Aluminium(Thats Alooooominum MC)

[ayjay]

I intend to make the rear tub ,bonnet and side panels out of aluminium and laquer it to keep the finish. If anyone has any experience of this could you please advise me what to ask for in the local stockholders. there seem to be so many variations in quality ,thickness etc .Also what size sheet do I need please.Any help here greatly appreciated.

[Jimmyd]

Hi,

I believe it's 1050 H14 x 1.2mm you are after. That's what I used anyway and I was found it quite easy to work with, even for a numpy like me. You will need at least three sheets of 2500x1550x1.2mm

J

[ayjay]

Thanks for that .Its always a bit awkward when they start firing numbers at you when you ask for something in these places

[flyerncle]

You may well find you need to use an adhesion promoter like plastic primer for car paint to get laquer to stick to it.

[ayjay]

Thanks .Yep I'd imagined I would have to do something with it. I'm hoping it will keep the shine and stop it oxidising(or whatever makes it go dull)

[minicountryman1961]

Originally Posted by ayjay

Thanks .Yep I'd imagined I would have to do something with it. I'm hoping it will keep the shine and stop it oxidising(or whatever makes it go dull)

the oxidizing gives it a patina that makes it look like a classic!

[ayjay]

I'd end up polishing it every weekend

[CTWV50]

ATM sheet steel seems about as expensive as aluminium if not more expensive. Wierd!

[Wynand]

Originally Posted by ayjay

I intend to make the rear tub ,bonnet and side panels out of aluminium and laquer it to keep the finish.

For what its worth...
I used 1.2mm brushed aluminum for sides and rear tub. It looks fantastic and to keep the appearances up and to prevent dust settling in the "brushed" grooves, I sprayed the rear tub with 2 pack clear coat. Looked even more fabulous with the sheen over the brushed surface, but when I pulled off a piece of masking tape, the clear coat came off
I pulled this off in a big plastic sheet...

I did clean the surface with thinners before I applied the clearcoat. Perhaps I missed something or clearcoat have different adhesive properties than 2 pack paints since a lot of guys paint the panels

[rally205]

Lacquer will not adhere to aluminium on it's own. You need to use an etch primer to bite into the surface. It is possible to get a clear etch primer which can then be lacquered.