Stick welding 2 plates stacked together

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I need a 1" thick 2x2" block of steel to make the tool post image attached.  I only have 1/2" thick 1018 steel. What would be the best way to weld the 2 pieces together?I was thinking of beveling and filling all around the perimeter but the slot poses a problem. The slot holds a 5/16" square toolbit, tightened down by the screws above it. I could cut the slot, on the left after welding, then open up the space between the 2 plates, within the slot, with a grinder, then weld and clean up the slot with an endmill. If I do not weld that slot area, do you think the other welds will be strong enough to resist the clamping forces. There will be a hole of approx 1.1" bored thru the center as well. The tool post clamps down on the post by compressing the slit on the right. Attached Images
Reply:for all that trouble, just buy the thicker steel you need...no chance of warping or other issues when you start to machine it...Of all the things I lost I miss my mind the most...I know just enough about everything to be dangerous......You cant cure stupid..only kill it...
Reply:many places that sell steel have cutoff section with short pieces. i would not waste time welding. just buy a short piece. steel is about $.65 to $1.50 /lb.they often charge more for short pieces and small orders still even if 5 lbs you are talking less than $10. normally. if they have minimum order of $30 then just buy other short pieces you might need in the future. often price per pound goes down the more you buy
Reply:Thanks, the best price locally is approx $40/ft, besides I need the welding practice. Even scrap metal is always risky, the last few pieces I got were almost impossible to machine.
Reply:like i said many places sell short pieces. i rarely buy less than $100. of steel at a time. when you buy from a place that sells steel they will know what type it is. a junk yard could have alloy steel and hardened steel and hard to be sure what anything is.often if you really must weld something you just use short welds to limit warping. a inch of weld in a few spots often is better than warping it by too much weld
Reply:Thanks, will check it out
Reply:McMaster-Carr: 1" X 3" X 1/2 foot about $21 change. That's high for what it is but you know what your getting.I often buy like this when I need to get a job done, don't have time to waste looking around and a few dollars more on the materials don't mean much compared to the labor factor.Quantity of materials, different story.
Reply:4 corner bolts would hold it along with the center bolt.
Reply:Geez, Guys kill me with these machine pieces, jigs, fixtures , etc. They want to make but want to take shortcuts on a measly $10-$20 piece of material to do the job the "right way"........ Typical example of what I deal with....I'm on a job installing 6 stories of fabricated stairs......Elevations aren't exactly the same from level to level....solution ; buy flat bar for shimming from 1/4" thick thru 1" thick in 1/8" increments ......cost ????? About $450.00 ....... It's called " doing it the right way" .........You"ll have that in this trade / business .......
Reply:You will find out what chatter is.  Unless you totally fuse the plates.  Bolts or plug welds, if you must.
Reply:ok, ok I'm convinced. I really just wanted to practice my welding and use up my stock.  I'll get the right stuff, have it shipped to the border town and pickup. You wouldn't believe the prices in Canada, the 220v 10-50R receptacle for my welder was $67 in Canada, in the USA  $5.99, steel and aluminum is often 3-4x the price.  Luckily, I'm 15 mins from the US Border.
Reply:I know! You could explosion weld them together! That seems like a perfectly flawless and cost-effective idea with no safety hazards whatsoever. You can wire bombs... right?or you could buy some 1''.... but that's not as fun.