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#Post#: 12134--------------------------------------------------
Steel Bodies?
By: TomFDS Date: December 15, 2024, 11:08 am
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I have been investigating how I am going to make the body for my
cart, I have everything I need to be able to make almost any
shape now, apart from some stumps for hollowing and shrinking,
which will require a visit to the log barn and some spare time.
My main question is has anyone made a steel body? I can MIG
braze and weld fine, have had 20 years rusty VW repair
experience to draw on with steel.
I was thinking of 0.8mm mild plate to form my body, particularly
the tricky rear section. Where I am going to need a lot of
wheeling I think 1mm would be better?
Has anyone made a steel body in the club? If so what did you
use?
#Post#: 12140--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steel Bodies?
By: Ade Colmar Date: December 16, 2024, 5:53 am
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In partial answer to your question, I have made an aluminium
body for my previous project, which was a three wheeled
'cyclecar'. I am hoping to use a scaled down version of this
approach to construction for my cyclekart. starting in the New
Year. When riveted and bonded to a steel box frame, it makes a
strong and relatively light structure. This approach was used
in a number of pre-war cars.
I used 1.2mm thick aluminium sheet which is much easier to cut
and bend than 0.8mm steel, and is also a lot lighter. I had
never done any sheet metal work before and I found the
relatively soft 1050 aluminium sheet difficult enough to work
with! The only advantage of steel sheet that I can think of is
that you can weld it, but welding thin sheet onto a heavier
frame is tricky. Heat distortion is a problem too.
#Post#: 12147--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steel Bodies?
By: Glynn Date: December 17, 2024, 12:14 pm
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I use 0.6mm thick galvanised steel for floors and seat pans as I
find it is really easy to cut and fold using basic hand tools.
I have also made the bodywork for my Austin Seven Twincam from
an old tumble dryer. That is 0.5mm steel.
#Post#: 12241--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steel Bodies?
By: carl.kirk Date: January 8, 2025, 5:50 am
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I too have a lot of steel welding and fabrication experience ,
restoring cars. I think the main problem with using steel v
aluminium is the extra weight. In the case of my base car,
riveted panels feature heavily, so my welding skills would be
wasted as the steel would need riveting anyway. The extra cost
of sheet aluminium is yet another advantage to steel but I will
still give Aluminium a go despite my lack of experience
#Post#: 12245--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steel Bodies?
By: uncantim Date: January 8, 2025, 7:10 am
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Hey Tom
I have no experience in metalworking at all but I clad my ERA
with aluminium. It was the first time I had ever done anything
like it and found it dead easy and great fun to work with. It
looks ace as well!!!
#Post#: 12250--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steel Bodies?
By: TomFDS Date: January 8, 2025, 9:06 am
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My concern is making the larger panels, my prototype has quite a
lot of complex curves in places, I might try making a few test
pieces to see how it works out. I need to make the chassis
first!
Thanks for all the input, lots of food for thought.
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