Alternative metal sources?

Lucz Cromer · Post by **Lucz Cromer** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:42 pm

I don't really have the money to buy sheet metal from a supplier. So I was wondering if anybody had any other ideas where I could find suitable metal for a pair of guants. I have access to several old vehicles, some old farm equipment, and just pretty much alot of old irrigation equipment(diff. ga.s of aluminum).

Has anybody ever used anything off of this kind of stuff to make things with or is it all to thin. I don't have a micrometer so I don't know the exact guages or anything.

I'm pretty sure I have most of the hammers I would need and I have rivets. If push came to shove I can also get an Arc welder set up.(all I need is a new outlet)

Mike F · Post by **Mike F** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:09 pm

Too thin on the cars. The farm equipment may or may not be too thin. Bear in mind, the difference between 18 and 14 gauge (easy and awful to move, respectively) is only .025 of an inch.

Once I get the steel order I have squared away (I should have the steel by the end of the week) maybe I can work something out with you. We'll see.

Thomas Powers · Post by **Thomas Powers** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:24 pm

I used to get 16, 14, 12 ga scrap from an ornamental iron shop that didn't want to store it between orders that used sheet metal. They would give it to me free and in sizes that would do legs as well as gauntlets..

Thomas

Ceramite · Post by **Ceramite** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 9:18 pm

To learn simple cutting and dishing techniques would air duct scrap be worth the bother?

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:29 am

AS, it's actually easier to dish heavier-gauge metal than light -- less chance of ripping a hole right through it as you hammer.

However, if you adopt a raising method exclusively -- not pounding the metal into a dish in a stump but either hammering it down over a curved stake like a ball stake or mushroom stake, or by using the soft-hammer/hard-anvil face method, you have a pretty good chance of having your light metal work well. It's still going to be galvanized duct sheet metal when you're done, but you'll learn a lot and produce something that will work for you while you hunt up some cold-rolled or hot-rolled metal for scrap prices or salvage.