Aluminum skin thickness?

[mike_c]

I'm considering skinning the exterior of my TD with aluminum, but I'm confused about what to look for. Ideally I'd like a colored finish, like white, but I'll accept a mill finish if necessary. We have a good local metal supplier, but before I go talk to him, can anyone recommend what to buy? I assume 5052, but what thickness? One online supplier quoted me nearly $800 for two pieces of 0.032 x 50 in. x 120 in. 5052 and one piece of 60 in. x 126 in., same thickness (OnlineMetals.com). That seems WAY pricey to me and doesn't even include shipping! Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

--Mike C.

[halfdome, Danny]

I'm considering skinning the exterior of my TD with aluminum, but I'm confused about what to look for. Ideally I'd like a colored finish, like white, but I'll accept a mill finish if necessary. We have a good local metal supplier, but before I go talk to him, can anyone recommend what to buy? I assume 5052, but what thickness? One online supplier quoted me nearly $800 for two pieces of 0.032 x 50 in. x 120 in. 5052 and one piece of 60 in. x 126 in., same thickness (OnlineMetals.com). That seems WAY pricey to me and doesn't even include shipping! Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

--Mike C.

Mike try
Denco Sales
4634 E. Weathermaker Avenue
Fresno, CA 93703
Ph. (559) 454.5095
They carry white aluminum. Thickness of .032 to .040 would be what I'd recommend. Danny

[mike_c]

I'm considering skinning the exterior of my TD with aluminum, but I'm confused about what to look for. Ideally I'd like a colored finish, like white, but I'll accept a mill finish if necessary. We have a good local metal supplier, but before I go talk to him, can anyone recommend what to buy? I assume 5052, but what thickness? One online supplier quoted me nearly $800 for two pieces of 0.032 x 50 in. x 120 in. 5052 and one piece of 60 in. x 126 in., same thickness (OnlineMetals.com). That seems WAY pricey to me and doesn't even include shipping! Anyone have any thoughts or advice?

--Mike C.

Mike try
Denco Sales
4634 E. Weathermaker Avenue
Fresno, CA 93703
Ph. (559) 454.5095
They carry white aluminum. Thickness of .032 to .040 would be what I'd recommend. Danny

Thanks, Danny. I'll have to call them next week-- they won't allow access to their online store without an acct. I'm just shocked by the prices I've seen so far!

--Mike C.

[eamarquardt]

I got my 5X12 sheet of .040 5052 from Copper and Brass Sales which is the parent company for OnlineMetals. They were quite competitive and did a beautiful job of putting it on a pallet so it was protected from damage while I moved it around. There is a huge price break when buying over 100# and it was actually less expensive to buy 5 sheets than it was to buy 4 sheets due to the "volume". Go figure.

They have a place in Fresno also. I'd be interested in one more sheet in a combined order. I can't remember if I needed to establish an account to purchase from them but that issue can be easily solved by opening an account (by hook or crook).

See: http://www.copperandbrass.com/cnb/about ... wUS-CA.htm

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[linuxmanxxx]

Find a cargo trailer manufacturer that is closest to you and see if they will sell it directly to you and chances are it will be way cheaper than any of these online vendors. I bought some .32 aluminum 49" wide many colors available for around $7 a running foot which was much cheaper than anything online.

[ssrjim]

Check sign supply shops too. They have lots of colors and I got my best deal. Local is better in most cases at shipping will kill ya

[doug hodder]

Semi trailer repair shops will have it on a coil. Usually in either white or in the mill finish, .040 I think. I got 103" wide and it was I'm thinking like 13$ a running foot, but that was several years ago. Check the local yellow pages for those types of shops. It's easy to cut...just lay down a sheet of styro with the aluminum on top with a blanket and a piece of ply so you don't dent or scuff it, and run a circular saw across it with a carbide blade. Just what I've done. Doug

[LDK]

I got mine at a local sign shop and got a pretty good deal on it. Mine is white and .40 thickness.

[Kim Armstrong]

Here in Arkansas, Great Dane Trailers has mill finish alum. 108" wide on a coil for 13.50 a running ft.

[Gage]

I got mine at a local sign shop and got a pretty good deal on it. Mine is white and .40 thickness.

Boy that's some thick aluminum. I bet it was a bear to work with.

[sdtripper2]

Here is another source of Aluminum sheet information with more details for you:

In your browser use the FIND function and search on Aluminum sheets.

[LDK]

I got mine at a local sign shop and got a pretty good deal on it. Mine is white and .40 thickness.

Boy that's some thick aluminum. I bet it was a bear to work with.

My bad. .040 thickness.

[eamarquardt]

I got mine at a local sign shop and got a pretty good deal on it. Mine is white and .40 thickness.

Boy that's some thick aluminum. I bet it was a bear to work with.

Yeah, but I'm sure it will stop a 5.56 or a 7.62.

Gus

[dguff]

Hi Mike,
I have used O & M on West End Road in Arcata. Bought mill finish 4 by 10 sheets for about $75 each a couple of years ago. I have used both .032 and .040 and have no real preference between the two. I have no idea what the alloy # was.

Jerome

[grant whipp]

Hi, Mike!

Looks like Jerome lined you up with local supplier of 4x material ... for the wider stuff, you can pop on over to Redding and SAF on Caterpillar Road ... they've got 5x10 in .040" mill finish and clear anodized mill finish in stock (usually). I haven't found a "local" supplier for anything painted in 5x10. Otherwise, I get most of my sheet aluminum from Cardo Ind. on West El Camino in Sacramento ... been working with Kurt, there, for 20-odd years!

Oh, and please ... consider .040" thickness for your roof ... you'll be much happier with the results than with .032"!

Hey! Anybody interested in a couple of sheets of brushed-finish gold anodized aluminum? .032" x 49" x 120" ... they cost me almost $200 per sheet, and I'll let 'em go for $150 ea., you pick up (Redding, CA) ... call or e-mail me!

CHEERS!