Stainless steel body work, practical?

[eSteve]

Morning,

whilest at the Exeter show I saw some cars finished in polished stainless stell.

I was wondering on the practicality of using stainless for the side panels, rear tub and bonnet.

I am wonder the following:

1. Cost, presumably stainless steel is going to be pretty expensive.

2. Does one have to spent a significant amount of time a) polishing it in the first palce and b) keeping it nica and polished.

3. Workability, is working with the stainless steel going to be too difficult, i.e forming nice sharp bends and forming the material aroung the rear tub rails.

I think, yes it would be far too expensive, it would need too much looking after and it would be a pain in the arse to work with.

What are other peoples views, anyone considered it? Has anyone got a Haynes Roadster with stainless bodywork?

[Enoch]

My Robin Hood was nearly all stainless, it's a pig to work with and very heavy compared to ally or fibre glass. It does keep it's shine ok but is very springy so hard to bend in to shape and work with. Personally I would not go that route, mainly because of the weight. The cost is certainly another issue.
Just my 2p worth.
Enoch.

[trickydicky0_16]

Stainless costs about £90-120 for a 2m x 1m sheet 1.2mm thick personally i would'nt do it. finger marks would be a big problem plus weight and workability

regards

[mr henderson]

Robin Hood stainless is about .7mm thick. Still pigging hard to bend into a decent folded edge. I did some RH bodywork and I'm not going to do any more!

[Talonmotorsport]

As a former sheet metal worker I hate the stuff! It's hard to cut with blades that have teeth, if you cut it with a grinder you get burn marks along the cut line and if you use a nibbler it gets a puckered edge. Unless you have a 8ft guillotine , 8ft 20ton brake press and a 24 inch throat notcher I'd say avoid it and go for either ali or steel. It looks nice but is it worth the time , money and agro probably not.

[eSteve]

Thanks for your opinions and experiences chaps.

It pretty well backs-up my thoughts, i.e. it's a bit of a no-go for a self-build.

Shame really, as some of the sevenesque cars at Exeter with stainless steel bonnet, scuttle and side panels looked really smart.

I'll stop dreaming then and stick with the ali.

[georgenewman1]

Originally Posted by eSteve

Morning,

whilest at the Exeter show I saw some cars finished in polished stainless stell.

I was wondering on the practicality of using stainless for the side panels, rear tub and bonnet.

I am wonder the following:

1. Cost, presumably stainless steel is going to be pretty expensive.

2. Does one have to spent a significant amount of time a) polishing it in the first palce and b) keeping it nica and polished.

3. Workability, is working with the stainless steel going to be too difficult, i.e forming nice sharp bends and forming the material aroung the rear tub rails.

I think, yes it would be far too expensive, it would need too much looking after and it would be a pain in the arse to work with.

What are other peoples views, anyone considered it? Has anyone got a Haynes Roadster with stainless bodywork?

i agree with you