Aluminum Sheets?

Headfi Fanatic · 15th July 2010, 03:57 AM

Does anyone know a cheap place to buy aluminum sheets for a front panel? Anywhere in Chicago?

indianajo · 15th July 2010, 02:11 PM

metal stock mcmaster.com in aurora, oh. They take debit cards and have a great website. Most pro metals suppliers sell 4'x10' sheets minimum, mcmaster goes down to 6"x6".

d to the g · 15th July 2010, 02:18 PM

I always manage to find some on craigslist when I need it. Picked up a 12" by 8' section of 1/4" for $20 which should last me for awhile.

Ed LaFontaine · 15th July 2010, 02:53 PM

Find your local commercial sign maker. They will have all the sheet and angle scrap a boy could want.

Headfi Fanatic · 16th July 2010, 06:52 AM

I only need a 12" by 24" that's 1/16" thick. It also has to be able to bend at 90 degree angles without cracking; malleable that is. Lastly since my chassis is black, a black anodized aluminum sheet metal is preferable. I don't know where to start looking in Chicago lol. I know Chicago has some somewhere (I think), but so far I could only find "industrial" type metal factories, which is huge.

indianajo · 16th July 2010, 09:04 PM

Something that small, call an anodizer shop or water jet cutting place. Take an artwork. They probably already have a sheet, give no discount for supplying your own metal. Some aluminums are quite brittle, I had an ex military sheet of .186" that would break up if you just tried to bend it. One of the above shops may give some free advice on what alloy to buy. Copper and Brass Sales dominates the Louisville aluminum market, I know they operate out of indi, try that name in chicago. Mcmaster's got a document part number 8975KAC you can download on which aluminum they sell is for what. If your order by 1600, mcmaster ships the same day, usually. Stock is shown on the website. $5 minimum freight cleveland-louisville, $10 freight for a 12x36" box (of UHMW sheet I bought with 1200 1" fender washers).

dave_gerecke · 16th July 2010, 10:51 PM

I can't speak as to where to get the material or anodizing in the Chicago area, but if you are looking for a bendable aluminum, you are best to use a 5052 grade, and not the 6061 that is used for machining. I can also say that any anodizing should be done after any holes and bends are done. You may also want to consider alodine instead of anodize. This is a chromate process that adds corrosion resistance, but still allows electrical conductivity.

Peace,

Dave

Ed LaFontaine · 24th July 2010, 09:33 PM

Here's another source to consider:

items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores!

8020 Inc

They offer leftovers of .125 & .25" aluminum stock, along with other interesting widgets

Andrew Eckhardt · 24th July 2010, 10:02 PM

I use onlinemetals.com a lot, for years.

15th July 2010, 03:57 AM	#1
Headfi Fanatic diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago	Aluminum Sheets? Does anyone know a cheap place to buy aluminum sheets for a front panel? Anywhere in Chicago?

15th July 2010, 02:11 PM	#2
indianajo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana USA	metal stock mcmaster.com in aurora, oh. They take debit cards and have a great website. Most pro metals suppliers sell 4'x10' sheets minimum, mcmaster goes down to 6"x6". __________________ Dynakit ST70, ST120, PAS2,Hammond H182(2 ea),H112,A100,10-82TC,Peavey CS800S,SP2-XT's, T-300 HF Projs, Steinway console, Herald RA88a mixer, Wurlitzer 4500

15th July 2010, 02:53 PM	#4
Ed LaFontaine ...truth seeker... diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: where the Appalachians rise from the Blue Grass	Find your local commercial sign maker. They will have all the sheet and angle scrap a boy could want. __________________ ...call me Ed...Special Ed... EnABL kit http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/119852-enabl-kit.html DCB1 parts http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-...ml#post2361098

16th July 2010, 09:04 PM	#6
indianajo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana USA	Something that small, call an anodizer shop or water jet cutting place. Take an artwork. They probably already have a sheet, give no discount for supplying your own metal. Some aluminums are quite brittle, I had an ex military sheet of .186" that would break up if you just tried to bend it. One of the above shops may give some free advice on what alloy to buy. Copper and Brass Sales dominates the Louisville aluminum market, I know they operate out of indi, try that name in chicago. Mcmaster's got a document part number 8975KAC you can download on which aluminum they sell is for what. If your order by 1600, mcmaster ships the same day, usually. Stock is shown on the website. $5 minimum freight cleveland-louisville, $10 freight for a 12x36" box (of UHMW sheet I bought with 1200 1" fender washers). __________________ Dynakit ST70, ST120, PAS2,Hammond H182(2 ea),H112,A100,10-82TC,Peavey CS800S,SP2-XT's, T-300 HF Projs, Steinway console, Herald RA88a mixer, Wurlitzer 4500

24th July 2010, 09:33 PM	#8
Ed LaFontaine ...truth seeker... diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: where the Appalachians rise from the Blue Grass	Here's another source to consider: items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores! 8020 Inc They offer leftovers of .125 & .25" aluminum stock, along with other interesting widgets __________________ ...call me Ed...Special Ed... EnABL kit http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-meet/119852-enabl-kit.html DCB1 parts http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/swap-...ml#post2361098


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15th July 2010, 02:18 PM	#3
d to the g diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: minimalopolis	I always manage to find some on craigslist when I need it. Picked up a 12" by 8' section of 1/4" for $20 which should last me for awhile.

16th July 2010, 06:52 AM	#5
Headfi Fanatic diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago	I only need a 12" by 24" that's 1/16" thick. It also has to be able to bend at 90 degree angles without cracking; malleable that is. Lastly since my chassis is black, a black anodized aluminum sheet metal is preferable. I don't know where to start looking in Chicago lol. I know Chicago has some somewhere (I think), but so far I could only find "industrial" type metal factories, which is huge.

16th July 2010, 10:51 PM	#7
dave_gerecke diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vermont	I can't speak as to where to get the material or anodizing in the Chicago area, but if you are looking for a bendable aluminum, you are best to use a 5052 grade, and not the 6061 that is used for machining. I can also say that any anodizing should be done after any holes and bends are done. You may also want to consider alodine instead of anodize. This is a chromate process that adds corrosion resistance, but still allows electrical conductivity. Peace, Dave

24th July 2010, 10:02 PM	#9
Andrew Eckhardt diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: PA	I use onlinemetals.com a lot, for years.

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