aluminum hood tech what gauge to use????

i want to run and aluminum hood on a 28 model a 2 door tub i am building. i want to leave it raw aluminum look.i am looking for info on what kind of aluminum to use and what gauge. i have sheet metal forming experence but i have not worked with aluminum that much. what gauge have you used , what about anneling?????, etc. lets see some pics too. ant info will help. thanks. drew

 

I use .063 - 3003 alloy, no anneling should be nesessary,

 

X2 thats the way to go

 

Make sure you get the 3003-O and not the 3003-H14 or something like that. The ought means annealed condition.

 

have any of you punched louvers in this 3003 aluminum?

 

3003 is as soft as it gets. punches nice and smooth.

 

Try 5052 H32.

This is what the seats (formed Alum like Kirkey) are made from.
If not mistaken, this will work-harden and keep its shape better than 3003.

Just another opinion.......

 

thanks for the info. i will be starting on it soon. i just needed to find out what i needed.

 

3003 H-14 .063 will work fine for the hood and no annealing is necessary. When you punch louvers it is much easier than steel. The aluminum will form very well but the height of the louver will be higher than with steel. This happens if your female die is just an open area and not shaped like the male die. You can control the height of the opening by putting thin strips of rubber in the bottom of the female die. Do some practice pieces and try different thicknesses or use two pieces to see what shape you like best.

For a simple hood I would not use 3003 H-0 because you will not put enough cold work into it to give it any hardness. It will dent very easily. 5052 H-32 is harder to work and has more spring back. For simple shapes it is okay but if you have any compound curves or reverses it is very difficult to work with.

Here is a panel that I louvered, it is .063 3003 H-14 3" louvers.