Straighting 1/4 inch plate

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Hello members, I am building a  small welding table- 32X32 inch. I got a piece of new 1/4" plate for the top 32X32". The problem is the plate has a slight bow in one direction and would like to make it as straight as possible. The bow is about 3/16"-1/4". I tried jacking up the front tire of the jeep and put the plate on two by fours and under the tire and let the tire down onto the plate. This straightened it a bit but not enough. Any other ideas?Kel
Reply:O&A and a press is what I would use. If a press is not available use your imagination, But I would say to try to get the bow out of it you are going to have to get it HOT.Good LuckDrivesector Hobart Handler 140Hobart Handler 180Ready Welder 2Hobart Air Force 400Airco Stinger 225Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."OZZY"
Reply:weld down one side and the pull the bend down and tack. well em up. i was trying to make a pic for ya, but all i have is autocad and i can't convert it.  but weld down one side and either use a plate dog or something to pull the plate down. as long as you have good solid welding on the table frame it'll hold up."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:If the table frame is built then just weld it to the table. As backuproller explained. Start at one end with a few good welds. Then got the other end and clamp it flat. then lay a few good welds to hold it securely while you weld the sides. When you do this make sure the bow is downward onto the table. Should work out fine.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:Originally Posted by hywyh8rHello members, I am building a  small welding table- 32X32 inch. I got a piece of new 1/4" plate for the top 32X32". The problem is the plate has a slight bow in one direction and would like to make it as straight as possible. The bow is about 3/16"-1/4". I tried jacking up the front tire of the jeep and put the plate on two by fours and under the tire and let the tire down onto the plate. This straightened it a bit but not enough. Any other ideas?Kel
Reply:I don't know how the design of your table is but if you made a square frame at the top of your legs that the plate would sit on then I really wouldn't worry about straightening the plate if the frame is fairly sturdy._________________Chris
Reply:Check your plate edges.  Is one edge or more flame cut while the others are mill edges or sheared?  If an edge is heated by a flame cut it will try to shrink.  To flatten the plate you place the flame cut edge on an anvil and hit it with a small sledge every couple of inches.  this will stretch the edge out and release the shrinkage forces that caused the plate to bow in the first place.  Too many blows and the plate will start to pop the other way.  You can take the bend out by brute force using a press or some crude device like a vehicle.  Measure the bow, set the ends on supports that are the height of the bow in the opposite direction.  Apply the force and bend in the opposite direction.  If it is not enough then adjust your supports.  The idea is not to go to far and have to repeat the process again in the opposite direction.     I have heard that it can be pretty frustrating bending too far.  I wouldn't know much about that.
Reply:Like lorenzo and others stated if you have a frame for it clamp it on straight and weld if you didn't design it that way, maybe you ought to think about adding it so it don't warp when you use it.
Reply:i agree, if your frame isn't sturdy enough to handle a 1/4 bow, it probably won't handle the hammer blows and heat warpage any welding table is inevitably going to receive.
Reply:One other thing....... if you do have a square frame for the plate to sit on, it would be wise for you place a support bar in the middle so when you weld the top down you can weld the middle of the plate as well. If you do this you would want to place the top with the bow down (concave) that way you not trying to pull the center down.... instead you'll be forcing the edges down._________________Chris
Reply:made the frame on the most level part of the garage floor and then clamped the plate to the frame and welded.  Table is flat to a 1/32". Thanks guys. I got a little worried there with the bow in the plate but it leveled right out
Reply:and if it still don t fitget a bigger hammer good job   now use it
Reply:My favorite trick for this is to clamp one end to a table with some kind of  shim under the middle of the piece and the warp bending upwards on the far side. Then clamp the far end down so the bend is not only taken out but overbent in the opposite direction so when you release the second clamp and the spring is released the piece springs back to straight (hopefully). If not do over until you get it right.
Reply:LOL, thats what I was gonna say, 10 pounder out to do it, but yea, just clamp as you go, it should lay out flat.  I think just some big vice grips out to be able to over come that small of a bow.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.