Mike Wood
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| posted on 25/4/20 at 10:10 AM |
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Ali sheet - spec, amount & suppliers?
Hi
Any suggestions or recommendations please for suppliers of aluminium sheet in Central/West/SW Scotland or can deliver here (either now or under
more normal situations)? Metals4U keeps popping up on the internet, anyone else? Aalco?
Old days I would be thinking of British Alcan or one of the Ayrshire stockholders.
I am looking to panel my Locost book chassis (already has a steel floor) in the standard manner.
Also am I correct I will need:
aluminium sheet commercial grade, modern equivalent to NS4 'half hard' grade (5251) and 18SWG thickness - 1050 H14 grade and 1.219mm
thick?
And three 8" x 4" sheets of this (2,500mm x 1,250mm)?
Anyone got a sketch please of a cutting plan to maximise efficiency of material use? (any grain issues with cutting?)
Cheers
Mike
[Edited on 25/4/20 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 25/4/20 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 25/4/20 by Mike Wood]
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wonderfulweasel
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| posted on 25/4/20 at 12:13 PM |
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I recently used metals 4u and was happy with their service.
I previously used Mallard Metals and was delighted with them, but not sure if they're still trading at the moment.
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 25/4/20 at 12:58 PM |
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https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/products/aluminium
Been a very happy customer, used a few times for work stuff (handrail systems mainly) and always add a few extras for the garage. Great service, they
cut to size etc too, usually free (dead handy when I needed 25 x750mm 12mm steel pins, would have been a pain to do with a grinder!)
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christim
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| posted on 25/4/20 at 08:26 PM |
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+1 for themetalstore
I'm only a few miles away from them so often collect but they do delivery too
My Build Thread
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tweek
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| posted on 27/4/20 at 09:12 AM |
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Another vote for Metals4u from me.
Don't know how competitive they are on price but they have a good range and the service has always been good.
"oh dear..." said god,
"I hadn't thought of that"
and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic
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Mike Wood
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| posted on 23/5/20 at 09:21 AM |
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Thanks all for the help.
My question on what is the modern spec of the aluminium sheet was a bit mangled. Can I please confirm that the correct specification of 1.2mm thick
aluminium sheet for Locost chassis panelling is commercial grade aluminium sheet to 5251 H22 specification? And this is the modern equivalent of NS4
H3?
Cheers
Mike
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SJ
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| posted on 23/5/20 at 08:58 PM |
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Another recommendation for metals 4u here. Great service.
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Mike Wood
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| posted on 21/6/20 at 08:26 PM |
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Thanks everyone for the very helpful supplier recommendations.
I think I finally have got my head round the specification required for chassis panelling: Commercial Grade 5251, H24 (temper type - half hard):
http://www.aalco.co.uk/datasheets/Aluminium-Alloy-5251-H24-Sheet-and-Plate_151.ashx
For people like me who read old books, 5251 is the modern equivalent to the previous NS4 grade. Commercial Grade 1050 not as strong as 5251 and not
preferred for chassis panelling.
For Locost racers panelling thickness according to the 2020 regs is minimum 18SWG (Standard Wire Gauge)/1.2mm:
https://www.750mc.co.uk/ugc-1/1/1/0/2020_final_regulations_-_locost.pdf
Best wishes
Mike
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RedAvon
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| posted on 22/6/20 at 07:11 AM |
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Hi,
I managed to pick up a full 8'x4' sheet from these guys in Dumfries for around half price as the corners were mangled, but almost all of
the sheet was fine. Was a while ago but always worth asking about seconds.
Ian
https://www.franklinsteelplc.co.uk/search/?s=Aluminium+sheet
Bricoleur
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/6/20 at 07:24 AM |
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NS4 is a tough alloy, great for floors but you may find difficulty in dressing it around the tubing if you use it for the panels. You will find 1.5mm
thick 1050A easier to work and perfectly adequate.
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Mike Wood
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| posted on 22/6/20 at 12:21 PM |
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Thanks John and Ian, that's really helpful practical advice.
John - I was struggling to get real information on what Ali sheet spec to use - 1050A but 1.5m thick sounds a very practical way to get a Locost
solution. Excellent.
Ian - great tip on seconds and also suggesting a Dumfries supplier.
Cheers
Mike
[Edited on 22/6/20 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 22/6/20 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 22/6/20 by Mike Wood]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 22/6/20 at 12:42 PM |
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You're very welcome Mike. When you come to tapping the sheet around the round tube use a wood or nylon chaser between the hammer and the
aluminium to avoid marring the surface. Shrinking is necessary round the internal bends and you will find the aluminium will be more compliant if you
warm it up a bit. You don't have to go to annealing temperatures. Metal moves slowly so work progressively and gently encourage rather than
heavy blows. You'll soon get the feel for it.
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mcerd1
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| posted on 22/6/20 at 03:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike Wood
Thanks everyone for the very helpful supplier recommendations.
bit late, but I got mine from Aalco in Glasgow - they were very helpful, only that was via my work who buy thousands worth of other alloy sections
every month which may have had some influence....
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Mike Wood
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 06:46 AM |
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John
More useful tips - excellent, thanks. The 1050A you use - is it half hard H14 temper?
(http://www.aalco.co.uk/datasheets/Aluminium-Alloy-1050A-H14-Sheet_57.ashx)
I remember seeing a video of a Caterham chassis having the rear panel being fitted, with use of a candle and a blow lamp to assist yen forming over
the round tube.
Mcerd1 - thanks for the Aalco Glasgow tip, I'll contact them. Did you use 1050A H14?
Best wishes
Mike
[Edited on 23/6/20 by Mike Wood]
[Edited on 23/6/20 by Mike Wood]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 06:48 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike Wood
John
More useful tips - excellent, thanks. The 1050A you use - is it yeah half hard H14 temper?
(http://www.aalco.co.uk/datasheets/Aluminium-Alloy-1050A-H14-Sheet_57.ashx)
Mcerd1 a thanks for the Aalco Glasgow tip, I'll contact them. Did you use 1050A H14?
Best wishes
Mike
Yes, half hard Mike.
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Mike Wood
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 06:51 AM |
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Thanks John - you replied while I was correcting my typos in my post!
How is the Reliant Kitten project going?
Cheers
Mike
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 07:55 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike Wood
Thanks John - you replied while I was correcting my typos in my post!
How is the Reliant Kitten project going?
Cheers
Mike
Slowly Mike and my updates must be as boring as watching paint dry!
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mcerd1
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 08:38 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mike Wood
Mcerd1 - thanks for the Aalco Glasgow tip, I'll contact them. Did you use 1050A H14?
Yeah I also got 1050A H14 (probably on John's recommendation) in 1.2mm thick, but I was only getting extra sheets for the awkward little panels
around the tunnel and in the rear corners and such
my dax came with all the main alloy panels pre-cut - If I was going to do all the larger flat panels I'd have been tempted to get some harder
maybe even 5251 H22 or similar - but I'd have still needed some 1050A H14 for these tricky bits
As a rough guide a 2500x1250mm sheet of 1.2mm cost me £28+VAT (but that was ~3 years ago) - the metals4u price now is actually pretty similar, but
they don't give you any spec's on the website beyond 1050 
I also found that Aalco would cut all the sheets I got in thirds for free (means I could just fit them in the boot of the car and the fit in the old
imperial size folder/guillotine of my dad's)
[Edited on 23/6/2020 by mcerd1]
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John Bonnett
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 09:23 AM |
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If you can get it (and I can't any more) NS3 combines stiffness with malleability so compared with 1050A will give crisper folds. But harder to
work and for panels I would still go for 1050A. It's cheaper as well!
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mcerd1
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| posted on 23/6/20 at 09:46 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
....I would still go for 1050A. It's cheaper as well!
second that - even an idiot like me can make half decent panels 
 
Rear corner alloy v3
 
new footwell
(don't worry I know its not even close to John's standards - but its getting covered afterwards)
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