Controlling Warping On Sheet Metal

Though weld shrinkage cannot be prevented it can be controlled by following these steps.

Controlling warping on sheet metal.

Use anti warping devices and techniques. As a rule of thumb it s better to weld as hot and fast as possible to get in and out of the weld as quick as you can. Intermittent rather than continuous welds help as does minimizing the. The bigger the weld the greater the shrinkage.

Minimize the amount of heat put into the weld. If there isn t a lot of rust on the sheet metal softer abrasives like walnut shell soda blast crushed glass or plastic beads are sometimes used to reduce warping of sheet metal. Here s a list of tips that help reduce warpage in sheet metal fabricaitons. By putting the metal between a dolly and a swinging hammer you are slowly stretching the metal out by striking on it each time think of kneading pizza dough.

Even seasoned pros who perhaps haven t had a serious issue with a warped piece of sheet metal in a long time can gain new insight from some of these tips. Work hot and fast a lot of damage or excessive warping when welding could be from dwelling too long in a small area when welding. The warping of metal during the welding process is due to the high levels of heat involved. Design and welding should be addressed to minimize this sort of warping.

Preset the pieces sometimes called counter or opposing set up this means allowing for the. This is very important to keep the shape of the panel you re welding. An ounce of prevention the battle between hot cold. Use intermittent welds instead of continuous welds where possible to minimize the amount of weld metal.