How to straighten a welding table top?

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How to straighten a welding table top?My welding table top is warped. How can I straighten it out? It is not welded down yet. It had to be bent when I got it. I did not notice it then. The top measures 3/8 thick and 72x54. A guy at work with a lot of welding experience said to use a “dog”. I googled it and have a general idea of how to do it from the following web page: http://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com/DogandWedge.htm.Does any one have other advice?I do not think my miller 135 will weld a dog strong enough to beat on.reber
Reply:You could try a BFH. No, I mean the BFH!!! I have used a level, and a torch, and leather mallets on some fairly thick plate before, but never on 3/8"!!And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:If you just purchased the plate, try and take it back! The same thing happened to me a month ago on a 1/2" plate I bought for a table top. It was special cut too. 3' 1/2 x 6'. I got it home and it was humped up like a halloween cat. They said no problem, and I upgraded to a 3/4" plate and glad I did. It made a heck of a table. Heavy SOB, but it don't move.
Reply:Maybe I will try to return it. It was a drop piece meaning it was a left over section from an order.reber
Reply:Do you have access to large throat Bessey clamps??? C clamps???  Wedges will work.  What we call "Dogs" up here is basically either half of a C clamp welded to a piece of flatbar OR a piece of heavy flat bar on edge that has a nut welded onto the end with a bolt threaded through it.  The latter will work for you.Here's an idea for a dog that will work.  Bear with me, I will try to explain it.Measure the height of your table frame.  If it is say 1 1/2", then find a piece of 3/4" x 4" flatbar and cut it 2 1/2" long.  Locate a 5/8" nut & bolt (fine thread takes longer, but clamps tighter) and weld the nut onto the side of the flatbar at one end on the short side.Lay the 4" edge against the table top, with the 2 1/2" side against the frame, and the nut should hang over the edge of the frame.  Tack weld the flat bar to the table top on both sides of the flatbar on the end closest to the frame.  When the bolt is threaded into the nut, it will push against the frame, and draw the table top tight to the frame.Take note that nut is fully welded to flat bar.  Flat bar is only TACKED to the table top at same end as nut.  When you are done tacking table top to frame, back off bolt, and give flatbar a whack on the broadside with a hammer, your tacks will break, and "dog" can be removed and re-attached somewhere else.I use a similiar version of this daily to true up warped panels when I am repairing and installing patches in stationary storage tanks.  The wedges would work here too, but I like the fine adjustment I have using a crescent wrench on the bolt.Yes, your welder is strong enough to fabricate & attach these to straighten your table top. Attached ImagesLast edited by Black Wolf; 12-27-2007 at 09:42 PM.Later,Jason
Reply:Originally Posted by ReebsHow to straighten a welding table top?My welding table top is warped. How can I straighten it out? It is not welded down yet. It had to be bent when I got it. I did not notice it then. The top measures 3/8 thick and 72x54. A guy at work with a lot of welding experience said to use a “dog”. I googled it and have a general idea of how to do it from the following web page: http://www.weldinginspectionsvcs.com/DogandWedge.htm.Does any one have other advice?I do not think my miller 135 will weld a dog strong enough to beat on.reber
Reply:i would try to take it back before i went through the trouble of trying to fix it
Reply:If the frame your welding the plate to is really good and rugged and FLAT you could just clamp it weld it and forget it..If thats what you have to work with..Otherwise between Black Wolf and Tinbasher thats another way out.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:The frame is 3x3 1/8 thick. I have a good relationship with the supplier so I will call Friday. I think I have an idea of what Tinbasher Black Wolf are after. Thanks again guys
Reply:I fixed this along time ago and forgot to post my solution.Here is how I flattened my table. I got this 6” I beam about 5’ long. I clamped it on both sides of the table which took the bow out then I welded it to the frame , no problem. I did this down the length of the table in a few spots. Overhead mig is not easy. I set my shirt on fire twice. Attached Images
Reply:Hey nice solution, looks good!!  Glad it worked out for ya .Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:I'll use the picts posted above as an example. With the size of your table I would be sure to have some cross members in the middle as opposed to whats pictured above( there may be some I can't see) This will give you places in the middle to tack the top as you remove your bow. I generally start at one end and work to the other when forcing a bow out of a sheet.i've done it both ways, bowed up in the middle and bowed down. If you have center cross supports this makes this easy as long as the fram is straight. I prefer to have the center low so I can use clamps to pull down the edges and then tack. If the center is bowed up I'll weld a bolt to the sheet next to a cross member and weld a plate with a hole for the bolt to the croos member. In stall a nut and crank down the top till it touches the cross member and weld.Remember the flex has to go some where. Its much better to do this when the sides are not yet welded as it lets the top move that way.Hope this helps.
Reply:This is a picture of the frame. I started at one end and worked my way down to move the bow off of the table. Attached Images
Reply:There is no such thing as a flat plate 3/8 thick.  It will be close but not flat.  You need a substantial table underneath to hold it flat as shown.  Most plate up to 3/8 comes from coil stock and is unwound like a roll of toilet paper.  This happens at the supplier after arriving by ship or rail.  Much depends on the operator unwinding the roll of plate.