Researching Ways to Control Weld Distorsion

admin

I have been Goggling, searching Youtube, and of course here how to control weld distortion.I want to build a table using square tubing, but don't want it to be out of square, and unlevel.I just made a transfer case skid plate and it shrank an 1/8'' on each side making my bolt holes off, so that is what got me to thinking about distortion.If you guys have any advice, links, or books, please let me know.  I would welcome even the simplest tip.  I watched the video of the "Twilight Zone Weldor" and how to deal woth square tube and 90* fits. Very informitive.Thanks, Tortis.
Reply:link for that video,tortis?Drink a Guinness Draught....Millermatic 140Do you still rememberDecember's foggy freeze --when the ice thatclings on to your beard isscreaming agony.
Reply:Roger that.  Kinda funny.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weloWIzurqU[/ame]
Reply:To combat distortion you have to 1st understand exactly what is happening and why. When you weld, the bead shrinks as it cools and will tend to pull in that direction. That means if a joint is exactly 90 deg and you weld on the inside corner, chances are it will be say 85 deg now on the side of the weld. Weld on the outside corner, and the inside might be 95 deg if that makes sense.There are a number of things you can do to help with this. If you gap the joint before you weld, often you can pull the joint back to 90 after you tack the 1st side, then tack the 2nd. You can tack a side rather than a corner to start out with to help restrain the pieces and so on. Do a search on keeping welds square here and you will find this has been covered many times..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by tortisI would welcome even the simplest tip.
Reply:Tack and check angles - slow and steady wins the race.  It seems to be a real pain to have to stop and check the fit often, but you will spend far more time grinding it out and re-welding I like to move fast so it took me a while to get to the point where I would accept that this is simply the way welding works.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Do a search in the forumsUsername:  farmersammKeyword:    distortion"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:To combat distortion, experience winsDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Thanks for the help guys.Research underway.T
Reply:Try The Procedure handbook of Arc Welding.  Chapter three in my copy.  Purchase from the Lincoln Foundation.  Its now up to 25 dollars but still a deal.  I bought my first for five bucks in the olden days.http://www.jflf.org/There is also a booklet titled Control of Distortion in Welded Fabrications  Published by The Welding Institute  (TWI)   I got a copy years ago from Edison Welding Institute.
Reply:Thanks lote.I have the Lincoln book, and will track down a copy of the booklet.Thanks, T.
Reply:In my rather limited experience in sheet metal fabrication, and in general thinner materials, most people put way too many/too big of welds on their part from what I've seen. Putting a bunch of unnecessary heat into a part is a good way to make it move around.