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Mild steel sheet suppliers
SteveWallace - 18/6/17 at 07:39 AM

I'm looking to buy some 1mm thick mild steel sheet for some body panels (its to skin the wood tub on my MG TC. I'm way off doing it yet, but as I need a few small bits for other work, I thought that I would buy it all in one go so that I can generate my own off cuts).

Looking at on-line suppliers, the price seems to vary enormously. MetalstoreUK sells 2m x 1m sheets for £28.51 plus post whereas some e-bay suppliers are charging about that amount for half as much. Overall, there seems to be about a factor of X4 range of prices.

Does the quality of the product vary or is it a case of just going for the cheapest that can be found on the day? Are there any recommendations for who to use (particularly if close to Nottingham - if a supplier has a cutting service then I could get it chopped down enough to fit into the car and save the postage).

[Edited on 18/6/17 by SteveWallace]


bonzoronnie - 18/6/17 at 08:34 AM

From a quick search for steel stockholders. I see there is an Aalco stockist in Nottingham.

If they are anything like my local stockholder, they will charge you £1+vat per cut.
With them, I often find it cheaper to pay the delivery charge & cut the materials myself.

If the mild steel sheet has a BS rating it should be the same.
That said, in todays modern age, you can never really know where the steel has come from unless it is from a certified source.


Matt21 - 18/6/17 at 10:33 AM

Find somewhere local and collect it? all you need is a roof rack, a couple of lengths of timber and some straps

I can't imagine there being any difference in the quality, but I may be wrong.


designer - 18/6/17 at 12:22 PM

1mm mild steel seems very thick for a body.


r1_pete - 18/6/17 at 01:27 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
1mm mild steel seems very thick for a body.


I agree, 1mm is quite hard to work, 22 gauge which is about 7.2mm is the norm, 8mm if metric would be fine too.


bonzoronnie - 18/6/17 at 01:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
quote:


I agree, 1mm is quite hard to work, 22 gauge which is about 7.2mm is the norm, 8mm if metric would be fine too.


Epic fail pete

Only kidding

22gauge = .8mm ish metric
24gauge = .6mm ish metric

Tend to agree with the above comments though.

That said if the original spec was 1mm you may wish to keep things authentic.


bart - 18/6/17 at 09:22 PM

Your local body panel supply company will also keep flat stock.I have brought some frequently


r1_pete - 19/6/17 at 09:24 AM

quote:
Originally posted by bonzoronnie
quote:
Originally posted by r1_pete
quote:


I agree, 1mm is quite hard to work, 22 gauge which is about 7.2mm is the norm, 8mm if metric would be fine too.


Epic fail pete

Only kidding

22gauge = .8mm ish metric
24gauge = .6mm ish metric

Tend to agree with the above comments though.

That said if the original spec was 1mm you may wish to keep things authentic.


Yes a decimal point slip there, 0.


MikeR - 19/6/17 at 01:55 PM

they built them strong in the old days (or if r1_pete was involved).


r1_pete - 19/6/17 at 04:00 PM

Yeah, thats what happens sitting in 35 degree sunshine drinking this and posting.

Mythos
Mythos


SteveWallace - 21/6/17 at 05:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
1mm mild steel seems very thick for a body.


That was the original spec, so I'm going to stick to it and probably regret it when I start to try to form it over the wood frame. That said, some people have re skinned these in aluminium.

There are a couple of really difficult curves where the metal has to be shrunk a lot to make the radius, however, the recommended approach is to save this part of the old panels if possible and weld new bits on.


gremlin1234 - 22/6/17 at 09:55 AM

whilst browsing I found this vid Abingdon 1931


bart - 22/6/17 at 10:06 AM

wow what a video
I like the h&s spraying !

a much simpler time , a job more or less for life . these days cant see further than the end of the month in most places.
I can see myself starting a rant here so Ill stop with " fantastic video"


SteveWallace - 23/6/17 at 12:11 PM

Great video. Aside from the health and safety issues with the spray painting, I'm surprised that they didn't go home every day with faces the same colour as the last car that they did (probably black).


SJ - 23/6/17 at 02:17 PM

quote:

Great video. Aside from the health and safety issues with the spray painting, I'm surprised that they didn't go home every day with faces the same colour as the last car that they did (probably black).



And quite a bad headache as well!


Shiggins92 - 23/6/17 at 09:30 PM

Yes it can very some are more prone to damage than others. I made a splitter out of one from one supplier and it didn't last long from stones and I tried another supplier and it seems to be much stronger. TBH you dont really know what you are going to get from ebay.