16 gauge angle from sheet

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I needed some 16 gauge 1" angle (14" long) and all I had was some sheet steel.  So I marked out and ran an angle grinder cutoff wheel along the bend lines a few times.  Then bent it in my Workmate with heavy angle for backer.  It worked a treat.  Very pleased with the result.  But...I was concerned about the thinner material at the corner (which was necessary for me to bend it) so I ran a weld bead on the outside corner (which was where the "cut" was).  I clamped the angle to some heavy gauge square tubing before welding and left it clamped until fully cooled.  When I removed the clamps I found it to be banana shaped.  Laying the angle on its legs the ends were higher than the middle.  Mostly fixed now with my small arbor press.But I still have two more pieces to do.  Are there any tips for welding the corner so I don't wind up with a banana?  I'm using a Titanium Flux 125.  Typical weekend DIY'er too, no hydraulic press and no sheet metal bender.  Should I have welded in small sections?  Put the weld on the inside corner?
Reply:Weld on the inside might work. Just do it in small increments, let it cool and check for straightness.Ol' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:id try to find some scraps of  something that is already somewhat formed, like b deck/gutters/fascia/etc , and cut it from that
Reply:

Originally Posted by 123weld

id try to find some scraps of  something that is already somewhat formed, like b deck/gutters/fascia/etc , and cut it from that
Reply:I would go get some real angle iron. Steel always moves when heated. it is going to be very hard to weld that and not have it turn into a banana shape. In the long run, you are going to save time and frustration just buying real angle iron instead of trying to make it. Home depot has some zinc plated and regular mild steel angle iron that might work for you if you don't have a regular steel supplier.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Buying the angle iron would be the quickest and easiest solution as previously mentioned.  16ga is very thing for welding.  This will not teach you how to think out side of the box and solve the issue at hand.  You might try using more clamps and spot welding it in a stitch welding fashion.  Keep the heat spread out and as cool as possible.  If you have a heat torch you might try heating the opposite side of the weld to get it to warp back but I’d think with it being that small and thin you’d just end up with a twisted piece of licorice twisted like angle.Other thing to consider, being only 16ga. tells me it does not have the job of having to be very strong so might get away with not welding it out accross the whole seem.Last edited by N2 Welding; 4 Hours Ago at 11:36 PM.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:

Originally Posted by whtbaron

16 gauge gutters and fascia? Not in my yard....