aluminum skin thickness

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

aluminum skin thickness

Postby cnicoll1 » Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:33 am

Hello everyone...I was just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I have started my build and I am ordering everything I will need later on. I would like to skin with aluminum but I am not sure what thickness to use.
Any opinions or threads out there... I have tryed to search but couldn't find anything.......Oh and I have tons of pics to post as soon as I figure out how to work the camera :oops: thanks.....
Craig
User avatar
cnicoll1
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:15 pm
Location: Plaistow NH

Re: aluminum skin thickness

Postby Joseph » Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:43 am

I used .040.

Joseph
User avatar
Joseph
Teardrop Pirate
 
Posts: 1774
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2004 5:21 am
Location: Excelsior Springs, MO

Postby Sonetpro » Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:46 am

I used .040 for the walls and hatch. I got .063 for the top, I won't do that again it was a bear to get it around the radius.
}><)))'> ~--------------·´¯) SteveT
You don't know what the limit's are until you take it there.ImageImageImage
User avatar
Sonetpro
Site Admin
 
Posts: 2038
Images: 107
Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:11 am
Location: Plantersville, TX
Top

Postby SteveH » Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:56 am

Craig,

I've been told by the "professionals" to use .032". I used, however, .060" and would not recommend it...too heavy and too hard to work as "Sonetpro" has said.
SteveH
Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant"is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist ".
User avatar
SteveH
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2101
Images: 42
Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 8:28 am
Location: Bexar Co, TX
Top

Postby Endo » Sun Apr 30, 2006 9:07 am

I used .040, I had no problems with it. I would use it again.
Brad (aka Endo)
ImageImage Image
In God We Trust
User avatar
Endo
500 Club
 
Posts: 721
Images: 138
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:59 am
Location: Ohio
Top

Postby madjack » Sun Apr 30, 2006 10:05 am

we used .032 and had no problems with it regarding doors, side, roof and hatch...will definitely use again...if you build using a substrate under the skin, then the thinnner Al is the way to go
madjack 8)
...I have come to believe that, conflict resolution, through violence, is never acceptable.....................mj
User avatar
madjack
Site Admin
 
Posts: 15128
Images: 177
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 5:27 pm
Location: Central Louisiana
Top

Postby cnicoll1 » Mon May 01, 2006 4:23 am

I'm using solid plywood walls so I guess thinner is better...thanks everyone :)
Craig
User avatar
cnicoll1
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:15 pm
Location: Plaistow NH
Top

Postby halfdome, Danny » Mon May 01, 2006 9:01 am

I used .040 under 2 layers of 1/8" Baltic Birch for the roof and front and have two dings from the tow vehicle already so don't go too thin. The area of Washington state that we live in they cover the road shoulders with gravel and the tow vehicle picks it up. 8) Danny
ImageImage
"Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing". William Feather
Don't accept "It's Good Enough" build to the best of your abilities.
Image
Teardroppers Of Oregon & WashingtonImage
User avatar
halfdome, Danny
*Happy Camper
 
Posts: 5882
Images: 252
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:02 pm
Location: Washington , Pew-al-up
Top

Postby JunkMan » Mon May 01, 2006 9:09 am

Craig,

I am using .040 for the sides but .050 for the top. If you are making a trailer that is more than 4' wide, you are limited to what is availible in 60" width aluminum. .050 was the thinest that I could find that was 60" wide.
Jeff & Odie
Black Hills of South Dakota
User avatar
JunkMan
500 Club
 
Posts: 974
Images: 50
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:21 pm
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Top

Postby doug hodder » Tue May 02, 2006 12:57 am

Jeff...It's too late now, but ...check with someone like Fruehauf, or any of the large trailer repair shops...they've got 103" .040 on a coil, mill finish...yeah, you are going to end up with a lot of drop...if you are doing a 5' wide...I am doing a 4'6" wide and sharing the cost with another builder (Owen) that is doing a 4 footer...price was like 10$ a running foot on it....from what I found it was a lot less expensive than going with the 5' wide sheets, at least here in Northern Ca...Doug
doug hodder
*Snoop Dougie Doug
 
Posts: 12625
Images: 562
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:20 pm
Top

Postby JunkMan » Tue May 02, 2006 8:15 am

Thanks for the info Doug.

I had read that before, and talked to a local trailer repair shop which said that they could get me the aluminum. My main concern was how the aluminum would hold up. I have heard several people mention it, but no one has said how it holds up. I was afraid that it might be too soft, and scratch easier than the sheets I bought. Is there anyone that has used it want to comment on it's durability?

The sheets I bought were 5' x 12' .050 3003 Aluminum Sheet $96.75 each. The 103" aluminum was $11 per foot, so without having a use for the scrap, the sheets came out cheaper.
Jeff & Odie
Black Hills of South Dakota
User avatar
JunkMan
500 Club
 
Posts: 974
Images: 50
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:21 pm
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests

cron