Straightening steel

[echo8287]

I was looking for some suggestions on straightening some perforated metal. I bought a sheet of it from one of the orinimetal iron places and they sent it to me rolled up for shipping. I've laid it out on a concrete floor and have put some weight on it but it still has a few wrinkles. I thought when I am going to use it I could tack it on the frame on one side and if I had some of those flat vise grip pliers(I think they use them for sheet metal) then maybe I could tighten it up to stretch it across the frame. Ala some insect screen wire. Then tack and stretch. This stuff is about 42"x7ft. I think its about 20 or 22 gauge metal. Any ideas? David

[joehobart]

Hmm. Could you take some angle iron as standoffs and a rolling pin to 'iron' it out a section at a time. I would think with something that thin, once you get a consistant curve, flip it over, and iron it till flat.

[Jerry]

If you know some one with a roller this will take it out, if not place 2 x 4 under and stand on the expanded metal and bend it down against the board and repeat all the way down the metal. I'd try this every 12" or so.

[vipermanz]

why not put it on the driveway and put plywood over it and walk on it or drive back and forth on it??:D

[SlagKing]

Vipermanz, I see you have an arc one. Do you like it, I have one on the way?

[vipermanz]

Tom, it is working perfectly for the tig setup, i personally am not good at stick welding(newbie) but what i can do seems to hold up good to the 10lb sledge test!!

[dob]

use a set of slip rolls and work it out, by running it through the rolls back and forth till its straight

[echo8287]

Thanks fellas for the replys. I believe I'll try putting a piece of plywood on it and driving over it. I'll watch for anyone doing paving work for the roller in the meantime. Thanks again. David

[Jerry]

The material will most likely not flatten out running over it. You will need to bend it back against itself, I have in the past used a board for this and move down the line every 12" or so. A slip roller would work well, but I doubt you have one.