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banded-mallard
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:18 pm Posts: 4310
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Any tips on straightening steel plate
Need some ideas on how to straighten some plate.
I'm building a big smoker using 30" pipe 3/8" wall 4' long. I had a buddy of water jet out some 1/4" plate for the end caps. Welded the endcaps to the pipe, skipping around so it doesn't warp. Well, it did. I didn't notice it until I cut out the door with the plasma cutter. When the top is closed, the sides line up damn near perfect, but there concave.
20190608_204055.jpg 20190609_104537.jpg
I though of taking some 1/4" angle and using it as a strong back to straighten back out. It could double as part of the ends for the cooking grate support. tack one side, then pull the angle to the plate and c clamp. I've flexed it out with a bottle jack and it will flex back out, just springs back in place.
I have heard of metal distortion fixing, but don't have any torch or rosebud. Someone mentioned weld some 2" beads on the inside, let get cold to touch, repeat process until the metal shrinks enough, thus straightening it out. Never done this, so have no idea. I have my counter balance on and I will trim out the door with flat bar to make it waterproof, but don't want to half ass it, I want to fix it right.
You guys have any ideas?
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:41 am |
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Wchauvin
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:10 pm Posts: 1872
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
Muffler shops have those pipe machines that crimp and straighten pipe. Might be able to go that route if you know someone who has a shop
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:54 am |
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banded-mallard
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:18 pm Posts: 4310
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 12:07 pm |
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Will
MMT Elite Member
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:54 pm Posts: 8133
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
I think your on the right track. Will be easy to square up the bottom with grate racks but not sure about the lid since you can't bridge the gap. Get heavy enough angle and it'll straighten it out like you have drawn.
_________________ Before the internet, the majority of the village idiots stayed in their villages.
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 2:01 pm |
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AWall3322
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:58 am Posts: 51
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Any tips on straightening steel plate
Doing that method with the C clamp sounds ok but in my opinion you’d be better off to position a piece of angle on either side, use a bottle jack to push in the center until the angle lays flush and weld in place. Seems like the C clamp might risk distorting something somewhere else
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 3:38 pm |
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jc
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2010 7:19 pm Posts: 1103
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
Here is some good information on how to straighten steel. There are some good videos to watch that may help you. I know you said you didn't have a torch but maybe you can borrow one or the videos may give you an idea about where to weld.
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 6:30 pm |
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Wchauvin
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:10 pm Posts: 1872
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
Unless you find a shop that makes tips for diesel trucks
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Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:02 pm |
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banded-mallard
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:18 pm Posts: 4310
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
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Tue Jul 02, 2019 3:19 am |
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hvfc6040
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 8:41 am Posts: 100
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
go buy you a torch, man. You sound just like me...you know theres an easier way, youve spent time researching the easier way, but at the end of the day you wont do the easier way and when you do, kick yourself in the butt for not doing it sooner. LOL. Cant tell you how many times ive been through this...just to finally end up doing it the easy/right way.
Just my opinion but a torch is a must for a shop like yours. I think its money well spent, and you will definitely get some more use out of it in the future.
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Tue Jul 02, 2019 9:45 am |
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Russ
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:07 pm Posts: 4820 Location: West Monroe, LA
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
Or, use the bottle jack, wedge some drill stem or something to hold it out when you remove the jack, then get a good hot fire going in there to destress the warp. Its bound to work.
Or not.
Or you could just buy a torch lol
#CFFITR #GhostBoat #Whoneedsphysicsihaveamudmotor
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Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:15 am |
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Will
MMT Elite Member
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:54 pm Posts: 8133
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
It's fucked, you gotta start all over.
_________________ Before the internet, the majority of the village idiots stayed in their villages.
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Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:30 am |
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banded-mallard
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:18 pm Posts: 4310
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Re: Any tips on straightening steel plate
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Tue Jul 02, 2019 11:02 am |
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