Anodized vs. non? - Aluminum vs. filon

Finishes, paints and coatings

Anodized vs. non? - Aluminum vs. filon

Postby jandbsteardrop » Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:06 pm

Hi,

We're in need of 6ft wide aluminum (by 10ft long sheet) and are having a hard time finding it. I've been told that it's best to get Anodized aluminum as well. For these reasons alone, we were thinking of going with filon instead....but I just talked to someone who said that filon has a hard time sticking and is trouble down the road.

We had a trailer frame built and they built it at 61" wide...making our build a lot more problematic....and more waste! Anyway, it would be great if someone out there had some answers! We do not want to have seems on our roof....a 10ft sheet would get me to the hatch (it's 9.5 ft)....but it needs to be 62" wide (due to walls covering the sidewalls).

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Re: Anodized vs. non? - Aluminum vs. filon

Postby halfdome, Danny » Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:55 pm

You could use aluminum from a truck & trailer supply business that carries 103" sheets that come off a coil.
I'll never use it again because is was scratched pretty bad and had to be sanded and polished extensively.
I now use anodized 48" x 120" sheets and use 3M VHB tape on the lap seams.
I wouldn't do it any other way now. :thumbsup:

In the past I've bought .050 mill finished aluminum in 60" x 144" sheets.
Check around locally for something like mentioned above if seams are out of the question for your build.
Good luck.
:D Danny
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Re: Anodized vs. non? - Aluminum vs. filon

Postby jandbsteardrop » Thu Jul 24, 2014 12:07 am

Great, thanks Danny. I'll do that. We really want to stay away from seams and filon just seems too difficult for mixed results. Will keep you posted, thanks.

Jack
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Re: Anodized vs. non? - Aluminum vs. filon

Postby aggie79 » Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:07 pm

I used anodized 4'x10' sheets. There are two transverse seams on our teardrop. I lapped the sheets by 3". The laps are sealed with 3M 4300. There are also fasteners (screws) at 12" o.c. I've had no leaks and no problems with the seams.
Tom (& Linda)
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