Warped

[WikingWelder]

I 'm teaching myself to tigweld, finding a lot of help in the Internet.
Unfortunately I didn't learn, what I was taught
I'm making a stand for my tabledrill, welding a 10"x13"x 5/8" plate of mild steel to a 9" pipe with a 1/4" wall thickness
I got too excited and kept on welding, instead of backtracing and changing spots, and the plate got too hot and warped :-(
Kicking myself doesn't seem to help, so I've decided to try and reheat it on the other side. I intend to use a gas torch with a narrow flame on the opposite side of the weld. I was hoping someone could give me a pointer as to how hot I should make it. I do have an infrared thermo reader, or I can use a redhot scale.

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the Forum.

I've moved this to "Techniques" as it's not a specific TIG welding problem.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

hi heat will only make it worse im afraid, i made a snow plough blade from a big bit of plate and its warped to ******y

 

[inchpincher]

Lump hammer?

 

[Hitch]

Get it skimmed flatter....?

 

[hotrodder]

Google books review covering flame bending & straightening... chapter 4, pg122. It's as much an art as it is science, pics would help but i'm guessing we're talking about a fillet weld around the pipe centred on the plate and the plate has 'cupped' overall maybe with a bit of a pringles/crisps twist?

 

[WikingWelder]

Thank you Hotrodder for your link. I think that was just the knowledge I was looking for.
It would probably be more correct to say the plate is bent, rather than warped. It's only slightly wider than the pipe, so the distortion is mostly on one axis. The pipe is nearer to one end, so it looks a bit like the pressure foot of sewing machine, albeit a jolly big one, or a very short ski
I have another project that needs finishing before I venture into this flamestraightening job, but if I am succesfull I'll be back with details.
Happy New Year

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

hi this coulc easily be done in a hydraulic press if it is how i think it is
its almost like a strip not mugh wider than the pipe butt welded to the pipe all you need is a good straightedge and some patience!

 

[WikingWelder]

DONE!
Thanks to Hotrodder's tip I found the knowledge and the courage to do what I intended to in the first place.
I used O/A to heat the plate on the opposite side of the welding, using a very narrow flame and trying not to melt the iron (for appearances sake). Discolouration is easier to grind away than melted scars.
I then left it to cool and were pleased that it had helped. I did several turns, and eventually the plate was almost flat again.
Here are some pictures to illustrate the task.

 

[Shox Dr]

Good work and welcome back