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? for custom box builders

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:31 pm
by 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

Re: ? for custom box builders

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 4:03 pm
by 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.

Re: ? for custom box builders

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:26 pm
by bandit 1107
Mikes Hero wrote: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

Re: ? for custom box builders

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 10:46 pm
by 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.

Re: ? for custom box builders

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 3:20 pm
by 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.