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Where to get sheet metal?

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Pieman2004:
I honestly don't think that making it out of metal would take any longer than making it out of wood. I mean you'll have to design it, which might take a little time, but the actual construction time would be similar(IF you have tools to work with the metal). I don't know about the expense though. I haven't bought enough of either material. But I'm sure a sheet of metal isn't much more than a sheet of mdf or plywood, not a noticeable amount of difference anyways.

This completely changes if you do not have tools to work with metal. Then the process would definitely become tedious.

Trimoor:
I've got some carbide whatever tipped metal drill bits, metal sabre saw blades, grinders, and access to welders.

Anything else I would need?

Pieman2004:
It's really hard to say what all you are going to need. It hard to think of, until it comes to the point that you need something. But you might also need some vise grips to hold pieces of metal together while welding.

With a saw, the cuts might not be as clean as you want, but if you are welding those areas it won't matter.

I personally would get angle iron for the frame, but I've never built such a thing so wouldn't know from experience. If you were to build a frame of angle iron, you could then get thin metal to skin it with.

Just ideas I thought I'd throw out there. As I thought about how I'd build such a thing. I was thinking I would weld up an angle iron frame. Then I would attach the metal "skin" with pop rivets(I thought the look might be neat). I haven't thought very far ahead though as this would mean I would have sharp edges on my cab.(with a 1-year old that wouldn't work out).

Thats another thing to watch for: Sharp Edges
Sheet metal can cut you pretty bad, pretty easily.

But I am rambling.
I hope there was something useful in this post

daywane:
electric sheers!
 I use them often, and a file to smooth the edge.
Thats what I used at Toyota Tshoue. motor plant.
I was lucky enough to take a bunch of there scrap home (long before I even heard of mame)
I make my CP's out of metal.

as far as being heavy? ::)
you would cut the weight down a LOT going with steel sheets. A 4 x 8 sheet of ply wood is heavy. A steel lap at 3 ft x 10 ft (folded the 10 ft to 5 ft ) I picked up with one hand.

as far as welder I would use a mig.
Open torch can warp the lap quick.

I suck with a stick weld unless I am welding very thick metal

I am also self taught. but I was able to put bread and butter on the table , welding for 2 years. :D

spidermonkey:
Trimoor, soldering and welding are two *entirely* different processes. You need to decide what type and what thickness metal you're going to use and that will dictate what type of welder you'll need. Also you have to decide wether you're going to make a frame out of angle or channel iron first and then use peices of sheet metal to create a skin or actually make the cabinet panels out of heavier mild plate steel and weld them together to create the structure. If you plan on working with sheet metal then you'll need either a "MIG" or "TIG" welder. If you go with heavier plate steel then you can use a regular stick welder. You have to know what type of welding rods or wire to use. You have to know how much amperage to use for different thicknesses of metal. You may even have to do some bodywork to the cabinet after all the welding and grinding is done because heat causes metal to distort/warp. I took two years of welding school and have been welding on the weekends for seventeen years and I wouldn't even consider doing this. The cab would weigh a ton even before you add all the componants inside. The idea sounds cool and different but from a realistic or practical standpoint its just absolute overkill. Aluminum would be lighter but its *very* expensive and also *very* difficult and tricky to weld. Aluminum has no iron in it so it doesn't turn orange when it gets hot. It just gets a little bit of a wet look and all the sudden if you're not an experianced tig welder you will blow right through it and the two edges you're trying to weld just melt and dissappear. I don't mean to discourage you but unless you are an experianced welder/fabricator and have all the needed equipment you may be biting off more then you can chew. However, if you decide to take it on and have questions about welding please post them and I'm sure all of us will try to help. :)

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