Straightening steel plate
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Discussion

thinfourth2

Original Poster:

32,414 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
I have a piece of 10mm thick steel plate and i've welded a strengthing spine up the back to stop it bending and its warped.

My own fault by not letting it cool between welds

Anyway any ideas on flattening a 10mm piece of steel 6 inches wide and 18 inches long.


Would a big fat weld down the face opposite the spine work?

mk1fan

10,856 posts

249 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
buy a length of T section.

Nobby Diesel

2,112 posts

275 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
I have a piece of 10mm thick steel plate and i've welded a strengthing spine up the back to stop it bending and its warped.

My own fault by not letting it cool between welds

Anyway any ideas on flattening a 10mm piece of steel 6 inches wide and 18 inches long.


Would a big fat weld down the face opposite the spine work?
Maybe, but with the additional stiffness created by the new spine, you may end up needing a BIG weld. You really need a press to flatten it. Most fab' shops would help you out (for a drink).
Unfortunately, Aberdeenshire is not local to me, otherwise I would have offered to help.

freecar

4,249 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
Heat and a press. Using a press without heat, you'd have to overcome the elasticity of the steel by bending beyond the curve the other way so when it springs back it'll be straight. (Which may be prevented by the piece you've welded on)

Using a press with plenty of heat you should be able to destress the material and take the bend out without having to bend it a long way.

thinfourth2

Original Poster:

32,414 posts

228 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
bugger

no press

freecar

4,249 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
Can you bodge one?

You'd have to bend it beyond stretch (no heat) but you could put both ends up on bricks and lower a car onto the middle of the plate until the bend is reversed, when lifted it should go straightish! You may have to bend it a few times, a bit more each time if you get my drift to get it true.

Or put it in a pothole and get a bus to run it over!

All this work and it's a five minute job with a 20 ton press!

I'd start looking for friendly engineering shops and offering beer!

normalbloke

8,528 posts

243 months

Thursday 3rd February 2011
quotequote all
It's not a big bit, start again and flog your cock up to the pikeys.