Aluminium sheet

[Jlg]

Is £65 expensive or a decent price for a 2m-1m 2mm sheet of 1050 aluminium

 

[Richard.]

It’s not too bad. Last one I bought was £50 inc vat for 2000x1000x2mm but this was through a company that places regular orders so naturally a bit of a better rate was on the cards. As a one off sheet order for yourself it’s not too bad a price. Shop about a bit you might find a small saving here and there. The big savings are obviously in volume.

 

[Brad93]

Have you tried Aalco?

 

[Jlg]

Have you tried Aalco?

No ill have a look I'd never heard of them

 

[Jlg]

It’s not too bad. Last one I bought was £50 inc vat for 2000x1000x2mm but this was through a company that places regular orders so naturally a bit of a better rate was on the cards. As a one off sheet order for yourself it’s not too bad a price. Shop about a bit you might find a small saving here and there. The big savings are obviously in volume.

I meen 2.5mm thick

 

[Brad93]

2.5mm thick is an odd size mate. You may find it is more expensive as they have to order it in.

I use Aalco. You will need to setup an account though they don't really like trading cash.

 

[Jlg]

2.5mm thick is an odd size mate. You may find it is more expensive as they have to order it in.

I use Aalco. You will need to setup an account though they don't really like trading cash.

I didn't know that I was wanting 3mm but thought 2.5mm would be cheaper

 

[Paul.]

2.5mm thick is an odd size mate. You may find it is more expensive as they have to order it in.

Really, I buy enough of it, its the equivalent of 12swg, very common

 

[Jlg]

Really, I buy enough of it, its the equivalent of 12swg, very common

How much do you pay per sheet

 

[Paul.]

Probably little point in comparing with what I pay as a trade user, but last week a 2m x 1m x 2.5 1050 sheet polycoated one side was £45 ex vat, I don't pay delivery charges from my local supplier,

 

[Jlg]

Probably little point in comparing with what I pay as a trade user, but last week a 2m x 1m x 2.5 1050 sheet polycoated one side was £45 ex vat, I don't pay delivery charges from my local supplier,

Not that much difference if I go see them and buy a couple of sheets I should get the price down

 

[Richard.]

What are you wanting to do with it. You do know 1050 is a workable grade of aluminium. It’s cosmetically pure. While this is a major advantage when it comes to bending/forming/rolling etc in its cold state, it lacks the strength of an alloyed grade so be sure your application is suitable.
It’s lovely for panel work, tanks, shielding, and anything where you don’t need to be applying stresses to it or where you can form it to add rigidity into the design. I wouldn’t be applying it to things where it needs to support load or take any particular forces. It’s one of the most notorious grades of aluminium for suffering with creep
I use it in 2mm because it’s thin enough to be workable with my tools but thick enough to have some rigidity in a fabrication. In 3mm your going to have to put in more force by a lot to be able to work it and it will take less working before it cracks. So bear that in mind.
If your going to fold it always try to fold against the grain.

 

[Jlg]

What are you wanting to do with it. You do know 1050 is a workable grade of aluminium. It’s cosmetically pure. While this is a major advantage when it comes to bending/forming/rolling etc in its cold state, it lacks the strength of an alloyed grade so be sure your application is suitable.
It’s lovely for panel work, tanks, shielding, and anything where you don’t need to be applying stresses to it or where you can form it to add rigidity into the design. I wouldn’t be applying it to things where it needs to support load or take any particular forces. It’s one of the most notorious grades of aluminium for suffering with creep
I use it in 2mm because it’s thin enough to be workable with my tools but thick enough to have some rigidity in a fabrication. In 3mm your going to have to put in more force by a lot to be able to work it and it will take less working before it cracks. So bear that in mind.
If your going to fold it always try to fold against the grain.

Im going to be making a spacer for my outbord and have a go at a little fuel tank I'm looking at 1050 because it's all my local place sells in sheets

 

[Richard.]

Im going to be making a spacer for my outbord and have a go at a little fuel tank I'm looking at 1050 because it's all my local place sells in sheets

Don’t buy a grade of aluminium based on that’s all they stock. If you put 1050 into the wrong application it’s not gonna end well. Tanks it’s ideal for because you can take welds out and replace them with folds. spacers are usually better off with something harder or tougher as they are under compression usually. 1050 will squash and compress quite easily as it’s very soft.
Remember if your welding a 1*** material you want a 1*** grade filler.
Hotrodder was our aluminium guru on here but sadly not with us any more. He would be able to tell you exactly Everything you need to know about any grade of aluminium. There is so much involved with alu and I’m not great on the topic from a metallurgical POV.
My advice is do some research on the grades and select the right one for the job not based on what is in stock because they are far from equal

 

[Jlg]

Don’t buy a grade of aluminium based on that’s all they stock. If you put 1050 into the wrong application it’s not gonna end well. Tanks it’s ideal for because you can take welds out and replace them with folds. spacers are usually better off with something harder or tougher as they are under compression usually. 1050 will squash and compress quite easily as it’s very soft.
Remember if your welding a 1*** material you want a 1*** grade filler.
Hotrodder was our aluminium guru on here but sadly not with us any more. He would be able to tell you exactly Everything you need to know about any grade of aluminium. There is so much involved with alu and I’m not great on the topic from a metallurgical POV.
My advice is do some research on the grades and select the right one for the job not based on what is in stock because they are far from equal

Would something like 5754 tred plate be better for the spacers

 

[Richard.]

Would something like 5754 tred plate be better for the spacers

I don’t know because I don’t know what the spacers do or what they are going on. When ever I’ve made spacers for things it’s always been steel or stainless

 

[addjunkie]

Is the spacer to go down the transom of the boat, where the motor clamps or bolts on? If it is Id be using a bit of stainless.

 

[Brad93]

Really, I buy enough of it, its the equivalent of 12swg, very common

Old money to me mate

10SWG translates to roughly 3mm that’s all I know.

Now if you said 3/32” well that’s 2.4mm

 

[Brad93]

Old money to me mate

10SWG translates to roughly 3mm that’s all I know.

Now if you said 3/32” well that’s 2.4mm

So it is, lots of sizes available actually.
This is from the Aalco stock list handbook.

 

[Richard.]

Swg. Standard wire gage.
12 gage is actually just under. 2.7mm