Can I ask how anyone has sealed the open end of chassis tubes? I did think of either welding in a plate - which seemed a faff, or else using some of that expanding foam you use around masory?
i weld plates on the end. some use square plastic stoppers. i think there is a reason not to use expanding foam, maybe fumes but i cant remember. it is indeed a faff cutting squares and welding them on though, and it leaves a raised bit to complicate the panelling.
I also welded on squares.
its the way that the company I work for makes up frames for conveyor systems.
one might be a faff, but the other is kinda bodgy....
There isnt a huge amount of open ends to deal with anyway...
atb
steve
Ok guys...being thick here...
What's faff?
I've heard of "faffing around"...i.e. making a meal of something....
Thats the faff he meant ..........
This has been covered recently... you can weld in sheet, or use plastic plugs and seal them in. Up to you
I think until I get bored of the idea I will try welding squares into the ends (rather than onto). one way of holding them in could be to weld a bit of wire across the middle to hold it in while it was tacked, then grind it off. or maybe glue or solder..
A couple of little magnets works well to hold them while you tack...
use your fingers to hold it in place
Fingers are great for ON the end....
but I was meaning IN the end...where you might lose 'em....
Oh and just tack and remove the magnets quickly...don't let them get hot...affects the magnetism...
We welded bits of the old escort roof onto the end of ours, there's 2 of use so my brother held the piece in place with an adjuster (hammer) and
I welded them on.
Oh, then he grinded down the crap welds 
The open end of chassis tubes are the weakest point in the chassis, especially the top and bottom of the front panel and particularly the back of the
'A' tubes, where all kinds of stresses are present. If you don't seal them properly the tubes will try to lozenge under any loads
(integral tubes cannot do this because they are welded to another tube). It's a bit like the old shoe box analagy, if you cut the ends out, it
falls flat.
I used 25mmx3mm flat bar, cut to sized lengths to seal the tubes, its dead easy and effective.
I am not the clever clogs who thought of it, but a few years in fabrication, it what you do. Anything fron prefab roof trusses for industrial estate
type buildings, to the mullions that make up the pyramid on top of Canary Wharf (yes, that was made in Cornwall as well!)
Perhaps Cymtriks could elabotrate..............
Rescued attachment CappedEnds.jpg
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
I used 25mmx3mm flat bar, cut to sized lengths to seal the tubes, its dead easy and effective.
I wouldn't worry about it james....