west wrote:
Thanks to all the RATs for previous advice on custom chassis size. I'd like
to ask if given heavy enough gauge ... which is better for constructing an
amp ... steel or aluminum? Do they each have their own merits? Thanks.
Cordially,
west


Aluminum can be "hand-machined", if you have a Dremel and buy some
smaller steel bits--the ones they sell for "wood and plastic use only"?
I found recently that those work pretty well on 6061-T6 aluminum, but
you must work very slowly cutting just a bit at a time and keep a firm
grip on the Dremel or it will chatter and chew up your workpiece. You
could use quarter-inch-thick Aluminum sheet and slowly, carefully mill
out even the big tube base holes, I'd bet. ....Welding aluminum is
difficult but welding sheet of any metal is difficult, so plan on either
screwing the sides together using angles or welding a frame, and
screwing the sides onto that.
-----
Stainless steel looks nice but it is expensive and it is a bitch to cut,
a bitch to drill and a bitch to weld. It really is not a home-DIY sort
of material for most fabricating. ...Aluminum is easy to cut but
comparatively difficult to weld. REGULAR Steel is difficult to cut but
much easier to weld.
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