George,

That sounds like a quicker method for sure. I haven't got a welder (yet) but I've been eyeing them up in the flyers. Though I've wanted a welder I didn't have a specific project in mind to warrant purchasing one. Thanks for the idea, and having a good reason to buy a new tool is always a good thing.

Ken

: Ken,
: It's a national sickness I tell ya. Folks running around thinkin' up ways to
: do strongbacks. Why durin' the recent thread on aluminum strong backs I
: started cogitatin' on steel studs myself. Cheap and straight, only
: problem's that open side of the "C" channel which permits twist.
: The bouncer in my brain was to spot weld short lengths of light weight
: plate lip to lip, say every couple feet. No welder, use epoxy.

: I build docks with 3" by 8" 16 ga. "C" channel. The
: channel is part of a system which together with angles and brackets is
: designed to be bolted together with 3/8" fasteners. As I got the
: material "used" by the dumpster, I didn't want to spend money on
: all that hardware. I found by welding the channel together I got a lighter
: and more rigid structure than the bolted up sections. I think this is
: because the bolts can move laterally in the prepunched holes that are
: slightly oversized. I think you'll find welding or bonding the studs
: together cheaper and stronger than all those rivets.
: Be well.
: Geo. C.