Alluminium trimming

[Billy Purves]

Hi ,what is the best method of cladding the roof with alluminium and what thickness do you reccomend?
I am in planning stage at the moment and will build my teardrop 1" narrower than 4ft so I can trim it back to be flush.
How do you recommend I trim it? Billy.

[Mini Renegade]

hi Billy, theres a whole section on here about working safe with aluminium, cant remember where though. I did the same as you by making it slightly narrower than for foot to trim it back, allows for the odd mm here and there out of square

[madjack]

Billy, you can use .032 or .040...they are the most common...above .040, it starts getting trickier to bend the tighter radiuses(less than 2')...if you have a substrate(ply) on the roof first, go with the thinner AL if not, go with the thicker AL...the AL skin can be floated(recommended), using the trim to hold it in place....we cut our skins, 1/4" narrower than the top so that we can have a little "wiggle" room when installing(for example, a 4' wide tear, cut the AL 3'11-3/4"s)...We use a standard RV insert trim but regular box store angle can be used quite successfully...usually a 3/4" angle, with one leg trimmed down to 1/4"...it will havvta be annealed to make the bends or dead soft(no annealing needed) trim can be had from the various TD parts suppliers......
madjack

[Billy Purves]

Thanks for that Jack.
What do you use to cut your metal?
Billy.

[madjack]

Billy, we use an air shear for the sheet and regular woodworking tools for the rest...read here before starting to cut/work with AL
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=10557

madjack