Dashboard

[Ollie1]

Hi, has anyone ever made a dashboard out of tread plate aluminum? I want to do one for my mini and have a rally interior. Is there anything I should look out for when working with it?

Thanks a lot, Ollie.

 

[Tupers]

I'm sure there's at least one tread plate alloy dash in this thread, it could also provide some worthwhile inspiration.

 

[Ollie1]

I,ve searched all over... Still no luck.

 

[pedrobedro]

Google diamond plate or checker plate and you should get a few hits.

 

[Ollie1]

Cheers, what thickness do you think would be best? I am thinking 1mm-1.5mm.

Ollie.

 

[Paul.]

The thinnest aluminium 5 bar treadplate available is 2mm, you can get stucco pattern and rigidised in lighter gauges 0.5 to 1.2, but I doubt you would want that for a dash panel
Off cuts from local fabricator is your best bet

 

[Ollie1]

Great, I'll try and find one to visit over the weekend.

 

[langy]

Rally cars don't use tread plate for dash's

 

[Ollie1]

I know but this will be a rally one so I think it would be good.

 

[brightspark]

there suposed to be aluminium engine turned put chequer plate on mind and u can get your feet up

 

[gavuk]

would that not still class as a modification for insurance purposes ?..my insurer asked about all modifications, even foglights etc

 

[hotrodder]

One problem with treadplate is the raised pattern interfering with the mounting of clocks and the like. 2mm 5 bar treadplate is around 3.5 - 4mm thick measured at the 'treads' and while that's not a problem for switches (with some careful layout) it'll make mounting the gauges neatly difficult to impossible. Another thing to bear in mind is that (with the thinner stuff at least) the treads sorta show on the back of the sheet i.e. backside is not perfectly smooth and cut edges have a 'wavyness' to them.

Every chequerplate dash i've seen has looked like a cheap, homemade mess because of this i.e. clocks look half fitted as there are gaps between the bezel and mounting surface due to the treads and edges typically look unfinished. Granted all the ones i've seen were a cheap homemade jobby that'd slice your hands to ribbons given half a chance but personally i just don't think they work and, as said, not a material that was used for rally cars.
Engine turned/circle polished will be easier to work with (more commonly found in stainless though). Typically works best when just used as an inlay or as trim though IMO, for larger sections especially if there's much shape/several pieces i think a brushed finish is better looking

 

[langy]

Spot on Hotrodder, If you want something different go to B&Q and get some textured ally, they usually have a selection.

This has a nice pattern

One problem with treadplate is the raised pattern interfering with the mounting of clocks and the like. 2mm 5 bar treadplate is around 3.5 - 4mm thick measured at the 'treads' and while that's not a problem for switches (with some careful layout) it'll make mounting the gauges neatly difficult to impossible. Another thing to bear in mind is that (with the thinner stuff at least) the treads sorta show on the back of the sheet i.e. backside is not perfectly smooth and cut edges have a 'wavyness' to them.

Every chequerplate dash i've seen has looked like a cheap, homemade mess because of this i.e. clocks look half fitted as there are gaps between the bezel and mounting surface due to the treads and edges typically look unfinished. Granted all the ones i've seen were a cheap homemade jobby that'd slice your hands to ribbons given half a chance but personally i just don't think they work and, as said, not a material that was used for rally cars.
Engine turned/circle polished will be easier to work with (more commonly found in stainless though). Typically works best when just used as an inlay or as trim though IMO, for larger sections especially if there's much shape/several pieces i think a brushed finish is better looking

 

[Ollie1]

Ok thanks for that, I see now what you mean. Shame because I really like the look of it. That textured alloy looks nice though, I'll have a look for some.

Ollie.

 

[Balders]

If you want something different go to B&Q and get some textured ally, they usually have a selection.

You'll have to take out a finance agreement with their prices!

Shame you're not closer as I have loads of chequer plate sitting around doing SFA. Will be using it for a workbench surface later

 

[Ollie1]

What are the people called that sell metal? I cant find any places on goodle .

Ollie.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Steel merchants or steel suppliers Ollie.
There's a list of DIY friendly ones here.

 

[hotrodder]

The link Wozzaaah posted is the best place to start. Pricing and the way DIY types are treated varies quite a bit but... Aluminium stockholders in York. Typically will need to call for prices as they move about with the market i.e. most will calculate prices on at least a monthly basis

As said B&Q are a very expensive source but so are most of the places that deal in offcuts. Some of the patterned stuff available in B&Q is not that easy to find elsewhere i.e. less stockholders carry it. Somewhere like Metals4U is cheaper than B&Q at first glance but need to add VAT and carriage to their prices. Will be loads off stuff on ebay but again carriage will often kill any savings. A full size sheet from a stockholder is typically cheaper than a half (or even 1/4) sheet from the majority of offcut dealers but if you don't have the means of handling/collecting a 2 x 1 metre sheet then looking at delivery or (in most cases) cutting charges...

While B&Q will be one of the priciest sources it will also be the easiest, most convenient and quite possibly the only source that will let you have a butchers at a range of different finishes 'in the flesh'

 

[Ollie1]

Thanks hotrodder, the link may be very useful! I'll try B@Q then if I cant find what I want elsewhere. I only have a Citroen to pick it up with so it can't be too big