Which metal gauge do you use?

Rustbelt A

Rustbelt A

Junior Member
I'm in the process of stripping and repairing my cowl and doors on my 28 sport coupe. She needs lots of love.

My subframe repair was done using 16 ga, which was a real pain to work with. When it comes to the cowl and door inner structure I'm not sure what to use.

Is 18 or 20 okay? I don't want to skimp, but at the same time, I need to be able to form the steel a little easier.

What gauge of steel have you used?
 
I use 18 gauge. A little more to work with. Most manufactures used 19 gauge which is a industrial gauge and you can't get over the counter. So I error on the side of caution.

JP
 
I love 16 and 18 Ga to weld and grind off. 20 ga is just too thin for me. The large holes in the cowl that were put for who knows what, by the previous owner, I fixed with knock outs from electrical boxes. They worked beautifully and no welding problems.
Terry
 
Sub frame 18 gauge most other sheet metal 20 gauge. it is not right on the money, but close enough.
 
I use one like this:
 

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jw hash said:
Sub frame 18 gauge most other sheet metal 20 gauge. it is not right on the money, but close enough.
Click to expand...


John, how far off of the money is what you are getting? I buy the 20 gauge AK and mine is mic-ing 0.0360" -and I think Ford specified .0370", ...and one thou. is close enough for most restorers I would think. :D :D




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my Machinery's handbook (14th edition, 1949) gives the thickness of 18 ga as o.0403, 19 ga as 0.0359 and 20ga as 0.0320. According to that, there's a spread of .008 from the thickest to the thinnest. That was in 1949, how much may have changed is anyone's guess.
Terry
 
Hi Brent: I'd say your good on the 20 gauge. I like the 18 gauge as it gives me more to work with when welding, metal finishing and life span. It's what I've gotten use to using over the last 45 years. It's funny one of the things I learn't from teaching the trade was that you could give the same job to 6 different guys and they would all do it a different way to a different level but they'd all get the job done in the end. JP
 
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