Aww, Nuts!

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I am welding on a 5/8" nut to a 2"x2"x1/4" plate with a hole in the middle for the bolt to extend all the way through. The problem is after done welding all the way around the nut, the bolt gets stuck half way down when threading it in. I think it's micro amounts of slag in nut threads.( I think ).Tried welding while bolt is in, but seems to arc the threads together. Is there something I'm missing here. How are you guys welding a new nut so that the bolt still threads in nice?? I've done this twice now and had to grind my welds off. I'm going NUTS here!Mig BTWRockland~RocklandMillermatic 211
Reply:I weld the nut on with a sacrificial bolt in the nut, a bit of oil on the bolt helps keep it from sticking.The bolt also helps to keep the nut centered over the hole.
Reply:The nut shrinks/distorts a little from the weld which is why it doesn't stick until half way down.  A tighter tolerance nut will be worse than a "loose" one.You can use the lubricated sacrificial bolt that CamW mentioned or run a tap thru the nut when it cools.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:A little oil, a little back and forth with the sacrificial bolt, or else run a tap through it. I normally don't have too much trouble with just a bolt.Duaneb55 beat me by a minute!! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:i run a tap through my pieces. i see much less warpage since switching to a Heavy Hex nut. Which are plain steel nuts that have alot more meat around them and are designed to be welded on. You should ask about heavy hex nuts at your local bolt company.
Reply:I use anti seezReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Most of the time you really don't have to weld all the way around. A little more than a tack on two sides like in Jimmy_Pops picture should be enough.
Reply:Originally Posted by CamWI weld the nut on with a sacrificial bolt in the nut, a bit of oil on the bolt helps keep it from sticking.The bolt also helps to keep the nut centered over the hole.
Reply:Another option is to use thicker material, drill and tap on your own.  This is 1/2" stock, tapped 1/2-13 tpi.ref: http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=60571
Reply:I sometimes use nuts meant specially for welding. They have a protruding ring on one side (like 1mm or so, maybe even less) that allow them to center themselves on the holes. Last one I used was a M6 nut, the protruding ring was like 8mm in diameter, so that's what I drilled for the bolt to go through. The nut centers itself everytime.When everything else fails, I do run a tap through the nut.Mikel
Reply:I just spray the bolt down with WD40 and it never seizes.
Reply:i used oil and that worked great. then i used anti seize when i welded the plate to the tubes. turned out great.~RocklandMillermatic 211
Reply:when I want a nice low profile look, I drill out the hole so a standard nut fits inside, then replace with a flange nut backwards, ad weld the flange to the base metal, I haven't had problems with distortion even when you weld all the way around, I usually leave a oiled bolt in place, work it hot and remove when cold. using the right bolt length this gives you a real clean look, its not as structurally strong a way to do it, but sometimes appearances matter too.Hobart Handler 190 Century 90amp on FluxCraftsman 200amp buzzbox
Reply:Use a copper or braz bolt will work also.
Reply:i made a few telescopic tripod stands with  welded set nuts i used nozzle grease stuffed in them and or a greased bolt.