Thread: I need a couple of bits of sheet

Hi Damian

For such a small amount of sheet required, a visit to the local sheet metal shop would have to be cost effective.
If its for a external radio car radio aerial , I would say, stainless steel around 1mm thick. Given holes in S S steel can be a problem may be get them to drill or punch any holes as well.

For the radio mounted the car aluminium will do and again they sheety can probably just dock the size from some shop off cut.

Look in the yellow pages and call them first for a quote, but do it quick as some will shut down for the break.

Grahame

I'd considered a sheet metal shop. A quick rummage in the bins would sort me out.

Stainless and al don't need paint of course. For aluminium there are places that sell it cut to size for a premium. Hobby shops sell stock for modelling and so forth but at a large premium.

It's just such a small job it's annoying. I was just wondering if I'd not thought of an option. I've some old christmas toffee/buscuit tins I could cut up. The metalwork of course is no problem.

I had considered machining them out of solid bluegum just for fun but the clearances would dictate unfeasibly thin final dimensions. (there you go a woodwork segway..)

Do you have a recycle center close by. Our local one is so popular now that they have put on security staff.
Unfortunately it means overall prices have increased, but as its a self funded charity ,I don't mind so much.

Available items? It depends on the day as its not 7 day per week, but most times you can find what you want.

I take it you have the means(tools) to process you metal into the required shape?
Cheers
Grahame

Yes. I am a metalworker by trade and have a well equiped workshop. That bit is no problem.

I guess i'm just mildly annoyed that despite collecting and storing odd bits of rubbish for the last 30 years I either don't have or can't find the right bit of sheet steel/aluminium for the job.

I have a whopping bit of stainless which I "collected" specifically for jobs like this, about a meter long and 450 wide in a top hat, but it's really too heavy a gauge and will be a bother to form.

I suppose it must be one of murphy's rules that no matter how many odd bits of scrap you possess you'll never have the right one.

Thank you for the suggestions.

Damian,
just pinch a street sign.....no no I didnt say that out loud did I.....
I think a sheetmetal shop scrap, sorry, premium offcuts bin would be your best bet as well.

Phil

Dick Smith used to sell universal brackets a while back, don't see why that would have changed.

You haven't been to dick smith lately ?

They are morphing into a small electrical retailer. Woolworths bought them and tandy, promptly merged them, shut tandy and is busy running down the hobby lines for computers, mobile phones and such. Even so they are losing money and wollworths wants to sell them on.

I think I've found some zinc plated that will do. The boss had some old purlins under the house and I'll cut one up this weekend.

Thank you all for the replies

Have you tried Bunnings? they sell small sheets of aluminium and steel not sure about stainless. Also Direct Steel at Dinmore may be able to help with offcuts they have a fair amount lying around, And if all else fails look up Morgan metal corp at Wacol they will have stainless offcuts, if not cut a piece to size for you at a resonable price.

Brett