Obtaining sheet metal...the hard way

[jclary]

Our microwave oven just died. We bought it in 1996. So, I'm off to buy another one. However, I now know what to do with the sheet metal case. I think it will work just fine for patch panels in the old truck I'm working on. Maybe a little revenge for all the old cars melted down and made into microwave sheet metal. Just wondering what any of you have used (besides old road signs) as creative resources to replace some of the unobtainium in your rides.

John Clary
Greer, SC

Life... is what happens as you are making plans.
SDC member since 1975

[warrlaw1]

Pop cans and rad hose clamps to fix exhaust pipes.

[Milaca]

Nothing unusual, just recycled car roofs and hoods. The nice thing about used steel is that it comes pre-painted! [8D] The bad thing about used steel is that it comes pre-painted. Makes for a lot of smoke when welding.


SnowLark
In the middle of Minnestudea

[Tom Bredehoft]

I've seen aluminum license plates used to patch floors, won't rust out. I have bent conduit to make wheel cut out edges, too.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
....On the road, again....
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[JBOYLE]

quote:Originally posted by Tom B
I have bent conduit to make wheel cut out edges, too.

I've seen a photo of George Barris using the stuff to make fender flares, back in the old days.

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[benaslopoke]

A round track racer buddie of mine always used metal coat hangers and a can of flux for welding up the body on his 49 Olds.. You had to watch out when the hot bubbles popped all over the place..

Ben

[Mike]

I used the brass name plate from my last "employment" to patch a crack in the coolant recovery tank on my Avanti. It worked great!
Mike M.

[hopsBB]

I've personally used the good'ol road sign.Plus the sheet metal from an old oil furnace and washers/dryers work good too.Mostly for floors though.

[Chris_Dresbach]

I know somebody who used old computer casings on a '54 truck. Hey, whatever works![][8D]

Chris Dresbach

[Invalid User Name]

I had a friend that used a GM hood to rebuild the back end of his 34 Ford 2 door sedan. He left the center ridge in and it came out great. It looked so good that some people thought it was stock.

Doug
Venice, Florida
1950 Champion
9G F1

[Guido]

My father was a real estate broker and ended up with a couple of packs of unused metal signs that measured about 18" x 24" The type that would hang in the metal frames). I used them for everything from replacement floor boards to roasting oysters. Good heavy duty metal and with the lip around the edges, great for the oysters.

Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful" and real Studebaker horsepower lives

See pictures here: http://community.webshots.com/user/GuidoSalvage

Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond, Goochland & Louisa, Va.

[COMMANDERPINK1]

So is this how the term CASO came about[?]

Tom

[bams50]

quote:Originally posted by benaslopoke

A round track racer buddie of mine always used metal coat hangers and a can of flux for welding

I still use them all the time, although I don't use flux, and don't know what I'd need it for. Can't remember if I've ever actually bought "welding rod"- they're all just mild steel.

Robert (Bob) Andrews- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys)
Parish, central NY 13131

GOD BLESS AMERICA

[jclary]

quote:Originally posted by bams50

quote:Originally posted by benaslopoke

A round track racer buddie of mine always used metal coat hangers and a can of flux for welding

I still use them all the time, although I don't use flux, and don't know what I'd need it for. Can't remember if I've ever actually bought "welding rod"- they're all just mild steel.

Robert (Bob) Andrews- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys)
Parish, central NY 13131

GOD BLESS AMERICA

I have been guilty of swerving post off topic but this one could provide a good educational benefit. As a weld is laid, the flux coating of the electrode disintegrates, giving off vapors that serve as a shielding gas protecting the weld area from atmospheric contamination. You can weld without flux. However, molecularly, without the shield from atmosphere provided by the flux gas...contaminants such as moisture and atmospheric oxygen and other gasses can cause a boiling and more porous weld joint resulting in a weaker weld and setting the joint up for accelerated degradation over time. I believe that if quality welds could be made consistently without it...manufacturers would not go through all the expense to use the flux.



John Clary
Greer, SC

Life... is what happens as you are making plans.
SDC member since 1975

[Jeff_H]

In another thread a few weeks back I had some pictures of patching the floors in my brand x with metal from old office cabinet shelves I pulled from a dumpster.

When I was working on my '53 I made a lot of smaller patch panels out of scrapped electronics chassis box covers from the dumpster where I was working at the time. Nice tin/zinc plated 18-20 gauge that would weld great.

Jeff in ND

'53 Champion Hardtop