Thanks,some interesting info. I always have a mike and caliper handy, often stopping and looking a metal objects that seem available. The old well drilling rig had an intact Continental Red Seal power unit with lots of guards and boxes on the rig. The truck may have had 19 ga. in the body but was pretty rusted and patched where In could reach to measure. Danbury Ct. has gotten a Metal Supermarket- cuts and drops coming soon , half sheets on special order, no shipping,'competitive' pricing. I agree about sharpening welding skills being most important, but am always most comfortable with using the exact material for practice- whether machining,welding, bumping dents or finishing. I'm a mechanical engineer, but have spent most of the last sixty years as a jack of all trades mechanic,plumber, electrical installer, and most enjoyably toolmaker and prototype machine and jig and toolmaker. Often the geniuses incharge have had a lucky day in the patent office, but the real world with real material doesn't always prove cooperative. My first choice in material would be old body parts for sheet metal correct gauge,temper, finished surface and a 'relaxed state of aging after being worked into shape'. Metal has a memory, I believe, and old body parts seem more manageable to me. But body parts of what? old Fords? Old machine cabinets? Should I look for something specific, like Ford products 1948 or earlier? The 1mm. similarity to 19ga excellent info, I'd forgotten something something so obvious. What about old VW carcasses? Computer acting strange, more later. Thanks.
