Help fixing a warped driveway gate

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So this is my first time posting after having browsed this forum for a few months.  I'm on my second project, a 20' sliding wide driveway gate with a 4' "support tail".It's going well I think.  My current gate is way poorly built and the wind blows it off its track so I've done my best to build something that can withstand the wind but I need to put a privacy mesh on it so wind is an issue.  I framed it using .120 steel tubing.  I just stood it up today to flip is over after having finished welding one side of it.  My brother warned me this could happen and it did.  It's warped! My guess is about a 2" warp over 24'.  I want to try to fix this before I weld the other side.  I was going to just weld the other side in hopes that it would warp back to being straight but my neighbor advised me against that as that's not a sure thing and welding the other side leaves me with fewer options.My idea was to go buy a piece of 4" angle iron and use straps to try to pull it straight and then temporarily tack weld it to the angle iron and proceed to weld the other side before removing it.Is this my best hope of fixing it?I've attached a picture of where I'm at with it... Thanks for the advice.- Dave Attached Images
Reply:i'd go ahead and weld the other side, if its same weld or similar, it will help pull it back once it cools.
Reply:So it's warped like this?I'd put some weight on it so that it comes nearly to the ground, and weld the rest. Welding will give some distortion, but not as much as the first side.If there's still some distortion when everything is finished, you'll have to bend it until it's straight...
Reply:Thanks, yes that is how it is warped.  i supposed I could prop it up, put some weight on it and run a string line frome side to side so that I keep and eye on how it's moving.Thanks
Reply:Thanks,It's got a slight angle to the top so I had to measure and cut each vertical spindle individually as I welding them in so it took a long time.  The other side I can weld much faster making it heat up more so perhaps that extra heat overall with pull it back more... Unless that's irrelevant as I still likely won't be welding as fast as the welds are coolingThanks
Reply:Lay the gate down bow up like Kingnero has drawn. Get out your oxygen & acetylene torch with about a #3 cutting tip, and garden hose. Heat like this right at the height / peak of the bow. Cool with water. Wait until you can touch the steel with your hand, and not feel any heat. Then move father down the line, and do the same thing. Then go to the opposite side, and do it again. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:What CEP says is right, but before trying to do any heat straighting, I'd fully weld the gate.Further welding the gate will cure already some of the deformation. The weights will help as well.When everything's done, only then I'd try heat straightening.
Reply:Originally Posted by kingnerobut before trying to do any heat straighting, I'd fully weld the gate.
Reply:I merged your two threads so everything stays in one place and it avoids confusion..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 I'll do that today and let you know how it goes.  Well maybe tomorrow by the time I finish welding the other side and then bum an oxygen and acetylene torch from my neighbor (more things to buy).I have some privacy mesh (see pic) I am going to attach to the side I've already welded (on the inside of the bow).  Do I need to be concerned about attaching this?  Can I weld it on and if so should I straighten before or after I heat strengthen it?I used 3/4" verticals spindles mostly .065 but with some .120 mixed in, these are divided in 4' sections separated by 2" x .120 uprights.  The mesh will be cut to fit within each 4' section.
Reply:One thing that I have done is to apply a force to the bent area, and then heating it.    Last time I just clamped two warped pieces back to back and used a clamp on each end to apply force.   Of course you want to do this in more than one place or you will have a kink in it, but the concept is sound.    I think that the idea of weight instead of a clamp is a good one, especially since you don't have a piece of steel to work against.    I would probably lay it such that the center of the piece is up, put quite a bit of weight on it, and then heat the top side of the warped piece.  (In this case, top refers to its laid down position, not the installed position).  I probably would not head the down side at all, as that might cause it to shrink, which is the opposite of what you want.Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Weld it all. Read this. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/steel/02.cfmStraighten as required.Watch this to know how to avoid warping future projects.
Reply:Thanks for the help guys.  I actually had a use for a piece of 4" angle iron for the supports and rollers for the gate so I went ahead and picked it up and propped it up against the gate, used some ratchet straps to pull the gate tight against it, tack welded it, and then welded the other side of the gate.  When I took it off the gate was straight as an arrow.  I was going to use the method of heating it with an acetylene torch but since I wasn't going to do that until I was done welding I figured I'd give the angle iron a try first. Thanks again. Dave  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:I like the upright gate holders. That's a nice little "trick" there. I see that being really useful if working alone, especially if you did this regularly. Nice job on the gate BTW..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