I need help on welding thin metal

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Okay...long story short, I am trying to make a curtain rod for my baby boys room. My idea is to have a thin metal frame (1 straight piece about 40" long with 2 90degree back pieces about 6") and then at the corners of the frame (2) I wanted to weld two metal dump trucks on the corners as accent (like the old metal matchbox trucks).I am a rookie at welding but I am okay at welding heavy gauge steel where neatness is not a concernI have a Oxy acet. set up and a stick welder as well as a small wire feed set up.Could I please get some advise on what would be best to use for this application.Please keep in mind that I do not want to paint the metal (so heat marks are crucial) and the tonka trucks are already painted so I do not want to use too much heat if not needed.Any advise will help!I will post pictures when done if anyone wants to see.Thanks, Rookie
Reply:The issues that you're going to run into are that a stick welder, depending on the type, is going to be too much for thin guage and a tonka truck. The O/A setup will input much heat, as will the wire feed if its flux core.You're also going to have a problem with the Tonka truck as I think they are cast aluminum (??).I would try and shy away from welding on that particular part of the project. If strength in that area is not critical, try a metal-to-metal epoxy like JB weld, or maybe even a bolt through the back of the piece into the truck.
Reply:I know this is a welding forum BUT sometimes it's just easier to make a bracket and bolt it to it. Weld on a small piece of 14 ga. plate, maybe 2" x 2" and then drill both it and the truck, insert bolt and nut. No heat, no distortion, no melted paint....easy.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:agreed use bolts and a bracket tonka's are (light sheetmetal and plastic nowdays) long gone are the all metal ones (no riding them down the driveway) but i would go with the brackets an bolts (machine bolts and nuts)
Reply:Thanks everyone! I decided to JB weld the cars on and it turned out great. After everything cures and paint is dry I will take photos.
Reply:You can drill two holes 5/16-3/8 and then weld from the back side just keep a damp rag on the toys  Ernie
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneI know this is a welding forum BUT sometimes it's just easier to make a bracket and bolt it to it. Weld on a small piece of 14 ga. plate, maybe 2" x 2" and then drill both it and the truck, insert bolt and nut. No heat, no distortion, no melted paint....easy.