new guy needs help

admin

Hi, I'm new here.  Since I've found forums to be a great help asking questions I figured I should join this group too.I'm a carpenter by day and like to play with metal when I need something done.  I've made a few things over the years and do a lot of basic repairs to my equipment.  Tonight I ran into an issue that I need help correcting.I'm making a rack for my UTV out of 1/8" square tube using my stick welder.  Every location that I welded one into the middle of another ( "T" shape) the top tube bends down.  I kind of get heating expansion and shrinking so my guess is the welding is shrinking the side that is being connected causing the bend but what I need help on is;1.  What should I be doing to prevent this?2.  How do I fix my mess? Do I heat the opposite side and let it cool or do I have to bend it somehow? Any info would be appreciated!Lincoln 225 ac/dcJet 7x12 horizontal bandsaw
Reply:You need to figure out a way to "jig" or hold your parts being welded,  a weld is going to shrink as it cools and pull the parts out of square. Try tacking parts together first,and moving the welds around instead of doing two/three welds in one spot. Sometimes you can even weld parts out of square and the heat will pull them back into square. There is a whole art to this, length,thickness,angle are all aspects in fitting and welding parts and keeping them square.Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:If you can, post some pics of your project....Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:Originally Posted by DemonSpeederIf you can, post some pics of your project....
Reply:clamps lots of --or jig to hold welding table (of some type ) would be needed to clamp toidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Definitely will be building a table soon.  I'll have to search threads to see tips on design ideas.Well, I used the oxy torch to heat the back sides of all my welds and wala....it bent my square stock back to straight.  Soooo, until I get that table for jig/clamping set up I'll keep the torch at hand while welding. Attached ImagesLincoln 225 ac/dcJet 7x12 horizontal bandsaw
Reply:Originally Posted by beretta96manDefinitely will be building a table soon.  I'll have to search threads to see tips on design ideas.Well, I used the oxy torch to heat the back sides of all my welds and wala....it bent my square stock back to straight.  Soooo, until I get that table for jig/clamping set up I'll keep the torch at hand while welding.