HELP! Doors have warped

[junior]

I cut the doors for my pit (250 gal propane tank), and since they have been put on hinges and the pit almost finished the doors have kinda buckled, or warped a little. Now they don't close just right. Is there any tricks out there to get em back to their original shape?

[Toontroller]

First, make sure the door indeed warped. My build did the same thing and after looking really close it was the hinges that sorta rolled back after welding and closed the top gap. I stuck a piece of flat steel in the gap and slammed the door shut and it bent the hinge pin just enough to make everything line back up.

If the door(s) have warped you may have to remove them and have a shop re-roll them to match the tank.

Hope it's a simple fix for you.

[Pony Express]

I saw a pic of James B pit, and he had a strap welded on the inside of the door to correct that problem. How bout it james, can you put up that pic again?

[Bluz]

When working with tanks of any kind that will be a definite problem when the door is released from cutting. Now I have had the same thing happen. Take and either C-clamp the door to how its supposed to close and leave it, or tack weld in both bottom corners then remove the clamps. once this is done, take and build a very very large fire inside the cooking chanber that the doors are on and keep it burning for an hour or so. What happens is that all tanks were bent in the factory from a flat pc of metal and it has a memory for as long as itis in the uniform tank ,that it was made into. Once you cut it loose, it tries to go back to flat though we know it want go all the way back but you get my meaning. Heating this pit after the doors are welded back down it will release the spring in the metal and allow it to settle back to how you have it when you welded it shut. Now you may still get a small amount of spring but it will make those doors close properly with only minor openings that either weight of the door or mechanicla latch will adjust it closed. Been there and done it several times It works. Hope this helps

[junior]

Bluz, you are the pit making Guru!
Thanks

[Bluz]

Not sure about that, but I have had to work to cover my mistakes LOL.