Bead rolling aluminum
 

I mounted up all my Air Ride compressors and tanks etc on a piece of 11 guage aluminum (0.125).... I wanted it to be light and low profile (as compared to wood etc)...I will apply a layer of Dynamat to take care of vibration...

My issue is that the sheet is still kinda flexible....not much, but enough to annoy me :)

So can a 0.125 aluminum be bead rolled?

I'm thinking just a couple of straight lines...nothing fancy

Since all the holes are drilled etc, will the bead rolling prevent these from lining up again?

What type? 3003-h14,5052 or 6061. If it's one of the first two it should be no problem just make a few passes. If it's 6061 and you have no other choice you could annel the area where the beads would be and make them. You should'nt have an issue with the holes.

Mark

No clue what type.... I bought a small sheet of "scrap/drop" from the local metal supply business

Is there any easy way to figure that out?

just try rolling on a scrap piece to see if it'll work,on the holes, worst case, you may have to file a little here and there.

BTW, how is that Cuda coming along?

I dont even have a bead roller, so I was gonna try and find a local shop that could do it for me. I figured I would ask before I show up and look like an idiot.

As for the car...its coming along...but slow. I'll post some update stuff soon....

Well let's hope the shop with the bead roller knows what there doing?

Dominator Hot Rods is now local to me... I've been meaning to go by the shop.... I guess this may be my excuse :)

I think you won't have a problem then.

Ned --- If it's a decent shop - they'll be able to do a quicky annealing job on the aluminum... unless you bought something really exotic...

If you mention the word "anneal" and they look at you like a deer in the headlights --- just thank them and leave... :rofl:

It would be easier to just bend the edge at an angle, any angle more than 20degrees will give it more strength. A 90 degree angle will make it very stiff.

Bead rolling material that thick usually doesn't look real good at the start and finish plus it doesn't do much more than make a dented line.

Go with a bend and you will be happier I would think?