Welding Tips and Tricks

194 tacks @ 1 tack per inch. Working my way around the table with 1/2" welds spaced 6" apart. Is there any way to make this any easier without warping this schmoz? Frame is 1/8" wall X 1" tubing. Top is 11 gauge. All this aggravation because we didn't have anyone in the shop today who knows how to make compound bends with a brake.

Slow and steady.

I myself wouldn't worry about 11 gauge too much, that's some thick stuff... thin starts around 18 or 20, then I'd be real careful, but 11, I wouldn't worry too much. But you could do the following like you would do for the thin stuff.... Use some thick long pieces of aluminum stock clamped close to your weld along the length of it to absorb a bunch of the heat, and also have a pan of water handy to use a damp (not soaked) rag right after you weld every say, 3 or 4 inches... just damp it along the weld and all around the weld area (wherever it's warm). You can also get every clamp you have in your shop and clamp the whole sheet down as much as possible (the more the merrier), to help fight against warping. And of course, you can rotate your welding around the table, a short stretch on one side, then over to another side, etc.

A coworker told me that he usually does 6" runs on those little tables. That table frame is the ONLY thing that I haven't warped since I started working there. This stainless crap has me paranoid. Thanks for the replies.

Yep, that's working out purdy good Raticus. Thanks again.

RamboBaby wrote:Yep, that's working out purdy good Raticus. Thanks again.

No problem! I'm gonna guess those are aluminum angles?

Si Señor.