What Material for Tubing Running Boards

[ippielb]

I have an odd ball sled, and no one makes the tubing style running boards for it, i'm looking at making a set for it. What tubing is used in the air frame / B&M style running boards?

These are the boards i'm talking about.

 

[butthead]

6061
5052
are weldable aluminum

 

[m8magicandmystery]

Chromalloy tubing

 

[ippielb]

What thicknesses are they or do they only come in one thickness of the walls?

 

[m8magicandmystery]

search bmfabs posts in his running board thread...I think he lists the thickness..

its probably similar thickness to most tubular builds..sand cars ...sleds ..etc so search Chromalloy tubular builds on goggle...heck search running board builds

 

[kidwoo]

search bmfabs posts in his running board thread...I think he lists the thickness..

I think he said he uses 1/8 walls all around.

 

[ippielb]

Princess auto has stuff that's 3/32" walled. A little thinner then 1/8" is that going to be too thin?

http://www.princessauto.com/mobile/product/productDetail.jsp?productID=1450063
http://www.princessauto.com/mobile/product/productDetail.jsp?productID=1450220

 

[wjl]

Try here
http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?id=71&step=2&top_cat=60
Great to deal with and they ship to Canada.

 

[ippielb]

I couldn't imagine shipping on that. I'm going to try locally to see if they can supply me I guess I gotta dig deeper. I wasn't able to find a local supply for aluminum sheets for making a fuel tank either.

 

[meathooker]

6061
5052
are weldable aluminum

Correct, they are both aluminum, not moly.

 

[SNWMBL]

If you are using 4130 then .035 will be plenty strong. I would recommend AED Motorsports.

 

[ippielb]

I was unable to find a local supplier of aluminum tubing, i found one that supplies the SCHED 40 6061 t6 aluminum tubing, but they dont have anything with a small enough diameter with thick enough walls.

0.75" NOM. (1.05" OD X 0.11" WALL X 0.824" ID) ALUMINUM 6061-T6 PIPE SCHEDULE 40

0.5" NOM. (0.84" OD X 0.11" WALL X 0.622" ID) ALUMINUM 6061-T6 PIPE SCHEDULE 40

are the two closest they can offer, but both are thinner. then what BM uses.

 

[B&M Fabrications]

Problem you will have is that the T-6 rated tube (that is the hardness rating of the tube, T-0 being annealed and T-6 being the hardest..for the most part) is not bendable. It will break if you plan to bend any part of the boards. It's tempting to try I know but, I know from a screw up from my supplier that it will break in the bender. You might be able to find 6063 tube in the correct size, that will bend. We use a T-4 tube since it is bendable but it isn't very common at most suppliers since it tends to work harden when stored in the elements for an extended time. It will break while trying to bend after.

 

[SNWMBL]

If all that's available to you is T-6, you can bend it by first annealing the bend area. If you have a permanent marker and a propane torch you can do it the poor mans way. Just scribble on the bend area and heat the area evenly until the permanent marker is completely gone. Not very scientific but I've done it plenty of times and it works great.

 

[B&M Fabrications]

True, if you know what you are doing this is an option as well.

 

[ippielb]

do you guys suggest just using a pipe bender/metal bender from good ole princess auto? Or mandel bending? I am having a very hard time trying to find any supplier of aluminum in my area. I really dont want to cut and weld the angle at the end of the boards. The bend is a lot cleaner and stronger.