18 replies to this topic

[robtheplod]

.... is it 1mm, 1.2mm etc?? keen to practice on metal of similar thickness so i don't destroy the car once i turn my attentions to it

Also, is the metal a different thickness in say the boot floor etc??

Edited by robtheplod, 08 February 2009 - 05:36 PM.

[Ethel]

I'll guess it's mostly 22swg ('bout 3/4mm) but will obviously vary where it's been stretched in the press.

[robtheplod]

I'll guess it's mostly 22swg ('bout 3/4mm) but will obviously vary where it's been stretched in the press.

what would that be in mm ??

[robtheplod]

I'll guess it's mostly 22swg ('bout 3/4mm) but will obviously vary where it's been stretched in the press.

what would that be in mm ??

sorry read that again - 3/4 mm !!!! (dough!)

[james105]

I wouldn't say the body panels were anywhere near 3/4mm, 1.2-1.5mm at a guess.

[Burnard]

less than 1mm. ive been practiceing on 1mm, and its definatly thicker than the cars metal.
0.75mm soungs about right to me, could be 0.8mm, ill mesure it now...


*runs to garrage*


0.79mm exactly probably ment to be 0.8mm


Chris

[RacingGreen]

I wouldn't say the body panels were anywhere near 3/4mm, 1.2-1.5mm at a guess.

He didnt say 3-4mm, he said 3 quarters of 1mm. if the whole car was made out of 3mm steel then it wouldnt move

[tommy13]

Always used 20swg (.914 mm) it's a thickness commonly held by factors, is roughly same thickness as many of the panels on the mini, although they do vary a lot. It is not too thick to bend and shape easily and isn't so thin the mig blows holes in it easily.

[midridge2]

as said by ethel, the average factory panel is 20-22 swg.

[james105]

I wouldn't say the body panels were anywhere near 3/4mm, 1.2-1.5mm at a guess.

He didnt say 3-4mm, he said 3 quarters of 1mm. if the whole car was made out of 3mm steel then it wouldnt move

That would make more sense! My bad! Read it wrong!haha! FAIL!lol

[robtheplod]

so if I go for 0.8mm I should be fairly close to a typical panel thickness?

keen to practice welding on metal that is close to the original so I don't blow holes everywhere!!

thanks for all your replies!

rob

[robtheplod]

Assuming this steel plate is solid (picture not clear!), would this suffice to use for plating??

http://www.diy.com/d...?...mp;x=24&y=6

[Guess-Works.com]

You'd be better going down the local dump and ripping the side of a fridge...

to be honest, if you're patching something, generally the most economical way to do it is to buy a repair panel... the majority of the panel will then be already shaped to your need, and if there's any you don't need then you have some spare metal for other bits...

[daemonchild]

I wouldn't say the body panels were anywhere near 3/4mm, 1.2-1.5mm at a guess.

He didnt say 3-4mm, he said 3 quarters of 1mm. if the whole car was made out of 3mm steel then it wouldnt move

Bullet proof!

[daemonchild]

You'd be better going down the local dump and ripping the side of a fridge...

to be honest, if you're patching something, generally the most economical way to do it is to buy a repair panel... the majority of the panel will then be already shaped to your need, and if there's any you don't need then you have some spare metal for other bits...

That's pretty much what I'm planning to do.
Going to go to scrappy and pick up a few crappy panels for next to nothing.
But, then when I have a good weld going, I'm going to do the rear valance and then an a-panel. (10 and 5 each!)