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General Forums => Air Speed Lounge => Topic started by: shovel80 on June 16, 2006, 10:29:34 AM

Title: Metal Thickness
Post by: shovel80 on June 16, 2006, 10:29:34 AM

When it comes to making replacement parts for panel parts (rocker's,  front kicks) what should a guy use 14g 16g 18g and what do these numbers cross over to ??

Title: Metal Thickness
Post by: jason_hamilton on June 16, 2006, 11:13:02 AM

According to some VW info I have on microfiche, all body metal is either .88 mm (22 gauge) or 1.0 mm (20 gauge).

Title: Metal Thickness
Post by: Bruce on June 16, 2006, 12:31:09 PM

It depends on the year.  Older cars use thicker steel.  For example, the steel used on the 64 Karmann Ghia I used to own was 0.9mm.  70s cars use 0.8mm.  Repro body panes are thinner still.

I think .8mm is close to 20 ga.

If you are making small panels, try to use genuine VW steel, it is the right thickness.  Also, there is less chance of rejection.

Title: Metal Thickness
Post by: Greg on June 16, 2006, 05:34:05 PM

All the body repair that Im doing on my Van is with 18 ga. When in doute, use thicker.

Title: Metal Thickness
Post by: Hansk on June 16, 2006, 08:26:40 PM

18 ga steel = .048\"
20 ga          = .039\"(aprox )
22 ga          = .029\" (aprox)

These sizes are sort of the official standard for cold rolled steel sheet
I think there is a tolerance of a few thou either way but funny thing is,
I've never seen it thicker but always thinner. So like 18ga will actually always measure about .045\" or .046\" or sometimes even less. Really screws you up when your trying to form thousands of pieces to with  
in one degree of angle or 1 or 2 thousands of an inch and the material
changes that much.

Title: Metal Thickness
Post by: Bruce on June 17, 2006, 01:20:21 AM

Too bad they don't make 21 ga, that would be closest.