How To Straighten Warped Sheet Metal

This restraint creates high residual tensile stress that causes the weld to act like a stretched rubber band with the workpiece holding the ends figure 1 for this reason when the clamps that hold the workpiece are removed the base metal is allowed to move or spring.

How to straighten warped sheet metal. Heat straightening does not symmetrically straighten the metal and is a gradual process. Body files are usually used after another age old process has been used to straighten or shrink sheetmetal. Looking for and easy and effective method for removing oil canning in sheet metal or auto body panels. That or cut the transom pull the sides together overlapping them mark the extra metal that needs to be cut out and reweld with 2x4 set across the top to prevent the sides from pulling in as the weld cools.

To accomplish heat straightening you must apply controlled heat to the proper places on the metal gradually to allow the metal to expand and shrink. Heating localized areas and then using a hammer and dolly to. The weld wants to shrink as it cools to room temperature but is restrained from doing so by the adjacent cold base metal. Careful observation of the effects of the heating will allow you to make adjustments to the location and the amount of heat applied to further the process.

Fabricators straighten metal using many methods including heat straightening. Use a heat gun to warm the part of the aluminum you wish to straighten.