Steel for Car Bodywork

[GeorgeB]

Call Mark or Matt for all your metal needs.

I just visited their site because I'm sometimes in the Southampton area. But the first thing I read on their site was:

"At Metalmart you won't find massive bits of machinery, usually driven by men with hairy arms and tattoos, lugging huge rolls of steel, aluminium and copper to be made into washing machines, body panels, toasters and kettles."

I don't need huge rolls by I am interested in 0.8mm-1mm thick steel sheet for making into body panels - perhaps one or two square meters. Do they supply that type and quantity of steel sheet? Moreover, does anyone know what exactly car bodies are made of? i.e. the precise type of metal - nothing fancy or expensive, just basic steel sheet for car bodies - what's the full title? I became very confused when I looked at the stock listings of some steel suppliers.

 

[Sam]

I just visited their site because I'm sometimes in the Southampton area. But the first thing I read on their site was:

"At Metalmart you won't find massive bits of machinery, usually driven by men with hairy arms and tattoos, lugging huge rolls of steel, aluminium and copper to be made into washing machines, body panels, toasters and kettles."

I don't need huge rolls by I am interested in 0.8mm-1mm thick steel sheet for making into body panels - perhaps one or two square meters. Do they supply that type and quantity of steel sheet? Moreover, does anyone know what exactly car bodies are made of? i.e. the precise type of metal - nothing fancy or expensive, just basic steel sheet for car bodies - what's the full title? I became very confused when I looked at the stock listings of some steel suppliers.

Sounds like you should get someone to do the job for you! No gear and no idea!

 

[9fingers]

I just visited their site because I'm sometimes in the Southampton area. But the first thing I read on their site was:

"At Metalmart you won't find massive bits of machinery, usually driven by men with hairy arms and tattoos, lugging huge rolls of steel, aluminium and copper to be made into washing machines, body panels, toasters and kettles."

I don't need huge rolls by I am interested in 0.8mm-1mm thick steel sheet for making into body panels - perhaps one or two square meters. Do they supply that type and quantity of steel sheet? Moreover, does anyone know what exactly car bodies are made of? i.e. the precise type of metal - nothing fancy or expensive, just basic steel sheet for car bodies - what's the full title? I became very confused when I looked at the stock listings of some steel suppliers.

George,

I can only suggest you give them a call.

I've only been there the once and was buy 4mm sheet and black angle.
The sheet had been precut for me so i did not go near the sheet metal racks.

They are very approachable and Mark has been in the business a good few years as he used to run the Metal Supermarket franchise in Southampton before starting this business up on his own.
Good Luck

Bob

 

[malcolm]

Sounds like you should get someone to do the job for you! No gear and no idea!

Alternatively try to find some friendly welding forum and ask the question.

Know what you mean about descriptions. I was on the internet the other day comparing prices and the categories were confusing.

Older cars are made from cold rolled mild steel.

I prefer to use zintec coated cold rolled mild steel sheet because I can leave it for months and it doesn't rust. Thickness varies. 0.8-1mm tends to be used on non-structural bodywork, 1.2mm -1.5mm on bits of sill and other structural bits, and more than 1.5mm on chassis bits (cars maybe 2mm, off-roaders often 3mm. I use verniers to judge the thickness and go like for like replacement.

Parkers describe it as Black Carbon Steel Sheet & Plate | Sheet | Zintec Sheet. I just bought a few sheets from IMS Steel (£20-£30 for a 2m*1m sheet depending on thickness, £20 delivery). But watch out - they get upset when you get their trucks stuck in mud.

I'll have to move a few posts as this thread is intended to list metal suppliers.

 

[BillJ]

Agreed - ask for Zintec and you'll get something very suitable for the job that lots of pros seem to use. And you'll sound like you know what you want, which is something that concerns me as a DIYer when ordering metal. Just try to get an idea of what thickness the original panels are made from. In my experience, all panels on a car seem to be the same thickness except possibly for structural members (sills, chassis, subframe, etc), which are often thicker.

0.8-1.0mm seems the normal range although I think I remember Malcolm mentioning that some of the Renaults he has worked on go down to 0.7mm.

As Malcolm says, it's very easy to store. I have had some kicking around my garage for a couple of years now without it starting to rust. Just make sure the edges don't stand in any puddles.

I bought some from Parker's a few months ago but I was buying a load of other stuff so the delivery cost wasn't too bad. It wouldn't have been worth it for one sheet of Zintec.

 

[An-dy]

Does Zintec give off any nasty fumes? I've never used it, but it does seem a good idea, depending on the fumes.

Sorry if that's an old question.

Andy

 

[malcolm]

The zintec coating is quite thin, so fumes aren't so bad. I tend to work in small quantities and don't remove the coating from the steel before welding, though it's probably better to take the coating near the weld off with a flap disc.

 

[piman]

Hello George,

motor factors (not Halfords, they are not a motor factor) also stock steel sheet suitable for car body repair in useable sizes. You also get pre formed sections e.g. angle.

Modern cars are a slightly higher specification than the old mild steel, but exactly what I don't know.

Alec

 

[GeorgeB]

Older cars are made from cold rolled mild steel...I prefer to use zintec coated cold rolled mild steel sheet because I can leave it for months and it doesn't rust.

Many thanks for providing these technical terms and for opening this new thread. I'll check various steel suppliers web sites again now. Is there much of a price premium for Zintec over simple mild steel, do you know? If older cars are made of cold rolled mild steel, what are newer (non-aluminium) cars made of?

If an existing body panel was 0.8mm when it left the factory, it might be down to 0.7mm or less now, due to rust, even if judged sound. Is there any disadvantage in welding a 1mm repair plate to that, subject to achieving a level top surface?

piman - thank you for the motor factors suggestion.

 

[mart]

I can only suggest you give them a call. It is a Lo Call number so won't cost you much.

Bob

Yes i would give them a call like 9fingers says.

However, if the number you are calling is either an 0844, 0845 or an 0870 number then it will cost you at least 4 times more than a standard geographical number.

There is no such thing as a lo call number fingers. That finished many years ago. Most people these days have packages whereby they get free evening & weekend calls or free calls 24/7. Unless you have one of BT`s special packages that include 0845 numbers etc you WILL pay at least 4 times more than you would to a standard geographical number. 0870s are at least 8 times more.

Here is link to get alternative numbers for big companies but you won`t find your doctor`s surgery listed.

http://www.saynoto0870.com/

When on the site click on "find an alternative number"

Sorry to go off topic, but it may save a few guys some £££

 

[9fingers]

What you say may indeed be true and I did not set out to mislead anyone.

I don't have any of the packages mentioned and it is cheaper for me to dial an 0845 number than one at the other end of the country.
I will see If I can edit my original post.

Bob

 

[An-dy]

The zintec coating is quite thin, so fumes aren't so bad. I tend to work in small quantities and don't remove the coating from the steel before welding, though it's probably better to take the coating near the weld off with a flap disc.

Sounds ideal then, I'll give it a try next time I run out.

Thank you

Andy

 

[GeorgeB]

There is no such thing as a lo call number fingers. T

I agree. I will never deal with a firm which uses these rip-off phone numbers. That supplier has now been eliminated from my short list of potential steel suppliers.

 

[mart]

What you say may indeed be true and I did not set out to mislead anyone.

I don't have any of the packages mentioned and it is cheaper for me to dial an 0845 number than one at the other end of the country.
I will see If I can edit my original post.

Bob

Hi Bob.
I know that your only intention was to help the guy, and that you were mistaken-no problem I just wanted to help clarify the error.

Regarding the phone- I think you are still misunderstanding what I am trying to say here.

It is interesting that you say it is cheaper for you to dial an 0845 than a number at the other end of the country. I have to say I have never heard of anything like that for donkeys years. BT used to have tariffs that were called either local ( within a few miles) or national-calling from Yorkshire to London for example. No disrespect, but I would be VERY surprised if it is how you describe, and feel you may be mistaken .

May I ask what phone company you are with Bob?