Frame plate?

[Turtlesixfour]

I just hand fab'ed a tank out of .040 perforated aluminum. Trial and error, to say the least! I first tried cutting the metal with my air tool and a cutoff wheel...NO BUENO! Suomi went back to the drawing board, remarked my metal, and cut it with a pair of WISS tin snips. Cuts like butta! You can see what I ended up with in my build thread for #TWENTY2

~Ron

Same here with the cut off wheel. I thought that snips wouldn't work but am trying to "fix" my plate with them now. Seems that there is more control with the snips.

 

[Turtlesixfour]

Mine is 26 gauge sheet metal. Thought about trying the cheap "For Sale" signs form Wally world that are alot thinner.

 

[schwinnless]

I used perforated steel from an old venthood.
Tin snipped out shape, painted it white and trimmed it with car door edge trim.
Made staps out polished alum. floodlight reflector.

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewto ... =6&t=60708

 

[Turtlesixfour]

I used perforated steel from an old venthood.
Tin snipped out shape, painted it white and trimmed it with car door edge trim.
Made staps out polished alum. floodlight reflector.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=60708

Never thought about using car door edge trim. Brilliant!

 

[sirgalahade]

What kind of clamp is used to hold the tank in. I have the templete, and material (Sheet metal from ACE hardware), paint. Just trying to find a way to attach it.

 

[CCR]

last ones i used were 1" pipe hangers from the plumbing department at Home Depot

 

[sirgalahade]

last ones i used were 1" pipe hangers from the plumbing department at Home Depot

Thanks for the info. (Should have thought of that LOL) DUHHH!

 

[schwinnless]

Try hose clamps.
Cut off screw thingy part(what is that called?).
Was gonna try that if i didnt like thin ones.
I made some out of pipe strap, but wasnt shiny enuff 4 me.
Would work if painting tho.

 

[Turtlesixfour]

Progress report! Cut the plate out of sheet metal and did some light sanding on it to help the primer adhere. Thinking about taping off a design or trying to do a fish scale style design on it using overlapping circles. What would one use to do the small circles that overlap?

 

[Ape Stanger]

I cut mine from 3/4" white oak. I used a router to bevel the edges and two Chicago (sex bolts) to pinch the two pieces to the frame.

I could have hit them with some filler and sanded more until the grain wasn't visible, but I like the way you can see the grain through the paint.

 

[bart savage]

Progress report! Cut the plate out of sheet metal and did some light sanding on it to help the primer adhere. Thinking about taping off a design or trying to do a fish scale style design on it using overlapping circles. What would one use to do the small circles that overlap?

Make a row of fish scales out of cardboard...cut it out and lay it on the panel...dust the edges with spray paint and move it to the next row offset it like a brick patern and spray again....repeat! Very simple once you get the idea down

 

[acharles331]

What gauge steel works the best? I'm guessing 22 is to flimsy? Is 16 gauge thick enough, if so what's the best method for cutting it out? I don't have access to a laser or water jet lol

 

[Turtlesixfour]

I used a cut off wheel but you could probably use tin shears.

 

[expjawa]

A band saw with an appropriate blade works well too...

 

[Turtlesixfour]

I used 26 gauge sheet metal and it is plenty rigid enough. Finally got it done and painted! Before:

After:

 

[CWC]

I found a burl coffee table at a yardsale for ten bucks and used some of the wood to make a nice one for my ride

 

[expjawa]

I found a burl coffee table at a yardsale for ten bucks and used some of the wood to make a nice one for my ride

That's pretty neat. The burlwood pattern compliments the frame's patina well.