I don't like the look of the Robin Hood stainless, but it's a matter of personal taste.
Hi
What are the pros and cons of using either of the above, reason I ask is that I was going to do the sides and rear with Aluminum (the rest in
Fibreglass) but after looking at some pictures of a RH 2B Stainless looks realy smart.
Stainless
Easier to keep looking nice
Harder to work the material
heavier that alu
Stronger than alu
Aluminium
Can go milky if not looked after
Can oxidise
Easy to work the material
Weaker that stainless
Lighter than stainless
S J Andrews quoted my £96 for 8x4 sheet of 0.9mm mirror stainless, and £24 for 1.2mm ally (in 2004) so cost is one consideration. Stainless will also be harder to work, have sharper edges will save HOURS of bloody polishing!
Thanks chaps will do some more thinking.
also think about the weight
On a lightweight car I'd use ali whenever possible....
The question, surely, is not whether one is better than the other, but how much thinner could the stainless steel be than its equivalent (in strength)
aluminium.
When that information was available then a choice could be made. Without that info then to say aluminium was better is just guesswork
Funny, as soon as the question of aluminium chassis comes up then everybody agrees it's not strong enough. Don't body panels need a bit of
strength?
John
The question, surely, was not about strength, but about which would look better
I don't like the look of the Robin Hood stainless, but it's a matter of personal taste.
also be aware there are different grades of stainless and some rust 
and just another spanner in the works some ali doesnt like being formed at all
and cracks.
sorry i know your asking for help 
personally i would go for 1mm 316 stainless
Jon Ison's Isonblade was sheeted in stainless - looks very bright and shiny!
One downside - and I think Jon would agree - is that it's VERY difficult to form the curves at the top of the boot area, where the sheet goes
over the top rail. It's hard enough in ali, damn near impossible in stainless.
If stainless is your choice, I'd think seriously about doing things differently in that location.
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
One downside - and I think Jon would agree - is that it's VERY difficult to form the curves at the top of the boot area, where the sheet goes over the top rail. It's hard enough in ali, damn near impossible in stainless.
Fibreglass or polycarbonate would be my choice, for weight and ease of maintenance. You can always get it covered with a mirror film, though it doesnt look the same as polished metal. Go for saving weight, or youll sacrifice your enjoyment of driving it!!
quote:
Originally posted by Shadowcaster
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
One downside - and I think Jon would agree - is that it's VERY difficult to form the curves at the top of the boot area, where the sheet goes over the top rail. It's hard enough in ali, damn near impossible in stainless.
That and the bonnet are the bits that were worring me, I presume heating the metal to form it is out of the question because it will discolout, trouble is I just realy like the look of stainless. Ah well more thinking and more paracetomal
Thanks again for the sugestions I'm begining to think that although Stainless looks great it may have to be Ally for ease of construction.