Sheet metal help?

[joedodge]

Hi guys first post in the fab section! I'm a diesel each and looking to make hinged sheet metal doors for the open space on the bottom of my tool cart. Basically hinged skirts, just going to hang on two hinges and fold up. Just to enclose the bottom area. What gauge sheet metal should I use that will be affordable yet sturdy. I'm not looking to fold the edges of bead roll it

 

[signcrafter]

Find your local metal supply house that sells to the public. Will be a lot cheaper then buying from box store and you should be able to go in there and and check out the different sizes for yourself. They will also shear cut them for you for not that much money. I love going into my metal supply house, the smell and metal! I would go with 14 to 16 gauge for strength yet not too expensive.

 

[joedodge]

Lol ya I already talked to them today actually. Was just curious if anyone had any suggestions my sheet metal expierence is almost zero lol

 

[signcrafter]

Lol ya I already talked to them today actually. Was just curious if anyone had any suggestions my sheet metal expierence is almost zero lol

How are you planning on attaching it to your cart? Pop rivets might look nice.

 

[joedodge]

I wanted to do rivets and a nice set of small hinges on each door paint it all semi flat black rust oleum

 

[signcrafter]

Will look nice when done. I'd think 14-16 gauge would be good.

 

[Stooge]

Will look nice when done. I'd think 14-16 gauge would be good.

plus it will be heavy enough to keep from "flapping" around too much when your moving the cart around, few things irritate me like catching the corner of a piece of sheet metal in the shin or ripping a hole in my pants.

Could also incorporate a magnet or 2 at the bottom corners, for both keeping it latched shut and depending on how strong the magnets are, could also keep the panel folded up open if there is accompanying place on the cart for the magnet to catch.

 

[sberry]

find a washing machine, or dryer, an appliance to rob a panel from. The finish is good and it doesn't cost. Building every piece from the yard is too slow and expensive. You can find pieces with edge work to your advantage.
Even used the original hinges for the cabinet door. Scuff with scotch brite and paint any color you want.

 

[HMCFab9]

16 gauge would be good. 18 might work, but without any shape to them it might be a little flimsy. 14 might be a little heavy, but it would work.

 

[joedodge]

Awesome thanks everyone. I'll have to look t 18 and 16 gauge. I want it heavy enough if I lift by te corner it won't distort to bad over time. I'll prolly go Tomm or Monday morning befor work. I'm gonna rust oleum it and river it with a nice set of hinges. I also hope the heavier steel will hang nice and fraught and not flop around while pushing the cart. Might use door edge molding on the edges

 

[rsanter]

18ga or 16ga at the most with a stiffening rib on the back side just inside of the outer lip. Kind of like they do on truck side boxes. And then use a piano hinge

Bob

 

[joedodge]

Why piano hinge?

 

[APEowner]

I think you'll be allot happier with the end result if you have the sheet metal shop fold the edges over for you. It shouldn't cost very much and you'll be able to use a much lighter piece of stock. It's actually not the hard to do a nice looking return yourself with the edge of a bench and a hammer and dolly if cash is tight.

 

[joedodge]

Cash isn't right per say. Just trying not to over complicate the project

 

[joedodge]

Thanks for all the help guys

 

[AndrewV]

Im wonder what cart this is for, and the metal supply store. Im a short drive from you, and need to scope out a supply store.
But i was thinking piano hinge, and some rivets on some 16 gauge. If i were you Joe, i would atleast roll 2 edges(top and bottom, or left and right), the added ridigity would do wonders for long term ownership.

 

[joedodge]

I'm in largo, its a matco msc4 4 drawer cart. I talked to tack and warren in Clearwater today prolly gonna go see them Monday

 

[joedodge]

I'll have to talk to him about rolling the edges

 

[LShee778]

My vote goes for 16 gauge with a hemmed edge. If you're not looking to send it to get hem bent then i'd put a small frame on the backside with a hasp on the exterior for security.

 

[joedodge]

I'm not opposed to the hemmed edge at all. Here's a question though would you guys actually put a rivet in every hole in the piano hinge lol

 

[joedodge]

Ok I went and got some small zinc plated hinges and some aluminum pop rivets and a can of flat black rust oleum fast drying industrial enamel and one of those things that makes it like a spray gun. Swung buy the local fab shop and talked to him he recommended 18 gauge he said I could go thinner and hem the edges but it will cost more than using 18 gauge. So he cut it out for me cost me $40. I came home filed and sanded the edges and rounded the corners drilled them out and sprayed the plates and hinges black. I go to work at 12:30 ( I'm an evening shift diesel tech) and I'm gonna drill the cart and rivet them on there

 

[APEowner]

Cool. Thanks for the update. We will, of course, require pictures.

 

[joedodge]

Yep I'll get pics up as soon as there on

 

[signcrafter]

Nice. Looking forward to pics.

Are you doing this for security? Trust issue at new shop or just for peace of mind?

 

[joedodge]

All finished up it's not perfect but the cart is a workhorse

 

[joedodge]

Not sure why it posted side ways. It could use a hinge in the middle of the front door and kinda wish I'd done gloss instead of flat black. But again she's a worker

 

[signcrafter]

Looks nice.

 

[joedodge]

It turned out ok defiantly very functional. Totally annoyin but it's what I had to do for the shop I'm in. Since aerosol cans can't be visible. It's a 20 foot job but I'm a big time chrome don't get ya home kinda guy