Heat straightening with small torch

admin

Hello, I have several 4" x 4.5" caster-mounting plates, 1/4" thick and mounted half lapped onto 1/4" frames, half off the frames.The plates have around 1/16 - 3/32 bow in them (toward the lap joint), which I need to remove.I don't have an oxy-fuel torch.  I have a plumber's torch for soldering copper pipe and a hose to run this on a 20-lb LP tank.I'm going to give it a shot over the weekend but wondered if anyone has done similar and has any takeaways.   The main possibility that concerns me is the small torch will heat too slowly and both sides of the 1/4" plates will heat fairly uniformly, negating the ability to straighten them.I also have a propane roofer's torch but it puts out a flame 2-3" wide.We'll see how it goes!
Reply:I think you'll need an oxy/fuel torch in order to get it hot enough. Use some thin washers under the casters. You might be able to straighten them with a big crescent wrench if it can slide onto them.
Reply:I've played around with heat straightening a little bit. I can't stand to use propane! Oxygen & acetylene is by far the best way to go. Majority of my heat shrinking can be done with a cutting tip. But I have used a welding tip in the past. On the job straightening large beams, and pipe, it was always a #12 rose bud, or maybe two or three of them. Something this small I would take Welder Dave's advice, and try a wrench first! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Watcha got against propane??   "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:It quickly became apparent that the plumbers torch was not going to work on that plate even for point heat.  Ended up using a roofer's torch to warm up the plates and bend them with a big wrench.