.062 Aluminum, Too Thick?

[smithder01]

I am working on the design of my Teardrop. I want to make it 5' wide, but can not find aluminum that is less than .062" thick 60" wide. The smallest radius I need to bend is 18". Will this work? What are most people using as far as grade and thickness? They have .050 5052, but it only comes 4' wide. I was going to use this for the side walls. Should I go thinner maybe .040? I will have 3/4" ply behind it on the walls. I was thinking 1/8" ply for the top. Thanks

[mikeschn]

I used .040 aluminum on a 16" radius, and it worked fine! Don't know about the heavier stuff. You'll have to get a piece and try it. Then of course, report back and let us know.

The 1/8" plywood on the top sounds perfect!

Mike...

[robfisher]

You're in for a very hard time at that tight a radius. Not impossible but very hard. Thinner 5 foot aluminum might be found at a place that repairs semi trailers. They havee it in rolls and you can buy the length you need, like a short piece for the hatch and a longer than 10 ft piece for the top if that happens to be what you need.

If you have to use the .062 you might find a sheet metal shop that has a roller that could pre-roll but that creates it's own problems. Getting it rolled in just the right place and not ending up with marks on the aluminum from the rollers are just two of the problems.

Finally, yes it can be done- with enough clamps and ingenuity using ratchet type tie downs or something to hold the shape you want. It will work, just not easy. But the .062 gives you a payoff being more substantial.
Rob

[Keith]

I'm not sure if this will work for you, but you might be able to use the thicker alumunim over the roof area of the trailer. If the hatch is less than four feet wide you could use the thinner aluminum. You would only have to get a sheet that is five feet long.

Keith

[McTeardrops]

I picked up my aluminum from Lufkin Trailers in Shreveport yesterday.


Their material is in a coil, .040" x 103." They cut me a twenty foot length on a half-hour notice. The price, $1.95 per pond, is about half that of sheets and a whole lot easier to transport and handle. Lufkin headquarters are in Houston, they have shops all over.

[SteveH]

I want to make it 5' wide, but can not find aluminum that is less than .062" thick 60" wide. The smallest radius I need to bend is 18". Will this work?

I recently finshed covering my tear, also 5' wide, with .050" 5052 aluminum and it was tuff to work with. The radius on the front was 24" and I had a hard time getting it to bend to that radius. I've not worked with .062", but based on my experience with .050", I wouldn't do it.

[Gage]

I used .062 on my roof and .040 on the sides and my hatch. If you can get .040" x 5', go for it. Even the way I did my roof, it's a pain in the rear. My roof is 1/8 birch ply, 3/4 foam, 1/8 birch ply and then .062 alum (very strong).


Have a good day,
Gage

[smithder01]

Thanks for all the replys. It sounds like I need to keep looking. I will try Lufkin since in am in Houston. THANKS

[asianflava]

D Tillery told me about Trident Metals, because they are here in Austin. He mentioned a place that is in Houston that delivers to him. or I may have it confused. Maybe you should hit him up for info.

OK I found it:

I usually place my larger orders with Trident in Austin. They run a truck to SA on Tues and Thurs, "free" delivery with $200 order, no problem with aluminum. Since you are there, you might give them a call. They handle all types of extrusions and are pretty good about faxing you spec sheets on them. I also order out of Houston (Notrh Shore).

[fornesto]

I used .062 on my roof and .040 on the sides and my hatch. If you can get .040" x 5', go for it. Even the way I did my roof, it's a pain in the rear. My roof is 1/8 birch ply, 3/4 foam, 1/8 birch ply and then .062 alum (very strong).


Have a good day,
Gage

So, Gage, What are your tips? I've got my .062 sitting in the driveway as we speek. Please give me as much info as possible. Right now, I've got two ratchet straps, two pipe clamps, and two hands. What should I do to prepare? I'm using the Kuffle Comet profile, but 4'6" wide.