[Amps] Sourcing Sheet Aluminum

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger" <sub1 at rogerhalstead.com>
To: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 6:45 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Sourcing Sheet Aluminum


>
>
> On 9/14/2010 11:37 PM, Patrick Barthelow wrote:
>> Another post on the reflector recently asked about best alloys of 
>> aluminum to use in Ham/Amp related projects, a good question, that
>> I dont know the answer to, just that  I remember T-6 alloy  is hard 
>> stuff.
> It may be hard but it's relatively easy to form, holds its shape, and is
> strong. It is used to form not only aircraft skins, but aircraft skins
> that serve as  structural members, or individual structure members
> themselves. It's also relatively easy to tap, or press screw heads into
> it...again I've forgotten the name of them.  With skill the stuff can
> even be formed into complex shapes, but that's beyond most of us here.
>
>
> Too often people choose much softer grades that are easily scratched
> and  deformed.
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
>
>>
>> This is a tip to source sheet aluminum cheaply.  Find your local Dep of 
>> Public Works, the Road Maintenance crew.  Go directly to their coporation 
>> yard, or ask for their forman over the phone.  Tell them you are a ham 
>> looking for some aluminum for a Hombrew project, and ask it they have any 
>> discarded road signs.  It has been my experience that there is ofen a 
>> stack of old signs somewhere off in a corner of the shop, that never gets 
>> forwarded to recycling or whatever.  The foreman, if he is a ncie guy, on 
>> a good day, may simply direct youto the aluminum pile or old sign stack 
>> in the back, and say take what you want.  Leave him off a six pack of 
>> soft drinks or 807s an he will be your friend for a long time.    It is 
>> amazing how big a stop sign is when it is set on your workbench.  The 
>> signs' paint  I saw were usually pretty old, and weathered, but the 
>> aluminum was often very good shape.  Unfortunately so far is is usually 
>> hard and brittle so won't bend well, but, the sheet siz
> es
>>    are substantial and the price is right.  A little polishing or orbital 
>> sanding will get the aluminum to a nice surface sheen, and perfectly 
>> usable.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>> 73, de Pat Barthelow AA6EG  apolloeme at live.com
>> http://www.cq-vhf.com/vhf_highlights/2010_vhf/2010_summer_vhf/2010_summer_vhf_echoes_barthelow.pdf
>>
>>
>>        MOONBOUNCE                                 YURI'S NIGHT
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>have in mind that this kind of metals (aluminum aloys) that is used in 
>aircraft are at the the face of shaping (for stractural member at the 
>aircraft) are shoft , very soft so you can shape them
 at the end of shaping they heat treated them ,then the propertys of them 
are the one you describe Roger