I want to replace the front and back of a small-ish case and re-drill them for a new project. wxhxd 220x55x5 and 210x45x2 so not large. I've looked at a few sites that offer cut aluminium sheet at reasonable prices but then cane me on delivery. So £15-20 for sheets and slightly more for delivery and at that price I might as well buy a new case from modushop. It'd be useful to have a supplier for these things.
Anyone in the UK have someone they've used before?
Anyone in the UK have someone they've used before?
It's a case of finding one that is local to you. Metal Supermarkets have a number of outlets. Google may bring up something eg Search aluminium or metal supplier followed by your district, county or nearest town etc,
I am doing that, but it's tedious work and it often means supply CC or paypal details before I can find out the overall bill. On most sites I have to input an order and start checkout before I can get a delivery quote others say they support cut to size, but often that means cut to fixed sizes.
It's not so much the aluminium itself, I have suppliers of sheet and bar at standard sizes. Getting it cut to the size is what I want. I don't have much other than a hacksaw/jigsaw and I like square edges and something that's got a proper finish that befits my latest DIY masterpiece. I suppose I could get a chopsaw it might have a range of cut that'll cover the sizes I require. But that seems like overkill to me. Perhaps I'll just grit my teeth and pay the delivery price...
Maybe I'm lucky. B'ham there are a few around. One cash or account the other metal supermarket card from memory. There needs to be businesses around that do not want to hold stock and just buy what they need at the correct sizes.
Try this one and phone to check you can collect. I set the sizes I want when I visit.
https://www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk/store-locator/
Same with the other one. The other one may moan about that, suggest phone in the order but I don't buy that often.
Try this one and phone to check you can collect. I set the sizes I want when I visit.
https://www.metalsupermarkets.co.uk/store-locator/
Same with the other one. The other one may moan about that, suggest phone in the order but I don't buy that often.
Thanks for the link. Unfortunately it's about 2h each way in the car and delivery is ouch....
It's just frustrating. I don't have a use for the case with the holes it has, could reuse some of it if I can replace the front plate. Going to try a few local places that do metalwork and see if they'll cut the sheet for me if I bring it in. Even at £2 per cut it would work out quite well.
It's just frustrating. I don't have a use for the case with the holes it has, could reuse some of it if I can replace the front plate. Going to try a few local places that do metalwork and see if they'll cut the sheet for me if I bring it in. Even at £2 per cut it would work out quite well.
Something like that's often pure aluminium, soft and claggy, horrible to work with, very easy to scratch. For drilling and machining a decent alloy is needed, and anodized is great to have too (won't wear out from finger touches).
Although it looks like I've never ordered from them myself, my list of bookmarks contains https://www.aluminium-online.co.uk/ who might have cheaper shipping.
Unless I've missed it, you haven't indicated where in the UK you are (except 2hr radius from Birmingham) so difficult to suggest somewhere local.
But yes, post #7 is the right idea.
The sort of job where Cash might be King.
But yes, post #7 is the right idea.
The sort of job where Cash might be King.
Aluminium online has been my choice. I needed 8 pieces cut to the same size and they were exactly alike.