Looking Fabricating 16g Tank/Box Advice

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I have a costumer that wants me to fabricate a Stainless  24w x 48L x 36H tank. i plan on having a machine shop bend the sheet so i just corner weld the two 24x 36 end caps. my questions are: Sould i use filler rod at the corner welds or just joint weld it? "the tanks hold liquid by the way" and,  using copper as heat sink how long should i run the beads before i let it rest to avoid warpage? i didnt make any promises to this costumer, i told him i would consider this a personal project if it comes out bad or warped. Advice from the experts are greatly appriciate it.Note: Ive saved plenty of headaches and time with advice given by all of you here at Weldingweb, even from the bullies!
Reply:Tack. Tack. Tack. Tack. Tack. Oh, and don't forget to tack weld some more. Skip around. Let everything cool or you will not have a very box-shaped box.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:What is this tank for? If it's for transport, you had better figure in baffles. Not sure how exactly you will use copper for a heat sink the way you are talking about doing this. Sounds like it will be very difficult to back up the welds with the vague description you have and your lack of basic fab skills. How do you plan to hold the copper in place inside this tank, have someone sit inside while you weld it up?Stainless isn't like "normal" steel. Warpage is just one issue. What about sugaring? Do you plan to back purge this? If this is for food grade liquids, you will need all the welds to be sanitary on the inside. Sounds like you don't have much experience with stainless.Sounds like you may be biting off more than you can chew. If this is for a good customer, you might be better off simply telling them the truth that this may no be the project for you right now. Stainless is expensive. Even if you do this as a "personal" project and don't charge them if things don't go well, will this leave a bad taste in their mouth? I get all my business primarily from word of mouth referrals. People remember my quality and tell others when they need work done. A year from now when the customer ( or someone they know) looks at this project, will it reflect well or poorly on your skills? Don't bet on them remembering you cut them a break on the price because it warped or that it sugared on the inside. Expect them to be cursing you every time they look at it and it looks like $hit..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:Wow DSW you really answered my question. I wouldnt do it if the costumer cared about sugaring. You make it seem like no one should start anything new, you and everyone else learned how to weld and fabricate somewhere, and by the way i refused it the first time , but becuase i do "good work" for them he convinced me to try it, all cost on him, money is not an issue for this man. If everyone in here had your attitude there wouldnt be forums like this. All i asked for was for some advice, not instructions. And for you info i happen to to be a Nuclear Medicine Tech at a hospital in which i was trained and now train students from local colleges, I grew up making exaust systems at our family muffler shop and  welding is just my side job becuase i have welding skills, loaded enclosed trailer, and good costumer service which i can use to sell ice to an escimo,and i make very good money doing it. Messages like yours dont discourage me, if thats the purpose. So stick to answering the questions or dont answer at all. ThanksExcuse my spelling if you notice!Thank you
Reply:Keep a bucket full of water and rags, and after welding a small section, cool it, then skip to a different spot, start again (water works a heck allot better than Cu). Use the backstep method. Tack it every two inches, at least. Whether or not you use filler is based on how it is broke up, will there be an open corner joint, or lap. I think it is absolutely ridiculous to tell someone not to bother even trying to do something like this. How else is one going to learn?Constant Current Weldor.
Reply:Sorry if I came across as trying to discourage you. It's been a long week already.It sounded like you are unfamiliar with stainless, and usually when someone goes to the added expense of stainless, they usually have very good reasons for doing so that need to be taken into account, such as sanitary welding..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:Thanks David, Ive fabricated smaller stainless stuff, but is never required long beads like this. What ive done is i have the long bends done in a machine shop and weld the end caps like mentioned before. i spot weld the over sized end caps so ensure no gaps then i cut then using the tank as a guide, then use the flap disk to make it flush to the shape,then i weld it without filler, it has worked fine, i just dont want the tank to fall apart like in the cartoons becuase the outward pressure. It is open top like a large sink, thats all.
Reply:Originally Posted by Cdavid82I have a costumer that wants me to fabricate a Stainless  24w x 48L x 36H tank. i plan on having a machine shop bend the sheet so i just corner weld the two 24x 36 end caps. my questions are: Sould i use filler rod at the corner welds or just joint weld it? "the tanks hold liquid by the way" and,  using copper as heat sink how long should i run the beads before i let it rest to avoid warpage? i didnt make any promises to this costumer, i told him i would consider this a personal project if it comes out bad or warped. Advice from the experts are greatly appriciate it.Note: Ive saved plenty of headaches and time with advice given by all of you here at Weldingweb, even from the bullies!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWSorry if I came across as trying to discourage you. It's been a long week already.It sounded like you are unfamiliar with stainless, and usually when someone goes to the added expense of stainless, they usually have very good reasons for doing so that need to be taken into account, such as sanitary welding.
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonLapping the corner seams as opposed to butting the corner seams helps on distortion,fitup and completion.If you're worried about sugaring, distortion, etc. this may be a good job to pass on.Some customers purposely scrounge around trying to find somebody cheaper than aregular shop. They want cheap-not good......so in that light, this might be a greatR & D  job for you, after getting full payment in advance!When are you going to respond to the postings in the thread you began on 8-16-12?http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=151871  "Determining Weight Max"
Reply:attached is what I'm referring to:http://weldingweb.com/attachment.php...1&d=1350504247 Attached ImagesBlackbird
Reply:Well here it is, i had the sheet bent on a brake, knocked out the holes and welded the endcaps, im satisfied with the results