How To Keep Metal From Warping While Welding. When you remove the clamps the metal may still distort to a certain extent. Another method uses mechanical peening of the weld either by hammering or by shot peening equipment.
The greater the amount of metal in a joint the greater the shrinkage forces. Reducing the amount of weld saves metal saves time and protects the weld from distortion. Allow your workpiece to cool after welding small sections at a time.
Another alternative is to surround the area youre welding with an Anti-Heat Compound that will block the heat from spreading to the rest of the panel and potentially reduce warping in the panel.
Because shrinkage accumulates from each weld pass a fewer number of big passes results in less distortion than a greater number of small passes with small electrodes. A short Article on Stress Relieving after Welding was published in the issue 8 of Practical Welding Letter Section 7 for April 2004. Ive also seen some high end welders and coach builders weld a seam in one continuous pass. Since you cannot completely eliminate weld warping the best course of action is in prevention.