Visit our Popular Forums

59toaster · 09-23-2003, 02:13 PM

What are you paying for Aluminum?

My Belly pan is beat up along the edges. I was going to replace the whole thing. I have been told my 59 uses 2024-T3. Called the local steel supply place and they just called me back They cant find it local with shipping to them it's going to be $1000 For 4 4ftx12ft sheets!

SO I have them checking on a couple other grades. He said a 6011 (think thats what he said). Said it was a nice shinny aluminum but should be a cheaper. Waiting for a call back on it.

If it's throught the roof then one sheet of 2024 and I'll have to patch it in where the belly is damaged and just the visable spots.

InsideOut · 09-23-2003, 02:21 PM

That actually doesn't sound too bad to me...you may want to shop around with some airplcraft supply stores online and possibly not pay a middleman.

We looked into replacing our side panel, about 4'x10' and it seems the price was about the same.

I'd be careful it you change from what was there originally...the tolerances of you shell-off work could be affected, wspecially if thicker aluminum is used.

Shari

59toaster · 09-23-2003, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by InsideOut
That actually doesn't sound too bad to me...you may want to shop around with some airplcraft supply stores online and possibly not pay a middleman.

We looked into replacing our side panel, about 4'x10' and it seems the price was about the same.

I'd be careful it you change from what was there originally...the tolerances of you shell-off work could be affected, wspecially if thicker aluminum is used.

Shari

Ohh same thickness but a different grade. That 2024 is some pricy stuff. The guy point blank told me this is aircraft stuff and he had to go to a company that specializes in materials for them to get it. The 6011 is a more common product and should be cheaper. It will have a bit of a different shine from the rub strip down if I go that way. Reguardless I'll be rethinking replacing the whole pan and patch in the new stuff on the visiable edges and reusing as much as I can.
Greg and mark just pulled their pans....hope they didn't just ball them up.

Fun-Lovin · 09-23-2003, 03:00 PM

I haven't checked the price of sheet aluminum lately but in .090 4'X10" sheets the last time I checked was going to cost me $100 per sheet. Now granted thats not retail.

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 03:10 PM

Thank God I didn't. I did roll it up in about a three foot coil so I could store it out of the way this winter.
I have a neighbor thats a gutter man (Seamless, roll your own). He orders coils of aluminum. I may get him to add some to his next order. He used to be manufacturing VP for a coil shop that did siding, so he can find just about any type or thickness. I'll let you know if he can order 2024 T3.
Today I got lights mounted on my bare frame, so as soon as I find a capable welder, it's off to the shop.

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 03:20 PM

BTW, maybe if you ordered it coiled, the freight would be a lot cheaper.

74Argosy24MH · 09-23-2003, 03:21 PM

$50 for 4x8 sheets of .040 or .050 3031, either I am getting over or ripped on one. They will make a couple of cuts per sheet nc, which works because I only have a small shear. Any aluminum places around you? Around here the steel places and aluminum seem to be separate; steel outfits will order aluminum but you end up with prices like you got.

John

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 03:32 PM

You can order coiled 2024 T3 in 48" width from www.airpartsinc.com/alumsheet.htm.
Price on their web site is $12.10/ft. Don't know what shipping would be to you location, but not as much as 4x12 ft sheets.

InsideOut · 09-23-2003, 04:09 PM

I asked Mr. InsideOut...locally it was about $250 for a 4'x12' of 2024T3 Alclad .032.

Check out Aircraft Spruce their price is $165 per 4'x12' sheet + shipping, for the same.

Also, are you sure .032 is used on the belly pan...I thought it was thinner than the side panels?

Shari

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 04:53 PM

The $12.10 price above is for .025 bellyskin. Body .032 is slightly higher. Both are AlClad.
Thanks for the tip on AirplaneSpruce. I'd been to their site but didn't check prices. At their price it still might be cheaper to buy coil if sheets need to ship by truck and coil can go UPS.

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 05:01 PM

.....wait a minute. $165 for 12 ft sheet is more expensive than coil.

59toaster · 09-23-2003, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by markdoane
The $12.10 price above is for .025 bellyskin. Body .032 is slightly higher. Both are AlClad.
Thanks for the tip on AirplaneSpruce. I'd been to their site but didn't check prices. At their price it still might be cheaper to buy coil if sheets need to ship by truck and coil can go UPS.

Well that's a price I can live with....I'm glad I said something I thought the belly was .032 as well. I was about to order the wrong stuff.

The .025 4ft x 12ft would be $145 for a coil + shipping. I think coil for the belly will be fine. $165 for .032 coil. shipping from KS should save me a few bucks.

With shipping it looks like my local place put $50 profit per sheet. I did find a few places that sold coil local. Let me check them tomorrow. Let me also check with my Delta bud and see if he knows a place local. .....can you buy it at the PX on base at Dobbins?

Hmm I know a few people at Phoenix Air, I wonder if they can get me a deal on it. Have to track them down in the morning.

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 08:13 PM

Ordering a coil also lets u avoid making a crosswise splice right where the axle is. I know AS used coil for the bellyskin because there aren't any side-to-side splices.

59toaster · 09-23-2003, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by markdoane
Ordering a coil also lets u avoid making a crosswise splice right where the axle is. I know AS used coil for the bellyskin because there aren't any side-to-side splices.

That makes sense.

I'm a cheapskate. The plan was to put the pan back on in peices so that I can take the center out as needed for plumbing repairs of if I wanted to add something. I think what I will do is get a sheet 4x12ft. Then I can patch in the perimeter where it's visable and damaged. Use the existing belly pan down the middle and patch the holes where appearence is not such a issue. From the links posted I should be able to do that for around $200.

I could do a 20ft section for $242 and split it down the middle and get a little more coverage. Might even be eaiser. That would get me all the way to the frame rail till about the 1st rib where the frame tapers in to go to the hitch.

markdoane · 09-23-2003, 08:38 PM

Good thinking. That's what I 'm going to do-2 ft width will reach from the body joint, around the radius to the frame rails. I'm going to make a lengthwise splice at the frame rail with doublers, use the old belly to make the removable center section.
Here's an alternative: get a length of 8" steel pipe, split it lengthwise in quarters, weld those to the outriggers. Paint with silver paint. Your rocker panels would be bulletproof.

59toaster · 09-23-2003, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by markdoane

Here's an alternative: get a length of 8" steel pipe, split it lengthwise in quarters, weld those to the outriggers. Paint with silver paint. Your rocker panels would be bulletproof.

Hahaha Over kill is what I'm all about!
The rockers on my trail truck are 4x4inch 3/16 wall box. I cut (mother nature helped with rust) the rockers out up to the door. Then they have a outrigger to help keep the sides of the trockoff the rocks and as a step, made out of 2x2 3/16. I have busted rocks with them. They are also air tanks for filling the tires back up.

Here is a picture where you can see them. Chili Pepper at the wheel.

geof · 09-23-2003, 10:21 PM

guys you can get aluminum coil stock at any siding supply house. Tim men use it to clad whatever they can't cover with siding....it comes in colors and also bare aluminum...as I remember its 12-18-24-36 inches wide by 50' long...coated on both sides and comes in various thicknesses....geof

mkeith54 · 09-24-2003, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 59toaster
What are you paying for Aluminum?

My Belly pan is beat up along the edges. I was going to replace the whole thing. I have been told my 59 uses 2024-T3. Called the local steel supply place and they just called me back They cant find it local with shipping to them it's going to be $1000 For 4 4ftx12ft sheets!

Head North, young man... At least to the Lockheed-Martin plant at Marietta ( and find one of their suppliers of Al. A lot of the time the will have sheets that have minor scratches in them and as a reslut cannot be used on Aircraft. Some time you can pick them up at rock bottom prices.

59toaster · 09-24-2003, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mkeith54

Head North, young man... At least to the Lockheed-Martin plant at Marietta ( and find one of their suppliers of Al. A lot of the time the will have sheets that have minor scratches in them and as a reslut cannot be used on Aircraft. Some time you can pick them up at rock bottom prices.

Actually south for me. I live about five miles North. I'm coming up with zilch. My buddy use to work there and now works at Delta in the repair hanger. He sent me to twmetals.com and they are even higher. TW sells to Delta. I'm just a hassle because I only want one sheet so got a bad price.

Starting to look like online is the way to go at one of the places listed above. They are coming in atleast $50 cheaper. then the best local price I have found.

59toaster · 09-24-2003, 10:22 AM

Allright I just spent about $250 with www.airpartsinc.com
Price was INCLUDING shipping.

SUPER NICE and friendly folks. Family run buisness I think (girl on the phone had to ask mom for the formula to figure out the right length rivets She was very knowledgable this was just some formula she didn't know off the top of her head). Very understanding as to my confusion and took the time to give me a little education.

I splurged and went with the 2024 and will peice it in. All normaly visable surfaces will shine up (bottom will look like hell but ohh well). Said they had it all in stock. Should ship tomorrow at the latest and be on my door step Monday or tuesday.

On the 2024 they were $75 cheaper with shipping then I could get it local. Since I bought coil it can go UPS instead of freight for the Sheet.

I Also ordered 2ft of (4ft wide) .032 2024 for any repairs I might need to do to the main body.

I ordered 30 temporary fasteners and the tool for them,
A tool designed to cut the head off rivites without messing up the sheet. $10 for the tool and $3.25 for the blades. I ordered 3 blades.
300 1/8 inch buck rivets.

Thats all for the $250-260, she still had to add in the rivets but wanted to make sure she was sending me the correct length.

I think the prices were reasonable and I recomend them for the materials on their customer service and knowledge alone not to mention they have a great price.

Mark I told them you would be calling!