lower cowl thickness

[Laz]

I am about ready to make a new lower cowl on my BC12D. I have a couple of beat up ones. Does anyone know what thickness and type of aluminum is best, 3003 or 5052. the one I have seems to gauge out around 35 thou. My should I use 40 thou or 32 thou.

any other tips on how to build this part is appriceated.

[Taylor Maid]

Re: lower cowl thickness

Want to make one for me? I'll give you a beer at OSH!

[Laz]

Re: lower cowl thickness

What Kind of Beer?

[Taylor Maid]

Re: lower cowl thickness

Free!

[flybikefarm]

Re: lower cowl thickness

Remember the ENEMY of good is better!!!!!!!

[skipilot]

Re: lower cowl thickness

I am currently getting a top and bottom cowl made down in Florida. Should be done with in the next month. Will post some pics of it when i get it. Will all be Brand new!!

[Mark Julicher]

Re: lower cowl thickness

Laz,
Too Cool! tell us about the process you plan to use - i.e., wheel, buck, slapper?

Go with .040, you will like it because .040 is forgiving if you get a thin spot.
I prefer 3003 H-14 for big stuff and 3003 H-0 if I have to do a lot of forming. 3003 is weldable with gas or tig so you can do some amazing stuff with it. I guess the same is true for 5052, but I only use that for fuel lines so some other tribe member will have to tell us their experience with 5052. \

(Hey, you know how bashful the tribe is, so we may have to arm-twist to get an opinion out of anyone)

Note that Kent White, the Tin Man uses .050 , 3003 at most of his demonstrations. I asked him why .050 and he said it was to prevent getting thin spots on deep draws.

I am about ready to make a new lower cowl on my BC12D. I have a couple of beat up ones. Does anyone know what thickness and type of aluminum is best, 3003 or 5052. the one I have seems to gauge out around 35 thou. My should I use 40 thou or 32 thou.

any other tips on how to build this part is appriceated.

[Laz]

Re: lower cowl thickness

Thanks Mark,

I plan to use 3003 h14 at .40 . I am very lucky because I have a friend who made one for a pre-war 41 a couple of years ago. You may have seen it at Oshkosh 2 years back. It was red and black. He used .40 3003 but I was not sure because my old cowl is somewhat less than that. If I am lucky my friend will not let me get to screwed up. When he made his the biggest problem was Univair's nose bowl. It is not correct and even the grills they sell do not fit in the bowl. I plan to use my original bowl. It needs work but I think it will be OK.

I hope to post some updated pictures in the gallery as I proceed. I already made a new boot cowl.

[astjp2]

Re: lower cowl thickness

I got a blank from the factory (Yes Harry!) and it was .063 3003, then I just trimmed to fit. Tim