The plasma made it LOT easier, I dunno what I would have used that could cut 1/4 around my shop that fast, clean or accuratly for sure. I had "scrap" 1/4 plating that was around so I just took a straight edge as a guide for the plasma and cut off what I needed and moved onto the next piece. No, I think I did what you did steve, I cut a piece of DOM tubing across the center, that I bought in a 3' length as the ID is perfectly matched to my pin size, layed it in betweent he two plates and tacked it in and then filled in above it with custom made 1/4 pieces. I didnt go straight up with the hooks at the top/ outer edge, I bent them in slightly together to allow an easier connection with upper bucket pin. So for the outer side filler piece it looked like a trapezoidal filler and the inner piece was just a rectangle/ square.
I do say the way the guy made his in the first post I made where the plates were all one piece and bent would be the way to go if you could bend them. I had issues with just about everything twisting and being out of alignment after welding, even with good tacks and all I just dont know how you could midigate that issue. Im not a welder so there probably is a way, im just not up to speed on how. I also had clearance issues building mine as well as they used 1.25" pins on this which took needed area that could have went to better use for me in this project. All in all I'm happy with it and rewelded all the bucket stops to the new piece. Its a good little project for sure and will definatly help with bucket changes! I'll be getting pallet forks sometime here and was the main reason for this.
