Aluminum welds fail ?

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So today I had a long day taking the family out for a drive and decided to head over to tractor supply, After "dropping the kids off at the pool" I was heading over to the bearing section and out of the corner of my eye I spotted these horrible welds on truck tool boxes. Then I looked at the entire line which had some bad welds but what really shocked me was the fuel cells, My questions are ,  I wonder if the cells are coated inside?  if not it would probably leak all over the place right ?  Don't fuel cells need to pass some inspection like NDT or destructive ?  For the price listed I would expect better quality . I never really liked TSC for anything other then bearings and weldable sprockets.  I would expect quality like this from harbor freight instead TSC.  ** Last 3 pictures are of the fuel cell/tank**Attachment 802481Attachment 802491Attachment 802551Attachment 802561Attachment 802571
Reply:Wow I look at every weld now too.  Welcome to the obsession.
Reply:when you start doing that (checking out welds), you won't ever enjoy amusement park rides again.
Reply:Originally Posted by kingnerowhen you start doing that (checking out welds), you won't ever enjoy amusement park rides again.
Reply:I've looked at many diamond plate tool boxes and almost all of them have a few ugly looking welds here and there. Nothing's perfect, for the price they are sold at I couldn't make one cheaper my self. I guess I think my labor is worth too much? Plus I dont' have a mig gun so it would take forever via tig? If it was me I would use rivets and angle with epoxy to save time.....and My guess is some seams are done automatically, but some of the seams are done by hand and who ever welded them didn't have a v block or tig finger or other support to help them get the outside corners nicer. You read the same complaints about tables, benches and smokers and lawn furniture, basically there is a ton of stuff that is not welded prefect that sells fine, works, fine and make the company a profit.Basically it's a business to make money, if the General public cared about welds they might pay more for perfect ones, but the company probably knows they would loose more $$$ than gain $$$ by selling perfectly welded boxes at a higher price, while the competition low balled it with less than perfection.
Reply:Looking at those welds. Then at the price tag in picture #3. I can guarantee you I would never buy one from TSC. It might take some of my time, but I would make my own. Better than the EPA fine for a fuel spill!
Reply:One of your pics showed a one year warranty sticker. To the company that's the minimum time the welds need to hold. After that all liability goes to the purchaser. Which is no way to run a business, welcome to corporate America.
Reply:I'd put money on those being liquid holding tanks not gasoline or diesel always read the fine print most those Alu tanks are liquid holding tanks they might say transfer tanks or something but most dont hold the certification to build so they just say liquid transfer tank on them
Reply:Originally Posted by Drf255Wow I look at every weld now too.  Welcome to the obsession.