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Moving aluminum sheets

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 11:29 am
by zirf43
Looking at buying a scratch build project. But how do you move 6 sheets of 4' x 12' 6061-T6 aluminum and some finished skins 1500 miles? Yes, I could pull a 6' x 12' trailer behind my pickup with the sheets layered and protected on its deck. BUT...could I not roll the sheets up and load them into the back of my pickup? Is there something about the metallurgic properties of this AL alloy that would degrade its strength rolled up? Surely, when factory produced they roll it up for storage. Thx and enjoy the holidays.
Go Irish and Patriots ;)

Re: Moving aluminum sheets

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:35 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I have rolled a bunch of my 2024-T3 for storage. No harm done. Go for it.

Re: Moving aluminum sheets

PostPosted: Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:08 pm
by fastj22
I rolled a 4X12 sheet of .025 6061T into a tube about 2 ft in diameter and hauled in it back seat of my Honda CRV. No harm. I wouldn't roll it any tighter for fear of bending it.

Re: Moving aluminum sheets

PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 4:34 pm
by Rynoth
The wing spar webs in the kits come rolled up, I didn't measure the diameter but I feel like it was maybe 18 inches. 2ft probably safer.

Re: Moving aluminum sheets

PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 4:45 pm
by rizzz
Here's what my metal supplier told me:

You can roll 0.025" or 0.032 12' sheets, no problem, you can also roll 0.025" 6' sheets, again no problem.
You can't roll 0.032" 6' sheets though, the coil will be to small and leave a permanent bend in the aluminium.
I know this because I had to order an extra 6' piece of 0.032 at one stage and they only wanted to supply it on a pallet (which cost a lot more in shipping), when I asked why this was and told them I was sure I've rolled 6' sheets before without any issues they told me it was probably 0.025" and they explained the problem with 0.032".