I'm planning on buying the stuff for my bonnet soon but I've got a couple of questions.
All the panels on my car including the nose cone are made from steel rather than alloy, if i were to use alloy for the bonet would it turn out a different colour once sprayed compared to all the steel panels? I've also phoned my local metal dealer for a price on a sheet of 18 swg alloy, he said he only sells metric now with a 1mm sheet starting at £20 then another £10 for every half mm after that, what is the closest to 18 swg?

16 swg = 1.63 mm
18 swg = 1.22 mm
20 swg = 0.914mm
22 swg = 0.711mm

The colour shouldnt change if you ue the same primer under your top coat.

I guess you'll need an etch primer over your alloy but if you use the same over the steel at least you've got the same base to start from.

Is your nosecone really steel??

Gis a look....

Geoff

[Edited on 29/11/05 by jambojeef]

nah, don't spray the bonnet - why weigh the car down with paint?

you need to use etch primer for aluminium. then providing you can use the same primer/undercoat for both metals, colour should match. In any case, if you put enough top coats, thatwill match but again it is how much paint (time/cost/weight) you need to get the match.

make sure the paints/primers are compatible.

Ben, providing you are using a half decent paint, it will match even if you are spraying wood, steel, ally or GRP. Give me a shout when you get close, and I will sort out a supplier for you.

Should i go for 1mm or 1.5mm then? I'll let you know when i'm ready for some paint Mark, i fancy purple velvet i think. Here are some pics, proper steel!!
Rescued attachment Nose cone 1.JPG

And another ...
Rescued attachment Nose cone 2.JPG

WOW!!!

A steel nosecone! Awesome!

Looks kinda mean somehow...

Geoff

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Originally posted by Ben Graber
Should i go for 1mm or 1.5mm then?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ben Graber
Should i go for 1mm or 1.5mm then? I'll let you know when i'm ready for some paint Mark, i fancy purple velvet i think. Here are some pics, proper steel!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by 02GF74

quote:

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Originally posted by Ben Graber
Should i go for 1mm or 1.5mm then? I'll let you know when i'm ready for some paint Mark, i fancy purple velvet i think. Here are some pics, proper steel!!

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I reckon 1 mm aluminium for a bonnet is too thin unless there is some bracing underneath - but get some folks to measure theirs;

I'd expect 1.5 mm but probably not more than 2 mm to be ok.

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I used 1.6 mm half hard.
Formed ,made bonnet bulge,etch primed & painted a lovely java pearlescent blue!

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Cheers for the advice everyone, I'm going to make a template fron lino this weekend then try and find someone who can get alloy somewhere between 1mm and 1.5 mm

S J Andrews, Redruth, they will deliver for a small fee

went and measure mine, it is 1.2 mm (18 swg?)
I was thinking that is it is too thin, it will flap about or sag in the centre.

paulbuz - how did you mkke the bulge, looks like air vent at the front? Was it by adding a second piece of metal or froming the existing sheet. anyd change of photo from the front?

the bulge was made from a second piece of ally sheet as my engine JUST hits the bonnet without it (Sierra DOHC....No not that one..though I WISH!)
I've added a folder to my archive with more detailed pics
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