Topic: Tips for welding on rod end tube inserts.

[MRHilux87]

Ive got both my link kits sitting on my work bench.  Getting my engine set in first but soon im going to be cutting my 2x .250 wall dom for my enduro joints.  Any tips for welding the tube inserts consistently?  Im a decent garage welder and I have a 220v machine with 75/25.  Just wanted some tips from the pros here.  I guess turning the tube slowly while laying down the bead should produce a consistent joint, but where do you ground so your ground clamp isnt hitting your table...
Whats the best strategy?

[junya92toy]

Tack it first, 4 spots, equally around it. Make some bevels in the rod end. you can attach your ground to the tube its self. Just make 4 starts and stops, weld it in the flat position.

[MRHilux87 [OP]]

Will do thanks for the tips.  Starting and stopping smoothly is something I need to work on. 

[junya92toy]

If you must, grind out the starts and stops, so its like a ramp, and you can get a good weld right there

[MRHilux87 [OP]]

Ill give that a try thanks. 

[Wainiha]

I have never welded.  Could you clamp the ground to the opposite end of the tube.  Let both ends hang off the table so it could be rolled all the way around as you weld.  That way the clamp doesn't hit the table and stop the complete rotation.

?

[junya92toy]

Best thing to do if you need to rotate is, to pre wrap the ground cable so as you roll it to weld, it unrolls the wrap you did, no dragging that way. But its better to just do 4 welds, just make sure you tack it, weld one quarter of it, then quickly do the opposite side, so the shrinkage wont pull it out of square, then just weld the other 2 sides.