Diamond plate thickness question

[LanM]

I've stumbled across a fella selling 4x10 sheets of polished 10 gauge diamond plate for $80 a sheet, which I'm guessing is a good deal. Do you guys think it would be too thick for exterior siding? How much thicker/much more weight would it be than the traditional aluminum sheeting one would use. I've looked up 10 gauge thicknesses and have gotten different answers from .134, .130, 140, etc.
Am I right that most guys are using the .06xx for exterior, that would make it 14 gauge right?

If the figures I have are right:
4x8 sheet of 10ga (.1019) is 1.4lbs/sq ft= 44.8,
4x8 sheet of 14ga (.064) is 28.8

I'm guessing .064 is whats used for exterior sheeting now right?


I'd like to use this stuff screwed to studs, not glued to plywood. Would it be strong enough for that?

Any info would be appreciated.

[Nobody]

I trimmed my TD with .062" diamond tread. Not sure if it's because of the 'diamonds' but it was lots heavier than the .040" mill finish that I used as skin. I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't want to use even the .062" for skin. Another thing, it seemed on the stuff I used that the base thickness was .062" with the 'diamonds' standing 'proud' of that thickness?? Anyway it was lots harder 'forming' the diamond tread for the front trim than .040" would've been. The .062" is 'heavy' enough that I formed my tongue box from it & it's very sturdy.

[planovet]

I used .063 standard diamond plate and it worked fine. It should be just right for what you want to use it for.

[kennyrayandersen]

I’m pretty sure you don’t want to do the WHOLE tear in it though. That’s some pretty think stuff. Still if you are only going to use it for the front lower chip-guard then you aren’t adding that much weight (though as stated the formability will be a bit of a challenge for the thicker stock). But if you were to do the whole tear in it… you could always add a turret and a 105 mm gun at a later date

[LanM]

Ya, I was thinking it was pretty thick. I was considering doing the 2 side walls in it to give it some strength if it ever got dragged or tipped onto something while off camber (its going to be an off road modified grasshopper like 1speeds).

[Nobody]

If ya don't hafta 'form' it, & weight doesn't matter a lot, i.e. your tow vehicle has sufficient weight/power, it'd probably work well for what you describe. Should definitely give additional rigidity in off road stress/torque situations, depending on how you fasten it. If the price is right, I'd give it a shot