Angle iron size to make receiver tube

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I am making a welding table and would like to buy some angle iron to weld together to make some mounting points for grinders, a vice, etc.  I saw someone had welded together two pieces of angle to make a tube for exactly this purpose but I can't find it.  I know that I can buy receiver tubing from Northern or Harbor Freight but I like the idea of making my own since this is my welding table.  I'm not going to be making a hitch to tow anything but will save this angle for a future project in case I want to make a winch mount for my trailer.  I plan on using 2"x 2" x 1/8" tube as the mount for my tools.  I was thinking about getting 2.5 x 2.5 x 3/16 angle but didn't know if the smaller radius on the thinner tubing would get caught up in the corners and not let it slide in.  If I get 2 x 2 x 1/4, I'm not sure the 2 x 2 tubing would slide in at all.  What size angle should I be getting?
Reply:It's a long away around the horn way of doing it but it is much better than going down and buying 2 1/2" 1/4 wall and discovering that inside weld seam has to be removed.  You want 2 1/2 X 2  1/2 X 1/4 angle.  you might have to trim it a bit to get the best fit but you do want a snug fit.  I would also bump up in size on the 2" tube but that is just me.I have them on the truck at each back corner and on a couple of the welding tables.  I have a pipe notcher by Vogel, another by Williams Low Buck, vises, Hossfield bender imitations, and they all can be used anywhere I need them, handier than pockets on a shirt.life is good
Reply:Hello Dirtyamaha, you might want to check with some of your local metal suppliers and see if they carry "hitch tube", this is 2 1/2", 1/4" wall square tubing that has had the inner seam removed by the manufacturer and is used for exactly the purpose you are looking at. A bit more pricey than regular square tubing, but not by much. They might even have a few short rems. around that you could get a deal on. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:How cheap do you need it to be to buy it?  2 ft for $15.  I just bought one because it is so cheap.http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2402_200442402
Reply:Dirtyamaha  -  Second only to the wheel is . . .Hitch-Receiver-Tube:  is .250" wall thickness X  2.530" OD.  This make the ID 2.030" - providing 1/32-" clearance.  The weld has been internally cut-out [broached] to accepta 2" stinger - either tube or solid.To my knowledge it is the only bastard tube size.Any Metro, or AG area, will have sources that will sell youwhat you need - in the raw - by the foot.Opus
Reply:Receiver tubes are cheap...I've used 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" x 3/16" wall before.  It's a bit sloppy, but the weld doesn't cause any problems.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by CraboHow cheap do you need it to be to buy it?  2 ft for $15.  I just bought one because it is so cheap.http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2402_200442402
Reply:Buying square tube is fine, just use your grinder to put a little groove in the right spot in the smaller piece - since it's not going on the road, a little groove won't hurt anything.One thing about welding two angles to make a tube, don't start at one end and weld straight to the other, the "tube" you make will likely have a spiral twist to it - I screwed that up the first time I did that. Still remember that lesson and it was 20 years ago Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by Dirtyamaha  I saw someone had welded together two pieces of angle to make a tube for exactly this purpose but I can't find it.  I plan on using 2"x 2" x 1/8" tube as the mount for my tools.  If I get 2 x 2 x 1/4, I'm not sure the 2 x 2 tubing would slide in at all.  What size angle should I be getting?
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauIt might have been mine you saw. I used 2.5"x2.5"x 1/4 angle iron to make mine. Just clamped it around a piece of 2x2x1/4 and welded the edges together. Although it does leave a little slop in one plain, about 1/8-3/16", but no big deal to me, still works OK. Are these the pix you remember? As far as the size to go into it to make your attachments, 2x2x3/16 would be better than the 1/8" stuff. That will take more abuse than the thin wall.
Reply:Harbor freight has receiver tube too. I bought the 18'' one and cut it into 6'' pieces. Then added regular tube to match. You only need 6'' off clear tube.http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-l...ube-69815.html
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauIt might have been mine you saw. I used 2.5"x2.5"x 1/4 angle iron to make mine. Just clamped it around a piece of 2x2x1/4 and welded the edges together. Although it does leave a little slop in one plain, about 1/8-3/16", but no big deal to me, still works OK. Are these the pix you remember? As far as the size to go into it to make your attachments, 2x2x3/16 would be better than the 1/8" stuff. That will take more abuse than the thin wall.
Reply:2 angle iron pieces put together wouldn't even make a very nice square hole...Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Originally Posted by MikeGyver2 angle iron pieces put together wouldn't even make a very nice square hole...
Reply:Originally Posted by DirtyamahaAre you saying this because the legs are thinner than the corner of the angle?  If so, this was actually my concern that if I used a thicker 1/4" angle and tried to put the 1/8" tubing in it, it wouldn't fit because of the radius on that angle corner.
Reply:The proper receiver tube is 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x .230 wall, seamless, gives a perfect fit for 2 x 2 tubing. We use it all the time at work for trailer hitches and anything else that requires a sliding fit......Mike
Reply:To remove slop you could drill holes in the receiver tube (one on side and one on bottom), weld nuts over them, and make screw tighteners.I tried posting a pic but all of a sudden my tablet won't let me upload one in Firefox. If you want to see a pic let me know...GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:www.weaverd.com sells tubes and 2" square to fit. Nice people, they go out of their way to make customers happy. They have everything related to trailers.
Reply:Here's a method to work around the internal weld seam on square tubing.  Pretty slick.  On yutube...
Reply:No to HF.  Their "receiver tube" now is just tube and still has the flash in it.  I got to look at some that was still in the HF/haulmaster box.  A 2" tube would only go in a few inches before hanging up on the seam.  The tube was very loose also.  May have been a metric size but sure looked like 2.5" OD by .1875 wall.