dr_beerman
Well-known member
Great post from user Xanadu on Rcgroups.com
I owned a company that specialized in building all aluminum trailers, and here is the scoop in a nutshell.
There is 2 general basic aluminum alloys that are sold on the end consumer market. I mean at local home hardware stores, etc.
Yes, you can always get "aircraft alloy" but it is very expensive, and harder to get. You need to go to a specialty metal store.
There are indeed numerous alloys available, but 99% of everyone only has general access to only 2.
The 2 listed below are readily available to anyone at most home reno and hardware stores.
Structural aluminum, which is usually a harder alloy, deemed as 6061-T6, and is usually marked right on the piece as such.
Most extrusions such as pipe, tubing, flat bar, angles, come in this alloy and temper.
Does not like to bend, tends to crack at the bend due to the hard temper imposed, but is very strong............
Utility grade aluminum, quite softer, easy to bend, comes in sheets, flats, and sometimes smaller tubing, etc.
But prone to bending under stress as it hold less strength due to the low temper and alloy used. Obviously much softer than structural version.
If you want a aluminum to use for strength, such as spars, wing joiners, landing gear struts, etc, use a 6061-T6 designation. You can bend flat bars of it, just do not make a "sharp" radius at the bend point. It requires a larger radius bend so it does not crack.
Bend it too tight a radius, and IT WILL CRACK........
But if you want to be able to form it easily, like as a cowling, wing fairings, etc, use the utility grade.
You can bend sharp corners, very mailable, easy to work, but is no where near as strong as the one listed above. Its more for cosmetic if anything.
Same grade of aluminum as what they use on your eave troughs, window flashing, siding, etc, and it comes in numerous thickness and shapes.
There is no need to heat aluminum to bend it, and when you do you tend to change the temper, weakening it.
One quick way to tell them apart is the shine/gleam off them.
A utility grade is quite shiny, almost a light polished shine sometimes.
A structural one, such as 6061-T6, has a dull, mill finish, almost unpolished look to it.
Aluminum is a magic metal when used properly. Lightweight, strong, yet can be made to look polished, chrome like.
Structural, once you bend it one way, its done.......it will not readily lend itself to being bent back, and reformed. Tends to weaken and crack. So make sure that is the bend you really want the first time.
Utility is a bit more forgiving, as it will let you bend it several times before cracking.
Just a quick review.......
6060-T6, structural, dull, mill finish look, for if you want strength.
Utility grade, shiny, and bright, if you want forming abilities for cowlings, fairings, etc.
Any questions..........?
----------end quote------
I thought this would be helpful to share
I owned a company that specialized in building all aluminum trailers, and here is the scoop in a nutshell.
There is 2 general basic aluminum alloys that are sold on the end consumer market. I mean at local home hardware stores, etc.
Yes, you can always get "aircraft alloy" but it is very expensive, and harder to get. You need to go to a specialty metal store.
There are indeed numerous alloys available, but 99% of everyone only has general access to only 2.
The 2 listed below are readily available to anyone at most home reno and hardware stores.
Structural aluminum, which is usually a harder alloy, deemed as 6061-T6, and is usually marked right on the piece as such.
Most extrusions such as pipe, tubing, flat bar, angles, come in this alloy and temper.
Does not like to bend, tends to crack at the bend due to the hard temper imposed, but is very strong............
Utility grade aluminum, quite softer, easy to bend, comes in sheets, flats, and sometimes smaller tubing, etc.
But prone to bending under stress as it hold less strength due to the low temper and alloy used. Obviously much softer than structural version.
If you want a aluminum to use for strength, such as spars, wing joiners, landing gear struts, etc, use a 6061-T6 designation. You can bend flat bars of it, just do not make a "sharp" radius at the bend point. It requires a larger radius bend so it does not crack.
Bend it too tight a radius, and IT WILL CRACK........
But if you want to be able to form it easily, like as a cowling, wing fairings, etc, use the utility grade.
You can bend sharp corners, very mailable, easy to work, but is no where near as strong as the one listed above. Its more for cosmetic if anything.
Same grade of aluminum as what they use on your eave troughs, window flashing, siding, etc, and it comes in numerous thickness and shapes.
There is no need to heat aluminum to bend it, and when you do you tend to change the temper, weakening it.
One quick way to tell them apart is the shine/gleam off them.
A utility grade is quite shiny, almost a light polished shine sometimes.
A structural one, such as 6061-T6, has a dull, mill finish, almost unpolished look to it.
Aluminum is a magic metal when used properly. Lightweight, strong, yet can be made to look polished, chrome like.
Structural, once you bend it one way, its done.......it will not readily lend itself to being bent back, and reformed. Tends to weaken and crack. So make sure that is the bend you really want the first time.
Utility is a bit more forgiving, as it will let you bend it several times before cracking.
Just a quick review.......
6060-T6, structural, dull, mill finish look, for if you want strength.
Utility grade, shiny, and bright, if you want forming abilities for cowlings, fairings, etc.
Any questions..........?
----------end quote------
I thought this would be helpful to share