Aluminum needed

I am building a Classic ship that has an aluminum wing mounted gear.
Plans are in French, but looks like 3/32. The gears are straight and are duplicates of the rib in front of the full depth spar. The other side of the rib is reinforced with a full 1/8th ply rib doubler.
Now the question: sources for the sheet aluminum that will be suitable for this. (??)
No one around here carries aluminum sheet.
Thanks!
Bill

Bill - one of our clubmembers is with the DOT. He brought out some scrapped road signs. They're about 3/32 thick aluminum and quite tough. You can cut it with a band saw and shape it as you need. The highway dept usually just throws them out.
Bob Z

>Bill - one of our clubmembers is with the DOT. He brought
>out some scrapped road signs. They're about 3/32 thick
>aluminum and quite tough. You can cut it with a band saw and
>shape it as you need. The highway dept usually just throws
>them out.

Road sign aluminum is ideal for many purposes. I don't know what grade it is, but it seems much tougher than 6061. I can't imagine why they would use anything so expensive, but i would guess 2024. It makes good langing gear, engine mount pads, etc.

Bob, great idea. Not really too hard to get hold of one of those.

BTW: the 098 is a lot cuter than I remembered.
Bill <><

Think Roadsign (CA, at least) is 2024. My Roadster firewall and '55 F100 dash are made of this. (55 MPH) I also cut some L.G. Blanks out of this, works well on the Berkley Minnow, .29 size. It also 'engine turns' nicely with agressive abrasive.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-03 AT 12:57 PM (CST)
 
Just remember to NEVER grind aluminum on a wheel. The wheel picks up particles of material and causes the wheel to explode. Always check to make sure the metal you are grinding throws a spark or you can get hurt.

I never heard of that! why on earth would a non-sparking metal explode the wheel?

It loads the wheel up if it is soft--then the heat generated can cause the wheel to fail. The sparking is just a good indication that the wheel is shedding the grounds.

Talkin' about using official property, I knew this cazy chick in NYC that made a loft bed with those "POLICE LINE _ DO NOT CROSS" wooden boards, in New York they are painted gray with black letters.

I asked her how she managed to carry all that stuff home, without a patrol car seein' it.

She told me "It's easy, if a police car passes by you just drop the board, they won't see anything!"

Disclaimer, you know...

God bless you!

In Christ,

Ion

PS - That was a looong time ago...

Who said the gospel ain't the power of God??

OK, Bill, but if the FBI traces this thread we'll all agree that Brett was the intelectual mentor...

BTW, it ain't that easy to catch me here in Brazil...

God bless you!

In Christ,

MSC and Grainger are two nationwide industrial suppliers that sell small pieces of a variety of metals. 2024, 5083, 6061, etc are all available overnight in most areas in 12x12 pieces and larger.

2024 is pretty expensive stuff.

What isnt good is the aluminum shape and flatbar that you normally can find at chain home repair stores and hardware stores. It is usually dead soft.

FWIW

I have used the aluminum sheet supplied by Sig many many times and also their flat gear blanks. Its very hard and very good for gear. must be heated to bend it or it breaks but it comes with an instruction sheet. You need a propane torch. I have many 60 size fuse gears ive made with it and with only 30 or 33 grams of material it stands up well. Much harder and better than other ready made gear I have tried . Keith Varley

LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-03 AT 02:12 PM (CST)
 
Hi Bill,
You can go to www.mcmaster.com and in the search window type alum sheet and they have it all and in different grades and sizes. check it out. And they will ship to your door.

Here's another place for good quality stuff and excellent customer service:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/Info/OnlineMetals.php

Brett,

I remember when Washington state upgraded to these aluminum road signs. Because we had to upgrade our firepower. The 22s and even shotguns loaded for upland birds just didn't deliver much satisfaction.

But big-bore long guns just don't seem to care what the material is.

So outfitted, one can then graduate to shooting now-obsolete--gotta love those new federal regs--camper-type propane tanks. Which have been tossed into a small fire.

By the way, when are you coming up for a visit? We've got more propane tanks, a couple dozen bowling balls, Gray-out Davis effigy, Howard Dean signature-model rebel flag, Dixie Chicks CDs, all sorts of cool stuff to shoot at.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-03 AT 04:34 PM (CST)
 
>Brett,
>
>I remember when Washington state upgraded to these aluminum
>road signs. Because we had to upgrade our firepower. The 22s
>and even shotguns loaded for upland birds just didn't
>deliver much satisfaction.
>
>But big-bore long guns just don't seem to care what the
>material is.
>
>So outfitted, one can then graduate to shooting
>now-obsolete--gotta love those new federal regs--camper-type
>propane tanks. Which have been tossed into a small fire.
>
>By the way, when are you coming up for a visit? We've got
>more propane tanks, a couple dozen bowling balls, Gray-out
>Davis effigy, Howard Dean signature-model rebel flag, Dixie
>Chicks CDs, all sorts of cool stuff to shoot at.
>
>Dan Rutherford
dba D&B Import/Export, Inc.
4705 237th Place SE
Bothell, WA 98021-9032

425.481.5760, evenings only, please.

You guys should check with the local authorities and "federal regs" first to see if it's OK to make bombs. "Washington"..."deliver much satisfaction" using "camper-type propane tanks" and "bowling balls" for "Dixie" and the "Rebel Flag". (smiles)

Broken Wings

I found a local sign manufacturer and offered to buy some offcuts from him.

Advantages are; thinner strips—easier to handle through a band saw, straight, no paint to remove, and still free.

Oh! and no bullet holes to have to cut around and no mounting holes for that matter.

Cheers Geoff

DD, I know how much you love these little guys

I thought shootin' road signs was a Brazilian hobby....

God bless you!

In Christ,

Ion

It seems universal. Where there are guns, there are road signs with holes. Even in Oz where all guns must be licensed.

Cheers Geoff

BTW, I think we need a smiley with horns, a beard and a very big grin, just for Dan.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-03 AT 06:09 PM (CST)
 
>Ion
>
>It seems universal. Where there are guns, there are road
>signs with holes. Even in Oz where all guns must be
>licensed.
>
>Cheers Geoff
>
>BTW, I think we need a smiley with horns, a beard and a very
>big grin, just for Dan.

Yeah, and from what I heard, when the newest "ban" went into effect, you couldn't buy certain size PVC pipe and end caps etc- it was all sold out...
The "authorities" NEVER learn...