chrome diamond plate

[RAZOR]

has anybody ever tried to bend /shape diamond plate?
the kind that they make the truck tool boxs with-but possibly thinner in thickness?
open to any suggestion on howto.thanks

[olpanrider]

never really thought about it, but why would it be different. I assume that your refering to the aluminum plate. Wont it bend in a homemade brake set up?

[RAZOR]

never really thought about it, but why would it be different. I assume that your refering to the aluminum plate. Wont it bend in a homemade brake set up?
yea alumin-n-num diamond plate thats what it is.i never really bent any kind of
metal and what would a homemade brake setup consist of?
and wouldnt you think that alumin-n-num diamond plate would polish to a
shiny mirror like chrome look?

[olpanrider]

I've bent light gauge metal in the past making seat pans, etc. with a 2x4 screwed flat to a solid surface (work bench?). Loosen and tighten the screws to control the pressure on the metal that's slipped between the 2x4 and the bench, take your and bend away. Works ok in a pinch and it's free!!..........It would polish up good, but it might be a maintance issue keeping it looking good - dunno, just my .02...............

[RAZOR]

hhhuummm never thought of the 2x4 way,i was going to put in the vise.
somthing i'm going to have to try for sure.
how about heating the metal,or will that discolor the almin-n-num???
by the way thanks for your input,nice to get sombodys .02 before i
jump into things cuz i like to tear shit apart..(but its kinda early cuz i dont plan
on doing this mod till winter time).
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.
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anybody else i welcome your input.thanks.

[M@Man]

Yes, aluminium diamond plate can be bent with a little work. I don't recommend using a vise without a couple of blocks of wood to protect the diamond plate, a vice by itself will put little dents it the metal. As for heating it up, I don't recommend that either, yes it will discolor if you are not careful and aluminium also has a different melting point than that of steel.
As for cutting, no prob, nothing a dremmel can't handle. Use the heavier cutting disks though, for some reason the lighter disks get chewed up more quickly than if you were to use the same disk on steel.
Atleast that's been my experience with working with that stuff, so there's .02 more for you. :wink_2:

M@

[RAZOR]

thanks m@man great info the both of you.

[T_Sebastian]

Ive made some stuff out of the aluminum diamond plate. It bends good using the 2X4 method (mentioned before) and a rubber mallett.
I will suggest that if you intend to weld 2 pcs together, you get the .125 thickness.
I started with .062 and it just burns up.
Oh yeah, you can get 3ft. X3ft. sheets of the stuff in different thickness at home depot.

[RAZOR]

Oh yeah, you can get 3ft. X3ft. sheets of the stuff in different thickness at home depot.
thats were i first seen them and i started thinking.
if welding what type if welding would i have to use.(acetiline or mig welder)????