5x10 and 5x12 aluminum faced exterior panels

[bobhenry]

Hey everybody take a look www.citadelap.com a aluminum clad (both sides) douglas fir plywood panel. also applied on styrofoam and polystyrene available in 4x8 5x10 and 5x12. Also colors and many metalic shades . Warehouse in Indianapolis if anybody is close check it out for us

[BK One]

I work in Indianapolis so I called Citadel and asked if I could buy a small quantity of Panel 15 direct from their warehouse. They said they would only sell through a distributor. They gave me a name of the local distributor who I could not get a hold of on a Friday afternoon. I left a message and I'll see what I can find out next week.

I'm guessing that it's too expensive if you have to go through a middle man for only 3 or 4 sheets. It does look very interesting though. They even sell the aluminum trim for their systems.

[bobhenry]

I work in Indianapolis so I called Citadel and asked if I could buy a small quantity of Panel 15 direct from their warehouse. They said they would only sell through a distributor. They gave me a name of the local distributor who I could not get a hold of on a Friday afternoon. I left a message and I'll see what I can find out next week.

I'm guessing that it's too expensive if you have to go through a middle man for only 3 or 4 sheets. It does look very interesting though. They even sell the aluminum trim for their systems.

I got your e-mail Re: our lost thread maybe we were censored by the purist in the clan. Maybe we just got misplaced. Let's see if this revives it.
Ask about damaged sheets if you get a hold of someone , Most vendors love getting rid of non saleable goods and most of us are going to round off that damaged corner anyway Thanks Bob

[Miriam C.]

I doubt if you were censored so try looking through you back posts. You will find it if you posted on it.

[Trackstriper]

I have been looking at similar materials for a tiny trailer. Sign makers use materials that need to be able to hold up in the weather. Some of these products are aluminum clad on one or both sides. I have been looking at two in particular: Alumacorr and Poly-Metal as manufactured by Nudo.

http://www.nudo.com

The Alumacorr is the most intriguing. It is available 10mm (3/8") thick with a "corregated" polypropylene core bonded with .015 prepainted aluminum skins. If I recall correctly a 4x8 sheet weighs about 22 pounds and it is very stiff. Not a true honeycomb but similar in effect. Available in basic colors up to 4x10 feet, and in white up to 4x12 or 5x10. A 4x8 sheet (white) is approximately $105 plus shipping.

As has been discussed on other threads, the trick is how to fasten to it for a structural use and how to seal the open structure if required. Tape bonding might work. I have run some tests and the foam tape that I used was impressive. If the surface is lightly sanded to break paint gloss, Gorilla Glue and other poly products seem to bond well. Might be just the product for someone building a nanolight tear.

The Poly-Metal can be had in two thicknesses, 6mm and 3mm. The core is solid polyethylene to which .015 prepainted aluminum skins are bonded. I played with the 3mm version and it is cool. Glue your framework right to it. Not as stiff a panel as the Alumacorr, but very respectable. Also about 22 pounds for the 4x8 sheets in 3mm. Very dent resistant. The 3mm is available in colors in 4x8 size. Up to 4x10 and 4x12 in white. The 4x8 white is about $75. The 6mm probably has too much weight penalty.

Although I haven't tried it yet, the Poly-Metal should be able to be bolted or riveted as it is a solid product. This should make it much easier to fasten to. It also bonds well with tape or poly glues.

Both products can be cut with normal wood working tools (with the correct blade) as the aluminum is quite thin, yet bonded to a plastic core. The Poly-Metal conducts heat as you would imagine, with the core offering some reistance. The Alumacorr does a fairly nice job as an insulator, not like foam, but it does have some inherrent insulating qualities.

You can check out these products and others at:

http://www.alumapanel.com

They also have affordable bonding tape. I doubt that it is as good as 3M, but it might be close.

Other signage suppliers can provide these and similar products. Has anyone tried to build with these materials?

[rudeboysaude]

Curious to this myself.

Considering products for a future build this is definatly something I've thought about. The Alumacorr is attractive because it can even be available in 10 foot lengths, but attachment could be an issue. Even thought about the Nu-Alum product that is exterior grade plywood with two faced aluminum. Might hold screws better but would definatly be alot heavier then the Alumacorr. Has anyone used that?

A.

[BK One]

I thought this post got lost, too.

Anyway: I finally talked to a distributor in Indianapolis for this product. He did have "irregulars" from time to time that they would sell. He was supposed to get back with me and never did. I think he was giving me the runaround so he wouldn't have to bother. Interestingly, he also carried filon panels and filon sheets from a different manufacturer.

I was planning a tin-top woody so I wasn't that interested in pressing him.

Brian