Aluminum skin material?

[Rescue6]

Just about finished with my frame and suspension. What thickness of Aluminum have you guys had luck with. I’d like to keep it fairly thin but don’t want it to fend and ding too easily. It isn’t structural at all. It will be just to skin the walls, floor and roof of the box itself. I was thinking possibly.063 might be enough but wasn’t sure if .080 would be better. I’m scared to go as thin as .040 unless it’s show it was ok in the past. I haven’t worked with aluminum much.
thanks

 

[high-and-dry]

When going over plywood the normal on tnttt is .040.

 

[Teardropper]

It will be just to skin the walls, floor and roof of the box itself.

As high-and-dry said, .040 will be fine.

Tony

 

[Rescue6]

As high-and-dry said, .040 will be fine.

Tony

He mentioned it would be fine over plywood though. I will not have wood at all. Just the steel frame of the box.

 

[john61ct]

Luan below 1/4" will provide a lot of support save tons of money on expensive thick aluminium sheeting.

Even better to use foam insulation.

Basically DIY composite panels

 

[plh]

0.04"

 

[Teardropper]

I will not have wood at all. Just the steel frame of the box.

You need something thicker then. I'm not sure .063 will do it. Will something be banging around inside?

T

 

[Jonnyo]

You need something thicker then. I'm not sure .063 will do it. Will something be banging around inside?

T

if the skin is not structural, then 0.04 is plenty. The reality is what ever tickness you go...if you hit it... it will dent and ding. that is the nature of aluminum.

I build lots of tube frame structure for camper, teardrop and using VHB tabe to glue the skin to the tubing, 0.04 is plenty. But like other mention, i recommend glying foamboard to the other side to increase rigidity of the panels.

 

[ITTOG]

if the skin is not structural, then 0.04 is plenty. The reality is what ever tickness you go...if you hit it... it will dent and ding. that is the nature of aluminum.

I build lots of tube frame structure for camper, teardrop and using VHB tabe to glue the skin to the tubing, 0.04 is plenty. But like other mention, i recommend glying foamboard to the other side to increase rigidity of the panels.

What VHB tape do you use? Also, when you add the foamboard are you doing after you already attached the skin to the frame?

 

[billiebob]

My commercial cargo trailer is the .04 skin on 1x1 steel tube, 24" oc and 12 years later it is fine.

 

[Jonnyo]

there are a lot of option depending on your exact frame material is but something like 3M 4950 might be a good choice, it s so strong that you only have 1 shot at positionning the sheet...after that, it s bond for life and removing it mean destroying the sheet.

then, you can add insulation after. glue it to the aluminum sheet on the inside between ribs. use the ribs to make the foam fit very tight. all this help keep the aluminum outside from waving. And the vhb tape is great to give some movement when the aluminum contract or expand from the heat

 

[FosterWV]

I went 3/16 LoL

 

[Rescue6]

I went 3/16 LoL
View attachment 646029

I can’t imagine what that cost. I’m getting quotes of $200 per sheet for .080

 

[Jonnyo]

I can’t imagine what that cost. I’m getting quotes of $200 per sheet for .080

that is expensive, here in canada i use a aluminum distributor and pricing in CDN$

.040 4x8 58$
.08 4x8 105$
.125 4x8 150$

perhaps aluminum is cheaper here tho?!

 

[FosterWV]

I can’t imagine what that cost. I’m getting quotes of $200 per sheet for .080

$300 for a 4’x12’ sheet we used two sheets. Cut the panels, doors, lights etc on a friends water jet.