HELP Avoiding Excesive Warping

[Canuck]

Starting to build a new frame for a Model A Ford Hot Rod out of 2 x 5 rectangular tube. Have to taper the end of the tube to replicate the original frame.

My plan is to remove a slice from each side of the tube in the shape desired, canfer the edges, then pull the top down and weld the sides up. Doing approximately 1" welds, side to side, every 2 or 3 inches, then going back and repeating until completed. To minimize warpage, I was thinking of clamping the tube to a section of I-Beam with some 1/8" spacers under the straight section and clamping the front of the area with the slice removed down to the I-Beam putting a bit of a warp in the tube. Total length of weld required on each side of frame taper is about 3'6'.

See attached drawing.

Welders available are a 125 amp 110 volt MIG and a 225 amp AC stick. Don't have confidence that the MIG has the power for this.

Am I on the right track here or is there a better way to do this to avoid warpage?

Thanks for any ideas. Never had to do anything that required this degree of accuracy before with such a long area being welded.

Jim

[Guest]

I don't think you will experience much warping. I have done this, and had no warpage. What I did was to start welding (after tacking) on the apex of the cut out to the end of the beam, going side to side bringing the weld out evenly to the end. If you clamp it to the beam, it will stay there. You will also have to add a piece to finish the end around, but you already knew that. I don't like to jump around as it adds stress risers...I start at one end and go to the other, trying to keep the HAZ even.

Welcome to the forum, Jim.

[Guest]

Use stick...the 125 would be risky, if your skill level is not up there.

[arcdawg]

i pulled up that thread about spray mig alumunim

dawg

[cope]

Originally posted by arcdawg
i pulled up that thread about spray mig alumunim

dawg

?????

[Guest]

I think Arcdawg's been sniffin acetylene again

[canuck welder]

I think there is some confusion here. On the Miller board my name is canuck but when I joined up here I could not use that name for some reason. Hope this clears everything up.

[Guest]

Originally posted by canuck welder
I think there is some confusion here. On the Miller board my name is canuck but when I joined up here I could not use that name for some reason. Hope this clears everything up.

There is a Canuck that joined this board in 10-24-2003. Guess that's not you.

[canuck welder]

Thats not me I have only been here since march of this year.
KB