Home > categories > Minerals & Metallurgy > Aluminum Sheets > Where could I find fairly thing sheets of aluminum?
Question:

Where could I find fairly thing sheets of aluminum?

I need some aluminum sheets for an art project. I'm not sure where to find such a thing, though. I've looked at Home Depot briefly and aluminum flashing is the closest thing I've found. Flashing comes in a roll and is just a bit too thin. I need flat sheets of aluminum that are somewhat stiff, but not more than, say, 1/4 thick. Are there any stores that sell such things? A larger sheet would be fine if I could either get it cut at the store or find some way to cut it to the size I want. How do you cut aluminum, anyway? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Answer:

Sign industry suppliers sell aluminum blanks. try this If you are in a different area of the planet, google aluminum sign blanks. Aluminum can be cut with a metal blade in a jigsaw.
any contractor that does heating and coolin..... or a contruction site in your area
A local welding shop will have the sheets you need, and is equipped to cut it to size for you.
diamond plate (the shiny stuff used for platforms and steps on firetrucks) comes in large sheets and is smooth on one side. you can cut it with a circular saw using a fine tooth carbide blade. wear goggles because the chips fly everywhere and you don't want little sharp metal pieces in your eyes. i'm not sure where to buy it but you may have some luck at northern tool, harbor freight, or a welding supply store.
For sheets of aluminum I always go to a Commercial print shop. they use large sheets of aluminum for printing posters and things. It will have some kind of printing on one side but they can tell u what to use to remove it. It is fairly cheep. I usually pay scrap aluminum price for it I is thick enough to use for craft projects or even like I did made homemade shingles to reroof my house with. Took me 2 winters to make enough shingles. To cut it just lay a straight edge and scribe it with a sharp instrument. and it will break clean..

Share to: