Body metal materiel and prep? Aluminum?

[jonzer12]

What is everyone using for body metal? *I was planning on aluminum for less weight but
how do you paint it? *Are there any special considerations when painting aluminum? *What guage is suitable?
This will be for a trail buggy so *durable finish would be nice. *Am I better off leaving the aluminum bare?

I have seen quite a few buggies with bodies on this site, I was just wondering as a simple DIY'er what is
the general practice here.

[bajatex]

Just use .063 3003 aluminum or 5052.

bajatex

[K-fab]

Agreed - 3003 in .0625

Paint prep depends on what you plan on painting with.

There are aluminum prep chemicals that will roughen the surface slightly so the paint has something to stick to.

Once you get your panels done and before you start prep, make sure you wipe down the panels with acetone - keep wiping until a white paper towel quits turning gray/black. *Once that's done, the surface is clean.

Wear latex or vinyl gloves and avoid touching the panels with your bare hands once you've done the acetone thing.

[masterfabr]

Easiest to work with is the 3003 but get it in H-3 condition.That's a good compromise between stiffness *and ductility that will allow it to not as quickly wark harden and fracture. You need as k-fab suggested a chemical conversion coating for paint to stick to any aluminum surface .otherwise it will form an oxide layer under the paint and flake off.There are acrylic primers for alum. but IMO they are far inferior to conversion coatings as a primer.

[renegadespec1]

I use the same stuff as the nascar guys do It's sortof a cross between poly eurothane and uhmw...cuts with a utility knife warm it up with a heat gun it can be molded broke and rolled...and it is touph..no dents...problem is you can't paint it and stickers don't stick either...

[K-fab]

I forgot - if you plan on getting the panels powder coated (works beautifully), don't worry about prep. *The powder guys will take care of that.

[MXman]

Originally Posted by renegadespec1\";p=\&quot

I use the same stuff as the nascar guys do It's sortof a cross between poly eurothane and uhmw...cuts with a utility knife warm it up with a heat gun it can be molded broke and rolled...and it is touph..no dents...problem is you can't paint it and stickers don't stick either...

Interesting...where do you buy this stuff?

[jonzer12]

Originally Posted by renegadespec1\";p=\&quot

I use the same stuff as the nascar guys do It's sortof a cross between poly eurothane and uhmw...cuts with a utility knife warm it up with a heat gun it can be molded broke and rolled...and it is touph..no dents...problem is you can't paint it and stickers don't stick either...

What is the price like per sq/ft ? and as above who is your supplier?

[El Toro]

If you want to paint it you should use a product like aluma prep or aggressive aluminum cleaner and follow up with alodine from there you can go direct to basecoat.” works killer” You can get this form you local Sikkens retailer.
Spencer

[renegadespec1]

I have a couple of places I get it
www.daymotorsports.com
I pay 1.79 per linear foot for rolls 24 wide...It is awesome stuff...and it comes in 8 colors...Ive been looking for the mfg people but nascar crap...Makes good skid plates as well..