where to buy sheet aluminum

[LDK]

Dumb question, what all sources are there for buying sheet aluminum?? Also, is it better to get it in sheets or in rolls and what about cost????

[StPatron]

Best to find it locally, shipping is very costly. I'd suggest:

1) Yellow Pages: Metals, aluminum, etc.
2) Web search
3) Contacting another teardrop builder in your vicinity and asking them.
This may be your best bet as you may learn where to purchase other
materials as well. I've received many tips from a local guy who's building
a teardrop and he's been a huge help.

Welcome to the fun!

[len19070]

Check a local Sign Shop that makes Metal lighted signs.

Happy Trails

Len

[Mike_La]

Try the sign companies below. If they don't have aluminum sheets, they should be able to let you know where buy it.

Howard Sign Co
327 East 18th Street (270) 685-3366‎

Quality Graphics & Signs‎
5282 West 5th Street Road (270) 688-0392

Also, Samual Sons & Co. has 4'X10" Mill Aluminum for just under $65 a sheet.
http://www.samuel.com/locations/index.html

[eamarquardt]

Try these guys. Good service. Big price break at 100 pounds and it was cheaper for me to buy 5 sheets of 5X10 .040 than four!

http://www.copperandbrass.com/cnb/about ... /index.htm

Cheers,

Gus

[emiller]

I bought my first two at a large distributor of metals for $66.00 4' x 12' painted white. Talked to my metal guy and asked even though he doesn't carry any sheets of anything. He said he could get it for me. Cost was $67.00 next day and crated. So if you have a metal shop close by ask and see if they can order you in some sheets.

[LDK]

Thanks for all the good advise.

[mikeschn]

You know, when I bought my aluminum from SAF it was $1 per square foot, and shipping was free.

Oh, how times have changed...

Mike...

[sagebrush]

Check yellow pages for semi-trailer repair repair shops. The outer skin on insulated tank trailers is 48" wide and .032 or .040 thick. It comes in a big roll and cut off what you need. Also be sure to check sign companies. I found 4x12 .032 from sign co. for less than half the price that sheetmetal shop quoted for 4x8. Took along my drywall square and 18 ga. shear, cut sheets to size as we loaded them up. Will

[Kevin & Sandy]

Do you have any friends who have race cars? The shops that puts aluminum sheet on sprint cars can get all kinds of colors in.

I bought mine in a large roll, the kind they would like repair a semi trailer with, and when I unrolled it there were bumps, dings, rubmarks, etc. I used it because I had it shipped in and was needing to keepworking on it.

If you want a really flat nice look, better look for sheets and not big rolls.