I mean, 3/16 inch plate on a structure that old is asking for trouble. The steel gets brittle from all the heating and cooling cycles over decades. It probably started cracking at the weld points within a year. Just seems like a gamble they knew wouldn't pay off long term.

Ever had a sound scare you so bad you jumped out of your seat? I was fixing an old chair once, and when I leaned on it, there was this loud crack that made my heart stop. I was sure I'd split the wood, but it was just a dry joint popping back into place. Sounds in these situations are so dramatic they make you think the worst instantly. It's like your brain goes straight to the most expensive repair possible. That's probably why everyone jumps to frame damage before checking the needle.

Totally... ruined a nice vase that way once. Never comes off right, just turns into this greasy looking smear. Now I just keep a bottle of the real stuff under the sink.

Saw a video where a guy used high temp copper gasket paste on rolled tube sheet edges. He applied a thin bead before rolling. Said it filled minor gaps without needing crazy pressure. But he still did a light tack weld every few inches after. Seems like a middle ground. Full welds can warp thin sheets if you're not careful.

That's a good catch for sure, but buffers are only for emergencies. A crack wouldn't make daily stops rough, it could fail completely in a worst-case scenario. Solid inspection work either way.