brass chassis basics? Should I alp corners?

[noddaz]

When I attempt to make a chassis, should I try to lap the corner joints or is a soldered butt joint good enough. I will be using square tubing for this attempt...

Scott

[SRQSloter]

If I was doing a square tube chassis. I would butt them up making sure it's square and tack the two together. Then cut a piece of flat brass to go across like a gusset plate.

[Florida_Slotter]

Scott,

Basically solder is weak. Even 60/40 is not the strongest thing known to man.

You should NOT rely on the solder to make a strong joint.

If you are using 3/32 or .093 square tubing, a piece of 1/16 inch (.062) piano wire will fit very nicely. Now if you were to make some 3/4 x 3/4 90 degree bends and use these to join your square tubing together, it would make the joint much stronger then if you just soldered one piece of tubing to another.

Just my opinion of course.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I like to telescope brass together to adjust for wheelbase, then flow solder into and around the spot where they come together, freezing it exactly in place. In this way, I also have a last chance to make up for any tracking errors in my jig. The lapped sandwich method will work, but you are asking yourself to make a near perfect bond when you solder it. I take the easy, sure way and simply freeze a mechanical structure in place with the solder, similar to what Marty has said.