Expanded steel or aluminum...where do I get it?

[jonrpick]

Hey all... I'd like to find some of the stuff that's used for the tops of outdoor patio tables and various other things...

This stuff:

Since I've removed the back seat on the K5, I was amazed at how much room is actually back there, especially with the spare tire removed. If I put seats back in, it'll be two buckets with some sort of quick-disconnect setup to make them easy to remove in a hurry. I'm thinking most of the time they won't be there, so I'd like to build in a removable wall, sort of like an Avalanche, right at the point where the rear floor pitches down. This would be mainly just to keep cargo from sliding forward and hitting the back of the front seats.

I also plan to make a new grill out of this stuff for the front end, and probably get that and the interior gate/wall coated with a durable black-crackle finish.

So does anyone know where to get it?

Thanks,

 

[NEK5]

Hey all... I'd like to find some of the stuff that's used for the tops of outdoor patio tables and various other things...

This stuff:

Since I've removed the back seat on the K5, I was amazed at how much room is actually back there, especially with the spare tire removed. If I put seats back in, it'll be two buckets with some sort of quick-disconnect setup to make them easy to remove in a hurry. I'm thinking most of the time they won't be there, so I'd like to build in a removable wall, sort of like an Avalanche, right at the point where the rear floor pitches down. This would be mainly just to keep cargo from sliding forward and hitting the back of the front seats.

I also plan to make a new grill out of this stuff for the front end, and probably get that and the interior gate/wall coated with a durable black-crackle finish.

So does anyone know where to get it?

Thanks,

Check your local Home Depot, the should have it.

 

[jonrpick]

Check your local Home Depot, the should have it.

Didn't think of that... I'll look there, thanks...

 

[chalet2506]

I'd be interested in some pics of the removable wall when you get it built. I've been toying around with same idea.

 

[jonrpick]

I'd be interested in some pics of the removable wall when you get it built. I've been toying around with same idea.

Yeah, I'm still throwing ideas around in my head, but the way I envision it is something like this... (I just whipped it up in MS Paint, forgive the crudeness)

The pins (represented in blue) would slide, like the locks on a screen door or something... As long as the bottom two were locked, then whole thing could stand up or lay down toward the front seats. In each position, you could have a place for the lock to connect to, like the bed rail when in the "up" position. When laid down toward the rear seats, it could also extend the rear floor, giving more cargo room (plus a little storage between the wall and the front floor.

To remove it, you'd just need to unlock the bottom sliding hinges. Simple.

 

[dyeager535]

I just looked up metal supply in the local phone book(s) and found the cheapest place. Don't forget to ask what they charge to cut. I believe it comes in 4x8 sheets typically.

There are different versions of it, that much I know. The steel stuff you need to be careful with. What I used to build my trailer is quite sharp inside the "diamond" portion and I have no doubt that it will cut string, etc. If it's something you plan to tie stuff to, or strap things to, make sure you get some that has large diamonds, as the smaller ones make it hard to get the rubber coated ratcheting tie down ends through.

Finally, expanded metal, at least the type I've seen, has no structural rigidity whatsoever. Any weight will bow any unsupported section out very easily. Reinforcements on my trailer bed are about every 12", and the expanded metal is welded to each one. I made the bedsides removable, using square tubing and expanded metal welded to it, and it's fairly light, but if you don't need it to keep things from hitting you in an accident, you could probably scale down the tubing quite a bit, and save weight.

 

[jonrpick]

I just looked up metal supply in the local phone book(s) and found the cheapest place. Don't forget to ask what they charge to cut. I believe it comes in 4x8 sheets typically.

There are different versions of it, that much I know. The steel stuff you need to be careful with. What I used to build my trailer is quite sharp inside the "diamond" portion and I have no doubt that it will cut string, etc. If it's something you plan to tie stuff to, or strap things to, make sure you get some that has large diamonds, as the smaller ones make it hard to get the rubber coated ratcheting tie down ends through.

Finally, expanded metal, at least the type I've seen, has no structural rigidity whatsoever. Any weight will bow any unsupported section out very easily. Reinforcements on my trailer bed are about every 12", and the expanded metal is welded to each one. I made the bedsides removable, using square tubing and expanded metal welded to it, and it's fairly light, but if you don't need it to keep things from hitting you in an accident, you could probably scale down the tubing quite a bit, and save weight.

Thanks for the info. My plan is to use the thick angle-iron for the frame, with mitered and welded corners. The screen will be welded in place underneath the 'lip' and then braced from behind with more angle iron stock.

I also want to get the whole thing painted with a black crackle finish, for both looks and durability. I'll shop around and try to find something that isn't so 'sharp', but I think that thick finish would probably cover up a lot of that. Also, I don't want large diamonds, I want the smaller ones you see on outdoor furniture. I don't believe I'll have a need to attach much if anything to it, it'll be more or less a temporary barrier. The only reason I plan to reinforce it much is so that when it's lowered, it'll be able to support some weight.

Thanks,