Techniques for welding sheet metal

admin

Looking for tips on how to weld sheet metal in ways that stop it from warping. Making a new table out of steel for the pool deck area of my house, and i thought this would be a fun project (instead of the 3 carts i've made already). I started off fine, but i noticed the sheet metal warped right away...What are the tips and tricks to prevent this from happening? and after it happens, does anyone have a tip/trick to undo the warping? I will try to post a pic of the warping as soon as i can.I am a new guy, please don't be to harsh.Welding Equipment so far:First Welder: Blue Hawk Flux-MIG 100 (no tanks, so only Flux for me right now)Second Welder: Miller MillerMatic 211 Auto-Set with MVP
Reply:as a note, the steel i have is 16ga sheet plates (2 @ 2'x2' and 1 @ 1'x2') to get my dimentions for the table, and i put a border around the outer edge of 1/8th angle iron for support. I also planned to put 1/4" square bar underneath of the plates to provide extra strength.I am a new guy, please don't be to harsh.Welding Equipment so far:First Welder: Blue Hawk Flux-MIG 100 (no tanks, so only Flux for me right now)Second Welder: Miller MillerMatic 211 Auto-Set with MVP
Reply:you should start over with a 4x8 foot sheet, take to sheetmetal shop, have them shear, notch and bend to the size you need. you weld the corners up and flap disc them down. if you use 10ga, you wont need any supports. carry to a powder coater and have them clean and clear coat it. or apply the color you (wife) wants. This is the way it should be done, whether personally or professionally. you CANNOT weld together 16 ga and have it weatherproof without warping all to hell. throw all that material in the trash and start again.
Reply:Mig with gas is the way to go, .024 wire if you have it.If you are joining two sheets at a corner, do your welding on the outside of the corner, not the inside where it will pull much more strongly.I hate most powder coats, usually brittle it may crack or flake off.  Haven't found a way to paint over it with any durability, I prefer paint myself."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:You cannot prevent 16ga sheet from warping if welding the seam solid. Your best chance is to add an angle iron joist, cross support frame under each seem. Tack under side to joist several times on each side prior to welding top seam. Also, weld in short increments, rotating from one side to other to keep heat spread to minimum.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Needs to have heart controlled if you don't need a continuous seam spot weld, Wells very small sections at a time and keep heart low look at how autobody panels are welded without warping, back the weld with a dolly and on dolly to reduce stress. If you start out with panels uneven don't expect them to straighten themselves out so clamp them together before welding 10 gauge is not thin sheet. Best Sent from my SM-N915W8 using Tapatalk