do fine, you can typically run it one size up from solid wire on the same settings. It is going to give you a better penetration pattern in the steel than the solid wire will. The solid wire will be ok if you use it just make sure you follow recommended preheating for that size and control the arc precisely where you want it and you will be fine.

It looks great.

Is it hard to find gloves that fit?

[mschjone]

Nothing gets past you guys in these pictures.

You should see the tight spaces I can reach into with those hands.

The Trimark is .045 and I am leaning towards giving it whirl.

But it's like GRPWELD said "I mean if you hit a knot or something very hard & that breaks it could kill someone standing close by"

I don't want to screw this one up.

[Laiky]

when you done weld a link of chain to it so in case it breaks it doesn't go far. I can't see it actually going flying though, it would probably peal off

[ShieldArc]

You dont have much of a bevel so you better weld it with 7018.

[J hall]

I'm with Shield arc on this one, I would definitely use 7018