Bucket weld

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I needed hooks on the bucket of my new l'il tractor for pulling trees down and skidding, the backhoe gets in way of the hook on the drawbar.  What do you think of that lapping the channel-iron endcaps (caps are 1/4" mild steel) over the sides of the bucket of 1/4" hard steel? The welders' pictures on a tractor forum butt-welded the bottom of the channel to the top of the bucketsides. I figured that welding more surface area to more area of the strongest part of the bucket would give greater strength, for toppling/skidding 70ft trees. The channel is also butt welded to the two loader arm 3/8" bracket plates at the back of the bucket, and around the bucket. I'm looking forward to getting rid of more of these Aldertree-weeds , Tractor mods could get to be habit-formingCentury Minnesota 230v AC Stick and MiG 70a welders. Not enuf spare steel.
Reply:The job wasn't done well? Were those lap joints stronger than butt welds? Polite silence?Century Minnesota 230v AC Stick and MiG 70a welders. Not enuf spare steel.
Reply:I can't comment on the welds..I dont see any..All I see is hooks..Close-ups are nice.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Sori, here's a closeup...I wasn't even trying to hide the welds this time lol.  7014 rod at ~170Amps. The endcaps welded onto the channel are 1/4" mild steel plate, then ground down to a rounded corner.click n zoom,Century Minnesota 230v AC Stick and MiG 70a welders. Not enuf spare steel.
Reply:Looks good to me!
Reply:Originally Posted by SupeLooks good to me!
Reply:I'm just wondering whats going to happen to that little tractor when a 70 fot high tree falls on it. but your welds look clean. and should hold as long as the tractor doesn't do a face plant.
Reply:Originally Posted by bill104I'm just wondering whats going to happen to that little tractor when a 70 fot high tree falls on it. but your welds look clean. and should hold as long as the tractor doesn't do a face plant.
Reply:Originally Posted by RexBSori, here's a closeup...I wasn't even trying to hide the welds this time lol.  7014 rod at ~170Amps. The endcaps welded onto the channel are 1/4" mild steel plate, then ground down to a rounded corner.click n zoom,
Reply:Becareful of those hooks.... I welded some premade hooks like that before and two of three broke... the hook not the weld. I know their supposed to be mallable and weldable but...! Since then when I need to weld hooks on I fab my own out of 1" plate.
Reply:Just looking at my bucket, the rolled back lip that's already there probably isn't quite enough for a hook in the center. So some reinforcement is necessary. You did good plus some. Mine were done when I got the rig so I'll leave them like they are. They work fine as the 1st point of failure before something else get's tweaked. All depends on your goals.
Reply:Thanks to this forum for help with rod and amperage selection welding mild steel onto hard steel, the 7014 @ ~170a melded into the corners like butter w/ pretty good penetration.I'm just wondering whats going to happen to that little tractor when a 70 fot high tree falls on it. but your welds look clean. and should hold as long as the tractor doesn't do a face plant.
Reply:Little sidetrack-----Had a friend who used to live out on Whidbey, so rode the ferry a few times, also used to fish for pile perch off the dock up there at Mukilteo. Probably around 1980ish.
Reply:When you say, "Made in North Carolina," doesn't that actually mean assembled from parts shipped by boat from Korea?WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:Originally Posted by 69 chevyWhen you say, "Made in North Carolina," doesn't that actually mean assembled from parts shipped by boat from Korea?
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyLittle sidetrack-----Had a friend who used to live out on Whidbey, so rode the ferry a few times, also used to fish for pile perch off the dock up there at Mukilteo. Probably around 1980ish.
Reply:Rex,The work looks good.I like your shop, too.John-----------------------------------|Craftsman 230/140 amp AC/DC BuzzboxSynchrowave 250