thank ya sir...
hey Craig, like Tom said, it "can" be pricey... it comes in 4' x 8' sheets.. well, actually, the regional distributor for the stuff will usually rip pieces to size cheap or free if need be.. that can be a blessing cuz you have to have the right blades to cut it... a fine carbide in a circular saw will usually only last about 10' of ripping before its wiped on thick stuff.. ya need diamond tip stuff.. anywhere from to $30 to $100 each usually..
this is also dependent on thickness of material. 1/8, which is what we're thinking for the rear panels (tho i'm contemplating something a tad thicker), can be cut easily with a jigsaw or carbide for a while.. but it also comes in 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, etc.. 1/2 is a bear to cut, and heavy, a 1/2" x 4' x 8' prolly weighs in at 100lbs.. a sheet of 1/8 will bend somewhat, whereas 1/4 will barely flex full-length..
off the top of my head, prices run about $100 for a sheet of 1/8, whereas 1/4, which is what my dash and console are, runs about 175, 1/2 runs like $300 a sheet... i knocked off a $100 dollar debt my boss had with me for the materials i used on the dash and console..
and yeah, its put together how you would think.. you channel out the edges where you are seaming/bonding, lay a cloth epoxy tape, saturate with epoxy, sand, prime and finish as necessary.. there are other methods of bonding too, it comes in many shapes, lengths of i-beam, angle, etc... i was going to use the angle bonded in the corner method for my console, but went with the grind, cloth method instead...
first time my other mechanic saw the dash he smirked and said, "ya know, you should really make a mold of it"
i'm amped on doing the back walls in it.. totally water proof... and you paint it any color... i'm guessing i'll carry over the copper i'm gonna do the whole outside in over onto the back panels, but i may do em the semi black, we'll see..
and although not an audio expert, i have a sneaky suspension it would make for awesome speaker cabinet material, i mean really good.... if you made house speakers out this stuff in 1/2 or 3/4, i bet they'd be insane.. hopefully it will work out well with some good marine 6x9's in the back... i'm very happy with the results carrying it thru the interior, think its gonna work out well.. heck, i may do something with door panels in it too....
wow, that was long...
Just waitin' for the suprises.........
