Why Sheet Metal Warps

If the pan or sheet is too thin the stress may cause it to buckle or twist.

Why sheet metal warps.

Warped metal when welding is a constant struggle we all deal with regardless of thickness of the material. These all have a high surface area to mass and will expand quite a lot at galvanizing temperature. The most common type of heat related warpage is with solid sheet material perforated plate wire mesh and expanded metal. Design and welding should be addressed to minimize this sort of warping.

Warping is essentially the differential expansion contraction of a metal s crystalline structure meaning one part of a pan subtly changes its shape more often or at a different rate from another. This creates stress at the folded edges. If these materials are done in loose sheets their expansion and contraction will go unnoticed. Design and welding should be addressed to minimize this sort of warping.

The bottom will expand slightly more than the raised lip. If you re welding thinner materials like automotive sheet metal it is more critical that you keep the heat to a minimum when welding. When the weld shrinks along its length it causes base metal to twist around the weld figure 3. Sheet metal makes it impossible for rats and squirrels to climb trees as its smooth surface doesn t offer the same purchase that tree trunks do.

As i explained upfront the molecular structure of pans is altered when they become exposed to rapid changes in temperature energy which causes uneven expansion and contraction. When i experimented sandblasting etched designs into plexi glass plastic acrylic glass with aluminum oxide abrasive i noticed it actually start to melt the plastic. Because parts are immersed at an angle uneven heating occurs creating a temperature profile along the part being galvanized. Steel being galvanized progresses through a temperature cycle upon immersion into and withdrawal from the galvanizing bath.

Use a strip of sheet metal 18 to 24 inches wide. The 6 most common causes. There are internal stresses in the steel often from welding or cold working as an example an i beam or c channel is usually hot worked but some cold work can happen so they can sometimes. You can tell your metal cookie sheet is under stress when you hear it popping and crackling in the oven.

But if you buy good quality pans and use them properly you ll never have to worry about warping.