Corners? diagonal vs straight cuts

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First off I'm a newbie welder.  I am hoping the tax man gives me some money back so I can get a Mig.  I have been looking over the project pictures, tables, carts, and such.  Is there a difference when cutting steel for the corners, diagonal vs straight cut?  What are the pros and cons of each?  Is one harder to weld?
Reply:I think diagonal look better. They have a greater weld length than square cut corners and perhaps on the strength of your welds may end up being stronger or weaker than the butt joint. I'm sure someone with more experience will be able to comment.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:You can cope a corner also with some sections like channel and angle. A coped corner will allow for a bit of adjustment vs a mitered corner. With a mitered corner, if you don't get your angle perfect, you will have a gap to fill and with thinner steel this can be a problem. Also a coped corner will give you more weld area and spread the load over a larger area. This can help with less than perfect welds. Here's a coped corner someone here posted up a while back. You can see how the notched the angle so it fits tight. You don't have the over lap you would if you just square cut the angle. Attached Images.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Nice, will that be stronger than a well fit miter? Would one weld both sides of this joint?Thanks DSWRegards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Originally Posted by Robert HallNice, will that be stronger than a well fit miter?
Reply:Great answers.Thank you.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:I like a corner to corner fit, not sharp. Can be done with both flatbar and mitered angle.
Reply:i prefer mitered joints. they are stronger than butt joints, yet easier to cut than coped.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:I make corners both ways, mitered and straight cuts depending on the job. Sometimes I need to have a flat surface all the way around to set something in using the bottom flat on the angle as a resting surface. Then I miter the corners and weld on the outside. If nothing is going inside or not resting on the frame I might just use straight cuts.Tom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:What about heat distortion of the two methods. My understanding is that coping is less susceptable than the miter joint?
Reply:My feeling would be that it's a matter of picking your poison as far as distortion goes.  Diagonal shrink pulling the whole mess together, or flat weld shrink distortion............It all boils down to distortion and how it affects the thing you're buildingWe can talk until the cows come home about different weld configurations, but it seems to be a matter of the strength of the base material.  This considers a proper weld only, not a poorly executed weld.  Seems to me the whole thing boils down to whether you can create a unified mass........continuity of the base material.  And after that, you live with the weakness/strength of the base metal.  A36 steel is A36 steel, no matter how you weld it.  It has inherant weaknesses.I truly feel that designing redundancy (sp?) in the weld, and good overall design, is the key.  The strongest weld won't make up for poor design, and the steel is.....well.... the steel"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/