welding advice needed on skidloader bucket

Kow Farmer · Jun 7, 2016

I need some advice from you all that do a lot of welding please. I need to weld my skid loader bucket floor where the floor and back meet. The floor was welded before. Now it is cracked again further down from the old weld. I am old school. I have a Century AC stick welder only. I don't know what "gauge" thickness the bucket floor is. I am guessing maybe a 1/16" thick? This is the original material bucket on my skid loader. My question(s) are: what welding rod # should I use. I have 6013, 6011, 7014, 7018. And what amp should I set my welder? Thank you everyone.
Kow Farmer Kurt

Welding man · Jun 7, 2016

If it is only 1/16 in thick and rusty, it probably doesn't make any difference what rod you use or what you set the machine on. You won't be able to weld it without burning through, especially if you are trying to fill a crack.I have been welding almost every day for close to 45 years and that would be a tough one even for me.I probably could do it with a 3/32 6011. Amperage settings are of no significance to me as I weld by feel, sight and sound and never look to see what a machine is set on, so I can't help you there. Good luck.

Janicholson · Jun 7, 2016

16 gauge is tough to weld with a stick welder. A wire welder is best, (and cheap at harbor freight) if the stick, use 7014 and about 90 amps. Make small spot welds about an inch apart, and just a little blob. Do this from the middle to both sides, then start over between those "dots" Keep at it till it is solid. Then carefully run a second pass from the reverse side, staying on the welt so it won't burn through. Jim

teddy52food · Jun 7, 2016

1/8 inch 6011 at 85-90 amps. Piece of cake!

notjustair · Jun 7, 2016

1/16th of an inch is pretty thin. Even an older small bucket would be made of thicker stuff.

I do everything with 6011. More often than not it is old machinery or pipe gates, so 6011 is used a lot. I'm most comfortable with it and know I can stick just about anything together and it will stay put. I'm also doing it to get back in the field, not for purdy. I would set it around 90 amps and see. That will be hot if it really is thin metal, so you may need to bump down one. On my Lincoln that is 75. That's pretty cool.

old · Jun 7, 2016

I have built and rebuilt a good many buckets over the years. I would grind a V into the area then use a 7014 or 7018 rod. If you use the 7018 make sure it is for an AC machine or you will have trouble welding it. Then cut and weld a piece or angle iron in the back all along the back of the bucket and your likely to have bucket that will out last you

JMS/.MN · Jun 7, 2016

More than likely the bucket is more like 3/16 inch thick. I rebuild those with quarter inch stock- just made an 8 foot snow bucket this winter from a 5 footer. What janicholson is talking about is referred to as "stitch" welding...do it on both sides of the material to reduce/eliminate warping. Especially important when replacing bucket edge.

jon f mn · Jun 8, 2016

You must have miss printed that because I've never seen a bucket less that 3/16" thick. If it truely is that thin then it must be either worn or rusted. That means the only true fix will be replacement or patching. But if it's 3/16 or 1/4" as most are, then any of those rods are good since you are dealing with mild steel. If you get to working with cutting edge or wear plates that is a different thing and 7018 should be your choice. As said, since you have an ac only machine make sure you have 7018ac for ac and not regular 7018. The best rod for a job like this is the one that works the best for you. Use the one that is easiest for you and gives you the best looking welds and you will be fine.

showcrop · Jun 8, 2016

At 1/16 thick you need to cut back further and replace more of it.

BarnyardEngineering · Jun 8, 2016

Rather than guess at the thickness, why not measure it?

Any weld repair you do to 1/16" metal on a skid loader bucket will tear like tinfoil the minute you try to use it. If the metal is really that thin the bucket is shot. New buckets are expensive, so I understand your desire to repair it, but if it is really that thin you need to do more than just weld up the crack.

I would find some 3/16" plate and line the entire bottom of the bucket with it. The plate will cost you $50-$100 where a new bucket is probably over $1000.

Brown Swiss · Jun 8, 2016

Showcrop is right, the back on the skidsteer buckets get a lot of wear also, if it were mine I would cut a section out and weld in new

RodinNS · Jun 8, 2016

Some of those skid buckets are pretty thin.... and when they get rotten; even more so. I would say you probably need a new bucket or at least a new floor in the bucket. I'd consider that carefully tho as you may find the back will rot off in another year....
If you try to fix it I'd use a 3/32" 6011 and stitch it. Nothing about it will be pretty but you may buy some time.

Rod

dr sportster · Jun 8, 2016

I think you may be underestimating the thickness a bit. [ 1/16= .0625"] [3/16=.1875"] A fairly large difference .

welding advice needed on skidloader bucket

Kow Farmer

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Welding man

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Janicholson

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teddy52food

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notjustair

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old

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JMS/.MN

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jon f mn

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showcrop

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BarnyardEngineering

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Brown Swiss

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RodinNS

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dr sportster

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