Starting To Cut My Teeth On Sheet Metal Work

[1948ddbc]

Hello to everyone.  I've purchase my first 1948 Dodge business coupe.  I just love the long backend.  I'm planning on keeping as original as possible.  I enjoy reading all the topics that come up on this site and the more I read , the more I learn, and the more I like.  Hopefully I can contribute to the knowledge tranfer from time to time.  My question is dealing with body work.  My '48 needs some underneath metal replacement work. The car came with replacement floor sections that I'm installing.  But for the amount of metal I need for other repairs like in the trunk and inner fenders, where can it be purchased?   I really don't want to purchase all ready-made sections.  I prefer working with flat metal and learning forming and shaping as I replace the rot.  I go to my local Lowe's and find 2x2 or 2x4 piece but this can't be the best cost affective chose. Where does everyone purchase their flat sheet metal?  I live in Cincinnati and looked around to no avail.  Any direct would be more appreciated.  Thanks and happy restoring.

[Plymouthy Adams]

most town have a sheetmetal and steel supplier..contact them buy it by the sheet in the gauge you want...most sell full size sheets 4' x 10' if you cannot load or haul that length be prepared to pay a shearing fee for making it a manageable size load..

[DJ194950]

Working with sheet metal can be challanging, tiresome, but rewarding after making your own parts on the cheap.

 

Almost all older cars used a 19 ga. sheet metal but that can be very hard and expensive but ask for it.

 

If not readily avail. use 18 ga. COLD rolled sheet metal as it does not have the black flashing left on it as HOT rolled does. Costs a little more but worth it in the end. Easier to form and only a slight oiled surface to clean before welding and any paint applied.

 

About 6 months ago a friend and I split a 4ft. x 8ft. sheet that was sheared in half by the supplier. Our cost each was about $30.

After talking to them some my friend convinced the to do the shear for $0.

 

I googled- steel suppliers-cincinnati, ohio and about 30 companies came up. Most can supply 18 ga. cold rolled, check it out.

 

Best to ya,

 

Doug

[Merle Coggins]

We have Speedy Metals here that will cut anything to any size for no extra charge. Good prices on steel with no minimum. I don't know where else they have facilities but I used them often.

 

Merle

[1948ddbc]

Thanks for everyone's reply.  I did contact some suppliers in the Cincinnati area and they told me they would only deal with commercial buyers and not residential.  I will continue to look.

 

Thanks again!

 

Neal

[Dave72dt]

You may have better luck with those that actually do fabrication or repair work, those that are in the retail end of the business.  The outlying towns around Cinci may have some repair businesses also and these may also cater to locals.

[Don Coatney]

Did you try google?

 

http://www.boonesteel.com/

 

http://www.yellowpages.com/cincinnati-oh/steel-fabricators

 

http://www.yellowpages.com/cincinnati-oh/sheet-metal-fabricators

[Plymouthy Adams]

under those circumstances...call some of the sheet metal shops in your surrounding area to see if you can purchase from them...lots of the sheet metal shops are better able to shear the metal if needed also..usually they do one shear no cost...aks about