Best Steel for Tanks & Fenders?

[Horimahakala]

I'm really confused what's the best steel to use to make a motorcycle gas tank or a set of fenders. I thought 16ga but then I heard that 16ga is very difficult because it's so stiff- unless I can find some AK steel. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a source for AK steel anywhere around here (Central Texas) or online. Then I thought 18ga but some people told me that they use 19ga. I would have thought that 19ga, for sure, would be too thin and wouldn't be strong enough- especially for holding gas.

Can someone please make some recommendations? And if anyone can give me a source for AK steel (16 ga) that'd be great too.

I don't have any steel laying around so I'm going to have to BUY some- so I might as well buy the right stuff right off the bat.

Thanks y'all!

Nick

[Randy Ferguson]

Nick,

Look in the yellow pages of your phone book under Steel Distributors. There should be a large listing. Start making calls and tell them you want 18ga. 1008 or 1010 cold rolled steel. They should have it in stock.

Don't make this too hard on yourself. If you're just wanting to get a feel for shaping some metal, you should be able to find small pieces, around 24"x36" at Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards, Tractor Supply Co. or whatever home improvement/farm stores you have in the area.

If nothing else, stop by you local body shop and ask if they have anything in the 18-20 ga. range and if not, ask for a junk hood, decklid, quarter panel or whatever. This will at least get you banging on some metal.

[CCWKen]

Hey neighbor!

I get my steel from Reliace Metalcenter in San Antonio. They stock most of the even numbered guages. Check the phone book and see if they have an outlet in Austin. And as Randy said, the home centers stock some sheet products--Look in the Hardware section. It's near the bar and angle stock. It's pricey there though.

As a side, why do feel you need 16ga. for tanks? Gas cans are made from 30ga. :shock: I would work some thinner metal to start and get the feel of the tools. And build some muscle for working 16ga. :D

[Boogiemanz1]

Nick do you ask questions and not come back to view the answers? The last time you asked this question it sparked a very heated debate...the least you could do is to read the information that people gave you.............http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2455

[jvo]

Please, please, let's not do this again. John V.O.

[Tony Sanchez]

:x

[Horimahakala]

Sorry Boogiemanz1 & JVO- I couldn't remember if I posted this question here or in a different online community- I looked around and didn't see it. Didn't mean to start anything. Also, with SO many different sections, navigating this community and keeping track of posts is pretty hard. Is there some way for me to to pull up a list of the threads I started, or that I posted in- so I can periodically check back on old threads that I started or participated in?


Nick

[slob]

Nick, you can find your posts or those from another member by looking at their profile. it has the number of posts by that person and a link to "find all posts by "XXXXXXX"

I use it all the time to find stuff I want to look up. hope this helps out,

Rob :)

[Horimahakala]

It does man- it really does help! Thanks SO much! Maybe now I can avoid getting on peoples bad sides because of my forgetful nature. I wish I'd have known that little trick before.

Nick

[tdoty]

Nick, you can find your posts or those from another member by looking at their profile. it has the number of posts by that person and a link to "find all posts by "XXXXXXX"

I use it all the time to find stuff I want to look up. hope this helps out,

Rob :)

Sorry Rob, but there is an even easier way to view your posts :lol: . At the top of the forum, under "View Posts Since Last Visit" is a link to "View Your Posts".

Might help if you need it! I use that, the "Find all Posts by xxxxxx" and searching for "*" since the "Recent Topics" thingie isn't working right now :wink: .

HTH,

Tim D.

[slob]

thanks Tim, I forgot about that one. guess my mind is goin :roll: :lol:

it is a pain without the "recent topics" button!!

Rob :D

[rookie]

Hi Nick, at the bottom of the page that you initially write your posts on there is a box that says, 'notify me when a reply is posted' check it then ALL the posts that you write (or answer) you will get an Email notification of an answer.

Phil Gilmore (rookie)

[Gene_Olson]

it is a pain without the "recent topics" button!!

Rob :D

"yah don't know what ya got till it's gone."

Joni sure got that one right.

Oh David, thank you so much for adding that feature after the previous upgrade and Please, pretty please . . . .

can we have it again?

Gene

[Horimahakala]

Thanks again y'all!

Nick

[mantaray69]

Hey covell has ak steel check out his web site www.covell.biz I like using galvaneel sheel metal its pretty good bendable I used to work for a sheet metal company thats how I found it Keep shaping Anthony