How to Prevent Welding from Heat Warping
- 1). Arrange the metal into the configuration you are welding them. Press the pieces as closely together as possible. A smaller gap between the metals will produce less warping because it requires less molten metal to fill the joint.
- 2). Clamp the pieces together. The clamps will assist in preventing the metal pieces from warping from expansion as the metal heats.
- 3). Heat the metal along the joint and six inches to either side of the joint with a propane torch. Heating the metal before you weld will reduce the contrast between the cool plates and the hot welding process.
- 4). Weld along the seam with an electric arc welding machine using a stitch welding pattern. To do this, you start the arc weld at the edge of the joint and weld for two inches. Skip two inches and weld another two inches along the seam.
- 5). Repeat welding along the seam, filling in the skipped stitches to complete the joint. Reduce the heat stress placed on the overall metal plating by welding in this pattern.
- 6). Cover any heated metal that is not being welded with a thermal blanket. This will allow the metal to cool at a slower rate and reduce the possibility of warping.
