Using 3/16" Steel sheet panels for walls

[Chuckles2153]

Hey there everyone ! ,
I just joined this forum about 20 minutes ago and i'm really excited about it !!
I've been reading thru alooooot of the discussion topics and help topics and would like to pose a Q. of my own.
Has anyone ever used or heard of anybody using 3/16" steel for the walls and 1/16" on the top for the shell of their tear? I've been thinking of taking 4'x8' sheets and butt welding some peices together to get a 5'x10' panel, Then use a plasma cutter to cut out the teardrop sides,doors,windows etc.. Send them to be powder coated the color of my choosing.use 2" styrofoam and addhere it to the steel sides and skin the inside walls.
I want to try and keep this somewhat short so i'll stop here.
I would love and will welcome any and all replies wether good or noooot so good.
Thanks in advance, Chuck

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Welcome!


So.... you're building a tank, right?


I think steel is a bit overkill, but I'd be interested to see how many ton it will weigh in the end!

[alffink]

Actually, 3/16" to me would still be considered "Plate" very heavy
Maybe something like 16ga, steel would be a bit heavy size to size with aluminum, but you ought to be able to drop a gage or two as compared to aluminum also.

Still on the heavy side, but it's your build....I've seen aluminum used where I thought it just was not heavy enough and it showed, after not too many miles on the road.

I just think that the 3/16 would be better on the tank as mentioned above.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Also... steel is 490#/cu ft. Your 5x10 sheet would weigh 383#'s before trimming your profile.

[Chuckles2153]

Welcome!


So.... you're building a tank, right?


I think steel is a bit overkill, but I'd be interested to see how many ton it will weigh in the end!

Hey there zach,
THanks for the fast response !

I believe i could come in under 900-lbs total weight when finished, For the galley and canbiets on the interior i'm leaning towards building them with tambour sliding doors, all of the interior would be 1/4" hickory or maple ply. The sheet steel weighs less than a 3/4" sheet of oak plywood.
I'm still not too sure about doing it this way and hope more people give me their opinions also. ( very much needed )

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Hey there zach,
THanks for the fast response !

I believe i could come in under 900-lbs total weight when finished, For the galley and canbiets on the interior i'm leaning towards building them with tambour sliding doors, all of the interior would be 1/4" hickory or maple ply. The sheet steel weighs less than a 3/4" sheet of oak plywood.
I'm still not too sure about doing it this way and hope more people give me their opinions also. ( very much needed )

No problem!

I think your goal of 900lbs isnt toooooo far fetched, but I dont believe that would encompass much of an interior.

As far as the steel sheet weighing less than plywood, I think you need to reevaluate that.... like I said in my previous post, steel is 490#/ cu.ft. Plywood (even oak) is only about 35-39#/ cu.ft.

Just out of curiosity, whats your tow vehicle, and what kind of trailer frame were you intending to use?

[absolutsnwbrdr]

btw... don't let my responses discourage you! Just trying to help


I'll let some others chime in too!

[parnold]

Chuckles.. I think you might want to recheck your math. I have an 8 foot price of 2x3 steel tubing that must weight 40lbs. Flattened out that's only 10" x 8'.
At 1/8" with my bad math your close to 240lbs for the equivalent 5x10 size, plus 50% for the extra thickness and my guestimate comes to 360lbs, very close to what absolutsnwbrdr says.

[boomboomtulum]

WOW. An Armored Tear you might be on to something here.
You must know the weight of the steel right?

3/16 weighs 7.65 lbs per sqft. 5 x10 sheet weighs 380 lbs x 2 = 760 lbs
1/16 - 2.43 lbs per sq.ft.
4x8 3/4 ply -44-52 lbs

Dave

[Ageless]

I could see .040 as being the max required for structure; even down to .025 would be fairly dimple resistant. Anything heavier is just wasted weight being dragged around.

[mwallace61]

3/16" would be way overkill. Why not go with something like 20 to 24 gauge if you were going to go with steel. It would still be pretty tough when you get the sandwich done, at least as tough as a car body, and much lighter than 3/16".

[Chuckles2153]

3/16" would be way overkill. Why not go with something like 20 to 24 gauge if you were going to go with steel. It would still be pretty tough when you get the sandwich done, at least as tough as a car body, and much lighter than 3/16".

I would like to thank all of for your imput and will re-think the 3/16" and go with a thiner guage.
And zach gave me a very interesting idea for my theme !! I think i'll work up some plans to make a turrit with a small barrel to look like a tank, and if i choose to put a/c on it then i could hide it inside the turrit ?
So thanks alot zach!! The more i visualize it the more i like the idea and it would be a great task to take on too.
Any sugestions on this idea?

[halfdome, Danny]

A couple years ago a teardrop showed up at the LeMay Car Show and Auction that was constructed of 1/8" or 3/16" aluminum sheets. I don't remember a frame for the body and it definitely had no insulation or interior wall covering. Very nice build and the owner had restored it with a nice red paint job. It had a military look to it and seemed quite light. Danny

[ARKPAT]

The inside and outside of my trailer is 25 Ga steel bonded to 1 1/2" Polyfoam core( Thermo-Tru-insulated door cutouts ). The box weighs about 400# and the trailer frame is about 300#. The trailer box is a 48"W x 44"H x ~112"L ( inside 45" x 41" x ~ 90"L sleeping area with back rest - setting upright in front slanted area in picture). I plan on adding one piece sheet steel to round the front nose ( storage - negate a tongue box ) ) area then sides, top, back and bottom to cover the seams in the door panels later; then at that time remove the plywood covering on top and sides.



Pat

[IndyTom]

Welcome Fellow Hoosier

So maybe you are planning on some inner-city camping. With 3/16 you would be armored heavily enough for it.

Seriously, welcome to the madness, its always great to have more people.

Tom