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Bending 16 ga 304 SS

I had a water tank built of 16 ga SS, open top 6' x 2' x 2' high. It was supposed to have the top edge of the 6' sides bent over to stiffen them, as I expect the water (maybe 20" deep) to bow the sides out a bit. I will in any case put a stiffener bolt across the middle of the top.

What would be the easiest way to stiffen that 6' top edge? It would have been a lot easier before the tank was welded together. Welding is out for me at this stage. I might try bending it with vise grips, or putting in a 2' spacer and beating with a hammer, but is there a better way? I only need a bit of stiffening, and I understand I can't put a bend all the way into the corner. Bolting on a SS angle iron would cause other problems so I want to avoid that solution.

Any ideas?

Reply to
Nick Hull
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What if you had your sheet metal shop fold you up some 1" strips of

16 ga SS, folded in half lengthwise like an upside down "U"? Then you could drop those over the sides and walk around the unit with a piece of 2x4 and a mallet and flatten the U pieces into place. You're right, it would have been a whole lot easier done from the beginning.

If you can't fasten SS angle iron at the top, can you make a frame of SS angle iron and attach it down a little ways from the top?

Just some ideas ..

Grant

Nick Hull wrote:

Reply to
Grant Erwin

You could always put the SS angle iron frame inside the lip of the tank.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

Cross ties? Gerry :-)} London, Canada

Reply to
Gerald Miller

I would use some C-Clamps to clamp some 2 inch angle on both sides of the SS, and then use a dead blow mallet to bend the SS over at 90 degrees. I have bent .060 thick regular steel that way. I would make the lips one to two inches wide. Dan

Reply to
Dan Caster

Maybe use a flat bar bolted on the sides and then tie em together a couple places across the top of the tank with cable.

Reply to
PrecisionMachinisT

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