How to get welding table top straight?

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Hello everyone,recently I bought a top plate for my welding table, 10mm thick 1000x1500mm. Problem is that table was cut with plasma and now its not straight. Today I have drilled holes and bolt top to frame with M10 bolts (I will replace them with countersunk bolts as soon as I can get counter bore drill) so now it is little better, but for longer pieces it is not enough straight (max peak to valley about 3mm).I hope this picture can explain where are peaks and valleys.How can I level table top? What more can i do? I was thinking about flame and water to shrink metal but I am familiar with this only in theory and i am not sure how exactly this process is done in practice. And problem is because i have only this propane-butane torch http://www.mga1600.co.uk/images/larg...6/p5180063.JPGIs this sufficient for that job or do i need oxy/acetilen or oxy/propane-butane torch like this http://www.cupalloys.com/images/turboset90.jpg ?Any help appreciated!
Reply:Sorry, I can't find edit function If picture doesn't fit on screen, right mouse click and show image!Damn, even text doesn't fit! How can I fix this? Help! That's it! Picture was too large!Hello everyone,recently I bought a top plate for my welding table, 10mm thick 1000x1500mm. Problem is that table was cut with plasma and now its not straight.Today I have drilled holes and bolt top to frame with M10 bolts (I will replace them with countersunk bolts as soon as I can get counter bore drill) so now it is little better, but for longer pieces it is not enough straight (max peak to valley about 3mm).I hope this picture can explain where are peaks and valleys.How can I level table top? What more can i do? I was thinking about flame and water to shrink metal but I am familiar with this only in theory and i am not sure how exactly this process is done in practice. And problem is because i have only this propane-butane torch http://www.mga1600.co.uk/images/larg...6/p5180063.JPGIs this sufficient for that job or do i need oxy/acetilen or oxy/propane-butane torch like this http://www.cupalloys.com/images/turboset90.jpg ?Any help appreciated!Last edited by T_Eclipse; 09-02-2009 at 06:26 PM.
Reply:Upload a smaller picture, like 720 pixels wide.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Put shims under the top at the green and bolts at the red to pull down, tighten slowly. Use nylon locking nuts or double nut to hold position.Edit: The edit box is in the lower right hand corner of your post, down there with the 'quote' box. It times out in 30 minutes (I think). So if it's gone, your post stands forever.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 09-02-2009 at 09:24 PM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:I built a motor plate for my motorcycle frame jig and had the plate surface ground at a local machine shop.  I would check local machine shops and see what they say.
Reply:If you need to cut a straight edge, get ametal cutting blade from Bullet. It will cut through it like butter if you don't force it. Be sure to cover up because it will shower you with hot chips.Cut an MGB and widened 11" C4 Corvette suspension and LT1 Chevrolet power & 6 spd. Pictures here:Part 1http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,7581Part 2http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,22422
Reply:Send it to a machine shop to have it ground. I wouldnt waste the money on something thinner like that get you a 2" hunka plate, fab your table FIRST and weld it then send it out to be ground after the welding effetcts have ran there course. unless your building precise stuff forget about it and fabricate away!!!Weldandpower 225Heliarc Rig for itTorchesect ect ectLifes Short WELD NAKEDLooking for a SA200
Reply:A 3 mm valley across the plate is ok for rough work.  The supports under your table should be very strong.  That way you can flatten the plate with force.  To hold that 10 mm plate perfectly flat you would need 10 by 75 mm bars in a framework underneath at the minimum.  I would not try to make the plate any flatter with heat shrinking.  It is too risky for a beginner.  Once you have the plate flat enough tack weld it to the frame underneath with little tacks that you can grind off when you need to remove the plate.
Reply:Right, the structure may pull it flatter, but with 10mm (@3/8") steel sheet, it sounds about as flat as can be expected.Good Luck