Where to get sheet aluminum?

MPTech

MPTech

Member # 032
GCC Member
Location (City)
St. Louis (south county)
First Name
Mark
Last Name
Patterson
Dan, what was the name of the place that you told me sells sheet aluminum?

Does anyone else have a recommendation?

I priced some @ Home depot this weekend and I was expecting it to be a little cheaper than that. It was $45 for 2'x4'. Does that sound reasonable or high?

Also, what is the recommended thickness for most panel mods? (foot boxes, etc)
 
I have some 4x8 & 4x10 sheets we are going to be using on a project and may have some downfall/drops. It 040 which should be heavy enough for what you are doing. I should know early next week if we have any left over.
Price is going up as we speak.
If you need it sooner, I have a supplier in Centralia, Il that does stock some. I purchased quite abit so I can't get you a definate price on it.
Give me a call if you like: 618-599-1035
 
I'm not in a hurry and don't need and single large pieces, scraps would probably be perfect for 90% of what I need. Let me know when and how much.

Thanks for the information.
 
I think its Shapiro's in St. Louis for most metals. I used Haslag Steel out past Washington, but i was going out that way and I knew them. It would be quite a haul from your place. I'd try Shapiro first. Someone else may have other sources. I thought the FFR aluminum was like 060, but I could be mistaken.
 
Mark,

The aluminum you need is 6061 T6 in .040" thickness. The sheets will have ink marking of " 6061 T6 .040".

Avoid Home Depot or Lowes like the plague...unless you want to pay more than what the metal is worth. $45 for what you needed is high but more importantly was it the correct alloy and thickness?

Do not purchase 2024 or 5000 series (5056, 5052, 5089) aluminum alloys. The 5000 series are too soft. 2024 is plenty strong but lacks the corrosion resistance of 6061.

6061 is ideal as it is an aircraft alloy specifically selected for strength and corrosion resistance. The T6 designation indicates that the metal has been heat treated. It is also usually AlClad which consisits of a thin pure aluminum coating on the surface.

Wick's in IL is a great location for new sheets or rolls of aluminum as you can drive over and save shipping.

http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalo...ml?PHPSESSID=139a380be1bf5c85f766d7225c1dfb7e

You can buy small amounts but you will pay a premium for cutting. They don't sell scraps or off fall.

Shapiro's is your best option if your just looking for scraps. They do sell large sheets but they also have a scrap area for smaller pieces. If you happen to find 7075 T6 scraps...they are excellent also but are used on tactical aircraft most often and usually are a more expensive alloy. 6061 T6 is more cost effective than 7075 T6 or even 2024 T3.

http://www.shapirosupply.com/

Hope that helps.

Kerry
 
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Thanks Kerry, very valuable information that I wasn't aware of and a significantly better price!

.040" 6061 T6, now I know what to get!


btw, finished with the snap ring pliers, worked perfectly, Thanks again. I can bring them tomorrow night, but I thought you said you may not be able to make it.
 
Shapiros!!!! Head down to the basement 1st and look around. He sells it by the pound. That has become one of my favorite places.
 
Rich,

The issue with Aircraft Spruce is shipping...

UPS ground from Aircraft Spruce's closest location in GA (30269) for a 2x4 sheet rolled up into a 2 lb 25 x 6 x 6 box...would be $15.19 for a total of $33.94.

They have excellent prices... but no local store to save shipping expenses...and shipping is the deal breaker.
 
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Kerry & Kathy said:
Rich,

The issue with Aircraft Spruce is shipping...

UPS ground from Aircraft Spruce's closest location in GA (30269) for a 2x4 sheet rolled up into a 2 lb 25 x 6 x 6 box...would be $15.19 for a total of $33.94.

They have excellent prices... but no local store to save shipping expenses...and shipping is the deal breaker.
Click to expand...

Kerry, thats not really true. I ordered mine from them, three sheets shipped direct to my door. They were not rolled up, cant do that with sheet aluminum, shipped flat in a very well made shipping box. Same price for shipping three as one, less than half what it would have cost to drive to the city and buy it. I knew one wouldnt be enough. :rolleyes:

Just went and looked at my invoice. The sheets are cheaper now that when I bought mine. I paid $22.25 per sheet, plus $11.40 shipping to my door.
 
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Rich,

Aircraft Spruce will not determine shipping until after your order is placed. So I let UPS calculate based on weight and container size, shipped from GA to my home for reference. Had it been packaged in a flat 24 x 48 box the shipping was almost identical.

By ordering multiples sheets in one box you obviously save shipping cost per sheet...but it sounded like Mark was only wanting to buy one sheet. And for that a trip to Shapiro's seemed to be his most economical choice.

Based on your invoice one sheet would have cost $33.65 delivered or $30.15 at the newer lower price. Although Mark may want to consider buying more than his immediate needs just to have spare material.

BTW, you can order 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum in rolls.

Airparts Inc. ships any sheet aluminum up to and including .050 that is too large for a conventional box in rolls packed in 6x6 cardboard boxes up to 4' long. For thicker material, you are correct...it has to be shipped flat.

https://www.airpartsinc.com/shopexd.asp?id=275

Hey...You may consider yourself cheap...but you have some serious competition from Farmington when it comes to finding ways to spend less on what you want...:D



Kerry
 
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I have been dealing with Shapiro's for years and you can pick it up and save on shipping, nobody else in the st louis area has a selection like them. Brass, steel, aluminum, plastic and had carbide end mills till me and a bud bought all of them now only have HHS ( high speed steel ) left. From time to time they take in some nice tools last time there they had a nice finger brake.
 
A Snake, I know it's been almost 2 months, but I thought I'd check with you first before I head to Shapiro's later this week.
Nothing big, larger scraps would probably be enough for my projects.

Let me know. Thanks!
 
I am sorry for replying sooner....we have not started the project using the .040 alum as of yet so I have no drops/scraps a this time.
 
THANKS for the tip guys!
I took off work early today and dropped by Shapiro's (they close @ 4).
What a cool place (neighborhood is a little sketchy though, on Natural Bridge about 1 mile from 70) and great employees!! (everyone was friendly and eager to help me) Sam Shapiro came up to me and introduced himself, he told me to wear old clothes next time and he'd give me a tour of the place!
He asked me how I found them and I told him some guys from the Gateway Cobra Club recommended him. He said to tell you guys Thanks!

I was looking to buy 2 - 2'x4' 6061 .040 sheets. On their website, it was priced @ 25.99 a sheet.
They cut me 2 pieces from a scrap and there was a 1'x4' scrap left, so I said I'd take it too. The guy weighed it and Sam said "How's $42 for all 3?". I said "SOLD, you take cash, right?".

I'll be back, I need some square tubing for a couple mods I have planned.

GREAT PLACE! I highly recommend them.
 
Mark, if you need 3/4 inch square tubing, let me know. I have at least one 10 ft stick at the house and maybe some scraps too.
 
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