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Sheet steel types and thicknesses
glencsiro - January 26th, 2010 at 05:09 PM

Afternoon all and a good Australia day to you all.
I was wondering if anyone can pass on any tips to sheet metal types (hot rolled, cold rolled, gal dipped etc...) and thicknesses relevant to Beetles.
So far I've measured just over 1mm and 1.2mm depending where on the car I'm working on.
Now I've managed to do an ok job teaching myself too weld with an Oxy, Arc, Mig and Tig but before I start ordering and adding new sheet into my current project I'd love to get opinions and any professional advice.
I'm still teaching myself English wheel, plainishing hammer and other body work skills but I'd love help from others if they have to time to write and pass on their skills.
Thanks in advance.

Glen


helbus - January 26th, 2010 at 06:04 PM

Cold rolled CA3 is a good material to use in forming panels by hand. 1.0mm uncoated.

The skills only come with time, experience and patience, and after 20 years making car bodies and panels in steel and aluminium, I am still learning.


HappyDaze - January 26th, 2010 at 07:21 PM

Most of the panel steel that you will need will be .9 cold rolled. This can be worked easily, and will not work-harden too much in the wheeling machine. No trouble with welding, shrinking etc. Have fun - I've been working with this stuff for over 50 years now, and still enjoy it!

Cheers, Greg


FROSTY - January 31st, 2010 at 07:47 AM

The other one is zinceneil ( not sure of spelling) it comes in 0.6 0.75 0.9 1.2 mm thickness sheets of 2400x 1200 and costs round $80 and up. It has a zinc coating that won't rust just sitting round, also the zinc is very easy to get off before priming.
Good luck with the repairs


HappyDaze - January 31st, 2010 at 12:24 PM

Zincanneal is hot-dipped, and not suitable for welding. You may be thinking of Zincseal, which is an electo-coated steel, and is much easier to weld - including spot weld.

Cheers, Greg


FROSTY - January 31st, 2010 at 02:19 PM

that must be the one, thanks greg