Aluminum - anodized or mill?

[Airspeed]

They shipped it right to my house, the driver even helped me unload it.
They called me the day before it arrived and one hour before it arrived to let me know exactly when it would be delivered.
Aaron

[So-Cal Teardrops]

We use clear anodized on all of our trailers. We used mill finish for the first year and had nothing but troubles trying to keep it clean and scratch free. I personally like the oxidized look that mill finish achieves after many years, but the in-between look isn't so hot.

Many years later, the anodized sheets look the same as the day they were applied.

Only downside to anodized is that if it does get scratched, there is no fixing it. Can't buff or rub out nothing.

Just my $0.02 (Gage, I can't find the "cents" key either)

[Gage]

<snip>
Just my $0.02 (Gage, I can't find the "cents" key either)

Hey Gabe, it's Roly that's still looking for the 'cents key'. I gave up long ago.

[So-Cal Teardrops]

Hey, all you "old guys" look the same to me

Croly Hap, I found it ¢ !!!

[G-force]

Do you have a source of 5' wide anodized aluminum here in So Cal? Or sell it yourself to a homebuilder? I know you make a 5' wide tear...do you run 4 footers sideways with seams or can you get a 5' wide long enough for a roof?

We use clear anodized on all of our trailers. We used mill finish for the first year and had nothing but troubles trying to keep it clean and scratch free. I personally like the oxidized look that mill finish achieves after many years, but the in-between look isn't so hot.

Many years later, the anodized sheets look the same as the day they were applied.

Only downside to anodized is that if it does get scratched, there is no fixing it. Can't buff or rub out nothing.

Just my $0.02 (Gage, I can't find the "cents" key either)

[So-Cal Teardrops]

Yeah, we have 5'x12'x.060" sheets of anodized. The place we buy it from stocks 4' ano'd, but they have to run the 5' in batches for us. We are ordering some more in the next few days. Call the shop for prices and ETA.

[G-force]

Thanks. I'm a few months from needing it, I'll give you a call then.

Yeah, we have 5'x12'x.060" sheets of anodized. The place we buy it from stocks 4' ano'd, but they have to run the 5' in batches for us. We are ordering some more in the next few days. Call the shop for prices and ETA.

[LMarsh]

For anyone who needs a 5' wide sheet I called SAF and they don't offer Anodized in 5' wide, just 4'.

After lots of searching and many many phone calls I've located one local supplier of 5x10' sheets ($90), and other sizes, but none have anodized. SAF has every size needed and 4x10' anodized but like I said no 5' wide anodized. SAF also has free shipping if the shipping price goes over $100 I think, or something like that. I forget the name of the salesmen I talked to. I did call So-Cal tears but the 5x12' sheet was pretty pricey ($375 I think, left my notebook in my truck) even before shipping and they never called me back to see if there was even a way to get it to me in NY. I guess they normally sell local but I'll give them another call too.

So basically from what I've read here I don't think I should even consider the raw mill aluminum and NO ONE local has anodized. I definitely don't want to mess with stains and stuff. I want my tear to be 60" wide for sleeping, but does anyone know a place who will ship a 5' wide sheet of anodized or should I just go with SAF and cut a 4x10' in half? I can get 4 sheets with free shipping for under $500 from SAF. Anyone use mill and not have problems? Someone told me to wash it with acid-wash to get stains out if I use it.

Thanks!
Lucas

[Sonetpro]

For anyone who needs a 5' wide sheet I called SAF and they don't offer Anodized in 5' wide, just 4'.

After lots of searching and many many phone calls I've located one local supplier of 5x10' sheets ($90), and other sizes, but none have anodized. SAF has every size needed and 4x10' anodized but like I said no 5' wide anodized. SAF also has free shipping if the shipping price goes over $100 I think, or something like that. I forget the name of the salesmen I talked to. I did call So-Cal tears but the 5x12' sheet was pretty pricey ($375 I think, left my notebook in my truck) even before shipping and they never called me back to see if there was even a way to get it to me in NY. I guess they normally sell local but I'll give them another call too.

So basically from what I've read here I don't think I should even consider the raw mill aluminum and NO ONE local has anodized. I definitely don't want to mess with stains and stuff. I want my tear to be 60" wide for sleeping, but does anyone know a place who will ship a 5' wide sheet of anodized or should I just go with SAF and cut a 4x10' in half? I can get 4 sheets with free shipping for under $500 from SAF. Anyone use mill and not have problems? Someone told me to wash it with acid-wash to get stains out if I use it.

Thanks!
Lucas

I got my 5' wide from SAF. They don't have it in .40 but they have it in .063 anodized.

[2bits]

One source for aluminum in the south east is SAF in atlanta. https://www.saf.com/ .

FYI, for newcomers, the address is http://www.saf.com/ (the above link had it as a secure site which does not pull up)

Great thread, and very important info! I'm going to ask my local guys http://www.rsaluminum.com if they have anodized .040 in 60" wide otherwise I'll be getting a quote from SAF, I like free shipping!