How To Shrink Sheet Metal With A Torch

Propane can do the same thing although it is a much more.

How to shrink sheet metal with a torch.

If you ve done it right this action will cause the metal to pucker on the edge and give you a little ripple or ridge. Heating up metal and throwing cold water on it may shrink it a tiny bit but it makes distortion and hard steel. Start by placing the sheet metal over the bowl so it covers the bowl and lays as flat as you can hold it. I use a jack stand with a trim panel pry tool clamped to it to hold my torch.

A common recommended fix is to use oxy acetylene heat to create a localized hot spot that bulges the metal above the mean surface of the panel. Heat to blue only and shrink that much. Once red hot quickly work the area with hammer and dolly to gather the metal into the centre of the cherry then deliver a swift blow to the centre of the heat shrink to push the metal back into itself. This takes away some of the stretch.

Why not just heat it and gently hammer the swell down. Get used to this idea and your abilities will grow. The bulge can then be tapped down flat with a hammer and dolly to thicken the metal in that spot. Do not over heat the steel.

Device to hold your torch safely while you re doing the hammering operation.