Sheet steel for body repairs

[damian1978]

Hi all, this might sound an obvious question but where would I be able to buy sheet steel suitable for car body repairs? And what thickness should I use - is there a specific guage or something?

Thanks!
Damian

[les]

18 gauge is good, some folk like to go thicker on stressed areas. Generally copy what you are replacing.

[pfgiz]

I used a mix of 16 and 18 gauge mild steel. Got two "off-cuts" from a local supplier, each about 2 foot by 3 foot, which was enough for all of the fabrication I needed for my saloon.
With the exception of the sills and the 'shipping plates'.

[MGFmad]

Some motor factors will stock sheet steel or half sheets. If you are after a smaller piece, B & Q sell pieces around 2 x 1' approx.

[damian1978]

Thanks for that guys, I'll call into the motor factors this week. Do you know what guage is used on the minor? Or is 18 guage pretty much ok for everything?

Thanks

[pfgiz]

18 is pretty much universal, but saying that 16 is preferred by some for chassis and floor sections. I only used 16 on the floor as my front chassis legs didn't need any work. Under the wings, front and rear, I used the 18.

[millerman]

Can we use metric sizes. I can't visualize '18 gauge' and I doubt suppliers will either

[pfgiz]

http://www.simetric.co.uk/sigauge.htm

Try this....

basically 18 = 1.2mm and 16 = 1.5mm

[millerman]

Thanks for the link, lot easier in metric sizes which I assume are the only thickness supplied

[IaininTenbury]

A lot of areas with 'shape' in, ie: wings and inner wings are only 20g (1mm) as the strength is in the shape, though as has been said 18g is a good default size for repairs, unless you're doing sill steps and chassis legs.
beware when buying from motorfactors etc, a lot will stock 22g (0.8mm) suitable for modern cars (thinner steel, so lighter and more efficient) and of course used for nasty patch repairs for the MOT man.
A steel stockholder would sell you single sheets - depends how much you want. May have offcuts too. Think the smallest normal size is 6'x3' which woudl be cheaper than buying small bits over the counter. Worth trying fabrication companies too, depending what they make, they probably throw away as offcuts large enough pieces to repair a minor with. A donation to the tea and biscuit fund can work wonders!

[bmcecosse]

Nip down to your local repair man - he may be perfectly happy to let you snip steel out of panels removed from crashed cars. As others have pointed out - they may be a bit thin, depends what car the panel came from ! Lids from 45 gallon drums are another source of good flat steel - check with local scrappy!

[alex_holden]

beware when buying from motorfactors etc

Perhaps a certain trader could bring a selection of smallish sheets in various thicknesses to sell at the National?

[linearaudio]

I get my steel from one of two localish blacksmiths. They understand gauges! They are also good for strip, rod, angle etc, and don't have computer operated tills. What you pay depends on how you chat to them and what mood they are in! I always suss the scene before I interrupt their work, if they are cussing or welding then I come back another time!!
The skip outside your nearest fabrication company will yield "gripper edge" waste pieces from their guillotine which can be very handy sizes. Courtesy to ask first, if you turn up in a moggy in overalls, then they are almost certain to be obliging. If you turn up in a suit they will probably turn all "health and safety" on you! You must be desperate to resort to cutting bits out of old BMWs or oil cans, I can feel the finger cuts already!!

[pfgiz]

The inner wings on the front of my saloon were repaired using the outer wings I cut off. This was before I figured out how cheep a couple of off-cuts would be from the local fabricators. Its one thing to cut your own patch out, some thing else to have to straighten the steel first...

You'll need a lifetimes supply of cereal boxes too, there's nothing like them for helping get the pattern right before transferring it onto the steel. I've been saving mine for the last five years for the MG but I may need some for the Traveller now. Although I’m thinking of getting repair sections as it’s the front chassis members that have suffered most.

[pfgiz]

Before
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3377/350 ... 9a7f91.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Photo00247" />
After
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/350 ... 0e130e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Photo00319" />
Patched with the metal from the outer wing

Before
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/350 ... 79fa48.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Photo00330" />
After
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/350 ... 2228dd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Photo00333" />
Patched with 18 gauge sheet steel, a lot easier to cut and shape.

[linearaudio]

Aaah yes! Cornflake boxes. I've actually got to the point of having 2 or 3 of the inner bags of cereal left in the cupboard because the boxes were needed urgently! Pizza boxes aren't long enough usually for the repairs I need to do!