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Old 11-20-2015, 05:29 AM   #1
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Aluminum Patch Thickness?

I need to patch some small holes in the skin. Is .016 2024-T3 too thin to use? If so, what thickness should I use (.020, .025, .032, .040)?
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Old 11-20-2015, 07:10 AM   #2
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It would help to know what year of trailer you are patching (as 2024 T3 might not even be the appropriate alloy), but .032 is the most common thickness for vintage trailers.

good luck!
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Old 11-20-2015, 07:18 AM   #3
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It's an AS Knockoff built in the early 1940's. I don't have a clue what the current thickness is.
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Old 11-20-2015, 07:47 AM   #4
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Old 11-20-2015, 12:49 PM   #5
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Is there any reason not to use a thinner sheet? I'm only using it to cover very small holes and damage?
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Old 11-20-2015, 02:13 PM   #6
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Whether you want the patch to be purely aesthetic, or structural, I would suggest thicker (.032) is better. From the aesthetic point of view, if you use something very thin, it is more prone to rippling/deformation just from the process of riveting it in place. From a structural point of view, If you expect your patch to transfer the shear loads being experienced by the rest of the shell, then you should make it of the same material.
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Old 11-20-2015, 02:37 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Belegedhel View Post
Whether you want the patch to be purely aesthetic, or structural, I would suggest thicker (.032) is better. From the aesthetic point of view, if you use something very thin, it is more prone to rippling/deformation just from the process of riveting it in place. From a structural point of view, If you expect your patch to transfer the shear loads being experienced by the rest of the shell, then you should make it of the same material.
Thanks for the explanation. I never thought of those points.
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