So what is the strongest way to gusset a joint? The weakest I know of is flat plate. Then there's a question of "go fast holes." What I had thought would be the strongest is a tubing gusset. But know I'm seeing boxed plate gussets from the prerunner guys.

Boxed gusset:
http://race-dezert.com/skunkz/newline/21.jpg

"Go Fast Holes" flat plate gusset:
http://www.aor4x4.com/fgecage3pd.jpg


Wow, sorry bout the huge pic!

This is just a post to show off those fancy looking beads.:)

This is just a post to show off those fancy looking beads.

Uh, no.

Those aren't my welds, or anybody I know. I'm just trying to figure out if this is a stronger way to gusset so I know what to use when it's my turn.

But thanks for all the help so far anyways:flipoff2:

No help from me, just wanna say nice welds :D

i would go with a normal tubing gusset. i think the boxed gusset is pretty beef though.

That box gusset would be very very strong by comparison to the sheared triangle pieces. But then you need to figure out what would be more applicable to your application, and me guessing your talking 4X , and not Baja race truck would say that you probably don't need the box style. Then again what are you looking to brace exactly?
weldpro

weren't those pics from camos' "day with the baja trucks" or something? Thats alot of patient tig work too.

I hope whoever is doing all that welding is egtting paid a whole lot of money, those are fawking nice

for the 4x crowd, the flat plate gussets will probably be more than strong enough. Just dont weld them in the center of the tubes, they act like a can opener that way and just slice the tube.


Those are some nice beads.

I haven't seen beads that nice since Mardi Gras!

Thanks fer answering guys. That box gusset was taken from a prerunner site called race-dezert.com There is a really trick tube frame toy there (even though it has ifs) but it seems way heavy and a little overkill. Of course, if I rolled or endo'd at 100+ mph, I would want overkill, too.


Thanks for mentioning that about the flat gussets, kwrangln. That would have sucked to figure out on my own.

I'm not building anything too serious right now. Just getting ready to make some sliders, and probably a roof rack-but that won't need quite that beefy of a gusset:p I am trying to learn as much as I can as soon as I can before I start an exo. I'll also be doing up my own bumpers and a lot of work for friends.

And I agree withall of you. Them welds sure are perrty. My tig skills suck, but my migs are just as beautiful as the welds above, but that's no BFD! Mig is easy.

anything is better than nothing

A short piece of round tubing notched to fit in the corner would make a great gusset.

Squash

Mckenzies sell a cool little formed steel gusset for a couple of bucks that is similar to that boxed type you posted, they are made for 90 deg joints but can be cut to fit other angles.

Those beads are not that nice, I've seen much better, you should check out what Guido does for Paradigm and Robby. http://www.paradigmracecars.com/Services/Serv2.html

From an engineering point of view most of the strength in the gusset comes from the flat plates on the sides of the tube. So if you weld 2 triangles to both sides of the frame corner you will have a gusset that is about the same strength as that really fancy box gusset without all the work. The angled tubing gusset is fairly strong, but not as strong as a plate gusset. Just a final note about "go fast holes", it is tricky to place the hole so that they don't reduce the strength of the gusset. And those are some nice beads.

Originally posted by Suprdlux
From an engineering point of view most of the strength in the gusset comes from the flat plates on the sides of the tube. So if you weld 2 triangles to both sides of the frame corner you will have a gusset that is about the same strength as that really fancy box gusset without all the work. The angled tubing gusset is fairly strong, but not as strong as a plate gusset. Just a final note about "go fast holes", it is tricky to place the hole so that they don't reduce the strength of the gusset. And those are some nice beads.

Sounds like an extra stout method would be to weld in the tube gusset and then plate both sides with some light plate..

Holy Crap!
<img src="http://www.paradigmracecars.com/Images/Servicepix/Serv2H.gif">

Originally posted by Yota-San
Holy Crap!
<img src="http://www.paradigmracecars.com/Images/Servicepix/Serv2H.gif">

okay, back to welding school:eek::eek::eek: those have to be about the finest beads I've ever seen:eek::eek:

Damn! Just looking at that takes me back to H.S. shop class, learning to weld. I'm not sure how mine looked underneath all the splatter :D

you want the gusset to be a staright peice, not curved like in the one you posted. And you want both mounting sides to be the same length.

those are such nice welds i can hardly contain my self

WOW :eek: those are some sweeet welds! Damn, i need to start practicing some more...