Welding Small Metal Dowels to Plate

[Zewnten]

Not much of a fabricator but I need a heavier duty version of the Hanson socket trays for my custom socket sets.

I'm thinking of making them from 1/4" dowel welded to 1/8" plate. Whats the fastest but secure way to weld the dowels? I need to make a lot of them. Could I spot weld the dowels or would I need to mig each one? Appreciate your time and help.

 

[Kev In]

Just an idea.
You could drill 1/4” holes into the plate, insert the 1/4” steel rod 75% into the hole and weld them from the back. Grind off any protruding weld if required. It would be a nice clean look from the top.

You could also drill the holes, then tap all the holes and thread in a rod into each hole. Think of a rod like a mig tip to thread in. No welding, but lots of tapping lol.

 

[ItsNemo]

I'd drill, mig from the bottom, grind flat. Anything done up top is just going to leave weld bead you can't grind off and odds are you won't get the spacing perfect trying to hold them in spot and tacking without the hole.

 

[MushCreek]

It depends upon the equipment you have. I'd make the dowels on a lathe, drill and tap for a small screw, and drill and countersink the plate for a flat head screw.

 

[Graham08]

I'd drill, mig from the bottom, grind flat. Anything done up top is just going to leave weld bead you can't grind off and odds are you won't get the spacing perfect trying to hold them in spot and tacking without the hole.

Another vote for this. An added bonus is you'll have less weld trying to pull your dowels off square.

 

[laser3kw]

multiple welded pins most likely will make the plate curl, unless it is clamped throughout until cold.

 

[MushCreek]

Yeah, the way I weld it would come out like a bracelet. Wait a minute- wearable socket holders!

 

[MJD1]

I would use 1/4" steel. Drill and use a 1/4" under reamer (.249) . Press the dowel pins in place

 

[jbfsr]

I would drill the plate and glue in the pins with Loctite retaining compound.

 

[NWill]

You could drill/tap and just use one end threaded studs to avoid warping.

 

[paulsomlo]

I would use 1/4" steel. Drill and use a 1/4" under reamer (.249) . Press the dowel pins in place

I would drill the plate and glue in the pins with Loctite retaining compound.

I think either of these two solutions will be faster and easier than welding.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I would use 1/4" steel. Drill and use a 1/4" under reamer (.249) . Press the dowel pins in place

This is a great idea and can be done with a drill press.

 

[mogandave]

If the OP has access to a decent spot-welder that would be what I would do, but not with dowel pins. I'd cut and chamfer bar, stainless is you have it.

Stainless spot-welds really nice. You could fixture the pins using a holes in a piece of wood.

1/4" stainless key-stock chamfered on one end spot-welded to burnished stainless would be the sh*t...

 

[savage407]

How about using spring pins or roll pins instead of the dowels? Drill the hole at the nominal pin diameter, no need for reaming.

 

[APEowner]

How many is "a lot of them"? What's the material? If I were making thousands of them and they were steel I'd spot weld. If I were making a couple hundred I'd probably do a press fit of some kind.

 

[gungatim]

I would drill the plate and glue in the pins with Loctite retaining compound.

LGR

 

[MushCreek]

My only concern is that 1/8" isn't much bearing for a press fit. If too tight a fit, that will also warp the base plate.

 

[mogandave]

My only concern is that 1/8" isn't much bearing for a press fit. If too tight a fit, that will also warp the base plate.

And the end of dowel pins have a filet, yes?

 

[mogandave]

You could braze them in from the bottom....

 

[Monza Harry]

My vote is to drill and C'sink from the back for the screw that fits the "pull dowel" of choice, no welding, warping and easily kept in the desired spacing. You can use 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" dowels for your different drive sizes (yes even 3/4, & 1" too) Harry
Edit to correct the D@mn Autocorrect

 

[paulsomlo]

My vote is to drill and Casino from the back for the screw that fits the "pull dowel" of choice, no welding, warping and easily kept in the desired spacing. You can use 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" dowels for your different drive sizes (yes even 3/4, & 1" too) Harry

"Casino"? Ya got me - what is it?

 

[Monza Harry]

Sorry, corrected above, sorry posting on my phone with the auto incorrect and my touch screen resistant fingers, when my lunch was just about done. [C'Sink = Countersink] Harry

 

[speed bump]

For our socket boards at work we just mig on the appropriate size square stock. I don't have any pictures handy but I'll take some on Monday.

Personally unless I had an ironworker or punch I wouldn't spend putting holes in the plate.

 

[joe49]

Quarter-Groove Dowel Pins or Slotted Spring Pins would work better with 1/4'' plate.

 

[welder4956]

Just an idea.
You could drill 1/4” holes into the plate, insert the 1/4” steel rod 75% into the hole and weld them from the back. Grind off any protruding weld if required. It would be a nice clean look from the top.

This is the best way.

 

[speed bump]

Here's what we have at work. Just make sure your posts are welded on opposite sides of the sockets or they will be tippy. Not a perfect solution but it's quick and holds sockets.

 

[engineer2]

I once made some out of wood and dowels. Two observations:
It takes experimentation to get the spacing right.
You may need to re-arrange pins if you add more socket(s).

If I were making them out of steel, I would drill spring pin holes close together to give you spacing flexibility.

 

[BD1]

As mentioned, 1/4'' plate at the minimum, drill through, ream bottom, and plug weld . Clean, neat, and it wont warp.

 

[tarbellb]

Spring pins and appropriate hole diameter, super fast and clean

 

[shawhite]

Why not just buy the westling machine trays they come in 2 row and 3 row 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2

Socket Trays | Westling USA

View durable socket organizers by size, as well as frequently asked questions. Each socket organizer tray is made in the USA from quality billet aluminum to last for life.

westlingmachine.com

 

[JohnathanSchroeder]

Welding thin-walled structures is a real challenge for the novice welder. A gap in knowledge leaves annoying holes in the metal. Thin-walled structures are best welded with thin electrodes - 1.6-2 mm. For thin metal, you need to lower the welding current. Electrodes with a large diameter will not work here - they will quench the arc at a low current. And suppose you increase the current to the required value on the same electrode with a diameter of 3 mm. In that case, the thin-walled metalwork will immediately begin to burn. So it is better to use electrodes 1.6-2 mm in diameter. Good luck with your work.