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05-11-2010, 07:19 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1959 26' Overlander
nevada
, Nevada
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 62
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Buying sheet aluminum
Need to patch some holes in the belly pan of a 1959.
Anyone know what thickness or gauge aluminum to buy? if so, any ideas where I can find a 4 ft by 4 ft sheet?
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05-11-2010, 07:38 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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Hi skittles. These guys have a lot of locations. Other companies may actually be closer to you. ALUMINUM SHEET - MetalSupermarkets
Bellywrap would be 0.025". I've found that harder to get than 0.032", so be sure and give anyone time to order in what you want. It will come in 4' x 8' sheets. I'd believe I used 2024 alloy. Depends on what's available. 0.032" really works totally different. 0.025" is the way to go.
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05-11-2010, 07:42 PM
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#3
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1972 Travelux Princess 25
Cobourg
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,059
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I would try a nearby airport repair facility, one that repairs light planes. Or, there are mail order outlets.
__________________
Living in the trailer park of sense, looking out the window at a tornado of stupidity.
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05-11-2010, 08:16 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1967 28' Ambassador
1963 19' Globetrotter
1970 29' Ambassador
Waukesha
, Wisconsin
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,180
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skittles
Need to patch some holes in the belly pan of a 1959.
Anyone know what thickness or gauge aluminum to buy?
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Belly pan material does not need to be an Aircraft grade of Aluminum... the cheapest .025 you can find will do. Call around to the metal supply houses in your area and see who has a coil of 3003 or 5052.
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05-11-2010, 08:22 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1964 17' Bambi II
1961 24' Tradewind
Strasburg
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 911
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Check with your local trailer supplier...one that deals in utility trailers, parts, hitches, etc. Not an RV place. You can buy aluminum skin used to repair 18 wheelers that have been damaged up to 102" wide and as long as you like.
Keystone Trailer here in Lancaster, PA (I think it is an East Petersburg, PA address) sells it this way. I am sure a local place to you such as this would as well.
Ben
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05-11-2010, 08:33 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
1963 16' Bambi
Stevens Point
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 318
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skittles
I ordered a couple of sheets of aluminum on line from Aircraft Spruce. The little brown truck delivered it to my door. No problems.
Tim
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05-11-2010, 09:25 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Commercial Member
1962 19' Globetrotter
1963 19' Globetrotter
1961 19' Globetrotter
Wheat Ridge
, Colorado
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 624
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PM me and I can help you find the stuff...
Todd
__________________
www.VINSTREAM.com
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
WBCCI # 1962
Instagram #Vinstream
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05-11-2010, 11:14 PM
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#8
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Maniacal Engineer
1971 25' Tradewind
Lopez Island
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,244
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I've found very nice material at scrap dealers; often full 4x8 or 4x10 sheets for $2/lb.
- Bart
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05-12-2010, 04:56 AM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1961 16' Bambi
Las Cruces
, New Mexico
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 134
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i'd try this: Airparts Inc. Homepage
good people to deal with.
they do sell the alclad2024-T3 This is the most commom of the the high-strength alloys. Aircraft quaility. 2024 T3 aluminum sheet is thought of as the aircraft alloy because of it's strength. It has excellent fatigue resistance. Welding is generally not recommended. Typical uses for 2024-T3 alclad aluminum sheet are aircraft skins, cowls, aircraft structures, and also for RV repair and restortation like Airstreams because of it's shiny finish (2024T3 alclad)
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05-12-2010, 06:54 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1963 26' Overlander
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,640
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Right, .032 2024-T3 alclad is the standard for the exterior skins on vintage Airstreams. But the bellypan doesn't need to be as strong or shiny.
I used .025 5053 for my bellypan, cheaper and works fine. Like byamcaravanner said, just buy the cheapest .025 thickness aluminum you can find. There are plenty of OTHER opportunities to spend huge amounts of money on your Airstream.
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05-19-2010, 06:19 PM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
1959 26' Overlander
nevada
, Nevada
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 62
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Score!
After many phone calls, I found a fab shop with a 4' x 8' sheet of .025 aluminum for $38 bucks.
He said its been laying around for awhile and had no use for metal that thin, but it should work great for my belly pan repairs.
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05-26-2010, 08:35 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1965 28' Ambassador
Irving
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 604
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Quote:
Originally Posted by utee94
Right, .032 2024-T3 alclad is the standard for the exterior skins on vintage Airstreams. But the bellypan doesn't need to be as strong or shiny.
I used .025 5053 for my bellypan, cheaper and works fine. Like byamcaravanner said, just buy the cheapest .025 thickness aluminum you can find. There are plenty of OTHER opportunities to spend huge amounts of money on your Airstream.
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What would the thickness be for usage on constructing baggage doors?Same .032 Alclad
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07-25-2016, 11:46 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
1970 29' Ambassador
1959 22' Flying Cloud
1957 26' Overlander
Ashland
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 254
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Hi Skittles, I am in Reno also and am looking for aluminum both for the belly pan and for exterior skin that will be polished. i would love to know where you found your source locally! Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by skittles
After many phone calls, I found a fab shop with a 4' x 8' sheet of .025 aluminum for $38 bucks.
He said its been laying around for awhile and had no use for metal that thin, but it should work great for my belly pan repairs.
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07-26-2016, 11:00 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1962 28' Ambassador
1961 19' Globetrotter
1962 26' Overlander
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,996
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Albert you may try PDM Steel Service but it's in Sparks NV.
__________________
Hittenstiehl
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03-09-2017, 11:57 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
Reno
, Nevada
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 28
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Wondering if anyone found a good source for aluminum in Reno? Would love not having to ship the stuff.
I am planning on replacing our belly pan with 2024 T3 aluminum that is 0.032 thick, I know only the edges will show, but we are going to polish ours up and if I understand it correctly, that is the best option that will shine up like the rest of our exterior. We also want to reskin the interior. We have the old int skins to use as templates but they have several holes from the PO and aren't in great condition. Am planning on using .032 5052 for that and we plan to paint it.
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