.063 aluminum sheet flexibility

[LDK]

I'm just curious as to how well it would bend around a fairly tight radius. I found a place where I could get it in 5' wide.
Don't know if it would be a good choice or not for skinning.

[noseoil]

On a tight radius, most likely you would need some forming to give it a set prior to installation. Just depends on what your version of "tight" really is. It's also pretty heavy, about .9# per square foot, and much heavier than is necessary for strength & longevity. A 5' x 10 ' sheet will weigh in at 45#, .040" would be 28# and .032" is 22#. The .040" or even .032 would work for you, but the 5' width is the problem....

[backstrap bandit]

I bought 040 aluminum at a tractor Trailer repair shop in 8 ft width cut to whatever length you want approx 20.00 a ft

[backstrap bandit]

Of course be prepared to spend some time there drinking coffee and discussing your project and showing pictures when they find out what your doing with it I spent about 3 hrs there and had to promise to bring it by when finished guess my first day I will be running around town to keep all the promises when done

[Gunguy05]

I ordered my. 040 5 wide from Harbor sales. Saf.com also has it. I will say. 040 is thicker than I though. I know. 063 would be a bear to bend, but is doable. I think the atma travelear was done with. 063.

[Nobody]

I used 0.040" mill finish (4x10' sheets) for my outer skin. I used 0.063" 'diamond plate' for trim & for the radius at lower front. Don't remember what the radius is but it ain't what I'd call tight. Think the width top to bottom is around 18" or so & it was a real bear to bend. Might have been easier if I'd bent the sheet before cutting but I couldn't figure out a way to do it without also bending the rest of the sheet for which I had other use planned. Think I finally used a piece of heavy (1/2" thick walls) fiberglass pipe, maybe 12-14" diameter as a 'roller' form. That was probably one of (if not THE) most difficult parts of my build... Dunno how much more difficult (or not?) the diamond plate would be to bend than flat mill finish but, I'd surely try to use something lighter such as 0.040" or 0.032", if only for ease of use, not to mention weight savings.

[DMcCam]

Hi Larry,

As Brian said, we used 5' x 10' anodized .063 for the roof of our build (we used .040 for the sides) and it was very hard to bend around the galley hatch radius. Of course I found out how to do it easier afterword. If you are so inclined, find a sheet metal shop with a roller wide enough to pre-bend your aluminum. The rollers will be pitted and will pit your aluminum. So, you buy two sheets of 4' x 8' 1/8" Masonite to sandwich your aluminum protecting it from the rollers. Then have them bend it pretty close to your curve. On our trailer, the front bend was not a problem at all. Only the tight curve on the bottom of the hatch proved to be an issue. I hope this helps.

All the Best,

Dave

[dales133]

What thickness is 0.63 and 0.40 in metric?
Sorry to be lazy but it's 3.30am here and I can't sleep but my brains not awake enough for conversions [WHITE SMILING FACE]

[KCStudly]

About 1.6 mm and 1 mm.

[dales133]

Thanks KC the stuff I picked up for 20 bucks a sheet is about 1.2 I think

[Tommy2tone_1999]

Backstrap, where is the trailer repair place that you bought your aluminum sheet from?

[backstrap bandit]

Tommy in lake charles right off I--10