Your right it want warp, it will cave in on you. Have you ever seen a "steel 2x4" stud. There is absolutely no strength to them. They are great in a vertical application, but in the horizontal application they are junk. Go to Home Depot and check out there steel studs, you will see how easy they will bend on you. As soon as there is a crease in the stud, they will cave right over.

In my opinion stay along ways away from "steel studs" unless your remodeling.

If you want to use steel, look for square stock. Kinda like what is use on class A(?) trailer hitch. With a little work you can find 2x4 steel stock in the length you want. Almost every city has a steel recycling business, check them out.

You will need a punch and a drill to pre drill your holes, to attach the forms.

If you plan ahead a little you can make the strongback rotate and lock into different positions, to make the stripping easier. This is the basic idea I intend to use this winter/spring for my new industrial strength strongback, that will never warp.(you might need a small army to moving it though)

PS: To make the strongback lighter look for a piece of aluminum stock.

> I just called and got a cost on a "steel 2x4", 18' long, 25
> guage steel. The cost was less than $4.00 and the guy said they had over
> 400 in stock.

> They are the same size as your standard pine 2x4 but made of galvanized
> steel. They are easily cut with tin snips - to fit end forms on. Drywall
> screws bite into them like a wild dog.

> They WILL NOT WARP - unless you sat on them, in which case you deserve
> what you get.

> Can anyone think of a good reason why these would not work?

> Also, how about homosote for forms material? It is "particle
> board" that is made of recycled newspaper. The paper is soaked until
> it is mush then heat and pressure is appled. It is sold in 4x8 sheets
> 1" thick and can be easily cut with a saber saw It is heavy, dense
> and should hold a staple well. It too would be very dimensionally stable.
> It's sold locally at Home Depot.

> Thanks, Carl