? for custom box builders

[lakeviewwalker]

I am new to working with aluminum and am going to atempt to put together a new box. What thickness diamond plate do you recomend? I am going to be using a spool gun to weld seams and I dont want to have a problem with material being to thin. As I said i am new to aluminum welding this will be my first attempt working with diamond plate thanks

[Mikes Hero]

I like to use .100, but I do not seem weld very much of it. I also use a spool gun. They are not the best way to weld aluminum, as it is a very strange metal to weld. If you are going to weld a bunch of it use .125" - better yet, figure out how to have it bent and avoid as many welds as you can. Good Luck.

[bandit 1107]

I like to use .100, but I do not seem weld very much of it. I also use a spool gun. They are not the best way to weld aluminum, as it is a very strange metal to weld. If you are going to weld a bunch of it use .125" - better yet, figure out how to have it bent and avoid as many welds as you can. Good Luck.

i can weld with a spoolgun around 050 an up i use 230 hobart welder for 050 try 3 on heat an 60 on wire speed on 080 an up 4 on power an 55 an up for wire speed 30%on gas 035 wire

[livetohunt]

[quote="Mikes Hero"]I like to use .100, but I do not seem weld very much of it. I also use a spool gun. They are not the best way to weld aluminum, as it is a very strange metal to weld. If you are going to weld a bunch of it use .125" - better yet, figure out how to have it bent and avoid as many welds as you can. Good Luck.[/quote]

As long as you dont get a non bendable alloy of Aluminum it can be bend very easy with a cheap break. Most of the Aluminum diamond plate is bendable just make sure to ask your supplier when you get it.

[brian j cerelli]

if you can find a press brake use 2024 or 5052 alum,anything higher like 6061 or 7075 will break if your bending more then a 60 degree bend.
i make all of mine out of .100 or.125 5052 alum tread plate. should be about $150 for a 4x10 sheet.