slider removal question
 

I have welded on sliders and I want to cut them off, shorten and paint them.

Can sliders be rewelded to the frame in the same spot w/o damaging the fame's integrity?

Depending on how you made them, I would guess If I was to do this to mine I would cut them off away from the frame towards the slider itself. Take out the amount you want, but leave enough stubbed so that you can easily get it welded back on. If the weld on the frame is good and solid, I would try to leave it and not take the chance on welding on it again an take the chance of warping it. The more you weld on one spot, the more it will change from the heat. That is my guess from experience in Pipe fitting and being around welding. How did you attach it to the frame? Did you weld a piece of plate metal on the sliders and then weld the plate to the frame, or did you weld the tubeing right to it? I personally welded plate to the end of my sliders and then welded the plate to the frame. Figureing on more surface tension on the frame will be less likely to to bend it.

The tubes were welded directly to the frame w/ gussets above for strength. If I cut away from the frame and remove material will the two butt sections be able to be welded together and be as strong as the original?

I think if you weld it back together then weld a sleeve over it, it would be strong as before if not stronger. I`m no welder but just a suggestion. :banger:

With your sliders being http://members.cox.net/trailrigequip.../butwiggle.gif welded, I believe your best bet to remove and reattach is to do what sportJR did as far as welding plates to the frame...Although, I'd cut the sliders off as close to the frame as possible and cut em shorter later on, right before you go to reattach em.

Grind the remaining stubs and gussets down to the frame whilst being careful not to gring IN to the frame. Once you have the frame smoothed, weld 5 or 6", 3/16" or 1/4"plates (I use angle iron and wrap the bottom of the rails) where your going to reattach the sliders. This will spread out the load on the frame (like sportJR said) and will privide you with ample room for doing the same in the future. Since sliders are actually a "consumable" to those that wheel hard, it amazes me so many people weld them directly to the frame w/o plates. I'm not against welding to the frame but I would at least weld some plating to the frame to spread the load and provide a better resurfacable attachment area should you want or NEED to do this again.

A http://members.cox.net/trailrigequip.../butwiggle.gif weld can be pretty strong but IMO, not as stong as the original section of pipe. If you need to do it this way, sleeve the inside of the pipe with another pipe where you intend to http://members.cox.net/trailrigequip.../butwiggle.gif weld it. This will make the joint plenty strong.

Happy Moddin'!

http://members.cox.net/trailrigequip...pimpsmiley.gif

Thanks for the info guys Ill deffinately weld on plates to the frame before re-attatching the sliders.

I knew someone would come up with something for the butt-welds LOL

Yeah Hoodlum, that sums up what I was going to say.