Aluminum vs Steel chassis

[twangzilla]

Which type do you guys prefer? If you use steel, how are you drilling it? When I drill steel, it always leaves a pile of steel around the whole , not a clean whole

[M Fowler]

I prefer to work with aluminum if I punching and drilling all the holes otherwise steel is fine.

I get material build up from both steel and aluminum and expect to clean up each hole when drilling.

Mark

[David Root]

I use aluminum unless I'm doing something in a tweed chassis, and that's only because I've never seen a tweed chassis in aluminum.

If you've ever fully drilled a blank steel chassis you'll understand!

[Phil_S]

I'm a clean as you go type. I run a vacuum after each hole so it doesn't get messy and the stuff is sharp. I've got an old Hoover canister vac with a bag inside!

I like aluminum. It is much softer than steel, much easier on your tools, and takes much less effort.

Steel will dull your tools quickly. It really helps to have a drill press, which I don't. Leftovers on the holes are harder to clear. I use a Shaviv deburring tool (really nice) and it can take many scrapes on steel. Deburrng aluminum by contrast is once or twice around and it goes very easily.

If you want it polished to a mirror finish, you need steel. If you want paint, steel is better. It is harder to get paint to adhere to aluminum.

[bal704]

When I use the 100w laydown transformers that are going to be hanging upside down in the headshell/combo, I use steel chassis. The transformers are just too heavy for any Al chassis I've ever seen. I always buy these pre-drilled with the large hole already cutout, which means I'm stuck with the tube layout. Steel is harder to work with hand tools than Aluminum.

I prefer to buy blank Al chassis, and lay them out how I want. However, I use steel with the super heavy transformers.

[M Fowler]

I haven't had any stress problems with aluminum chassis using tubes down layout even with 100w transformers.

Mark

[bal704]

Who are you getting your chassis from?

I haven't had any stress problems with aluminum chassis using tubes down layout even with 100w transformers.

Mark

[stretch2011]

I make my own chassis and have some for sale. I did my 5f2a Princeton in aluminum. 078" and it turned out great.

I have all my stuff laser cut so drilling isn't a problem....unless I screw up a hole on cadd which would never happen in a million years.....

[Leka]

Once I made a chassis out of stainless steel.

It was really hard to make all the holes with a drill...

Never again.

[JMFahey]

I always use aluminum, and cut/bend/punch/paint at home.

2mm for the heavier stuff, 1.5mm for general purpose (preamps, front panels, etc.) .

If using the chassis as heatsink in 60/100W amps, I sandwich inside an extra 1.5mm rectangle, as large as possible and with thermal grease in between to help spread heat quickly away from the hot spots (power transistors) .

I consider steel unusable for the home builder.

Now if you are Leo Fender and have one of these

[img:300:300]http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/image ... -press.jpg[/img]

then steel is fine.

Although even him almost got broke paying for all the special punches and dies he ordered.

[Stevem]

Is Aluminum not better in regards to not passing magnetic flux from the PT?

[galtjunk]

I found a local heating and a/c duct builder.
They have a cnc plasma cutter.

I use Solidworks to draw up the chassis complete with all mounting holes for boards, transformers, pots, jacks and any other holes needed.
They fold the chassis for me after the cnc gets done.
I use .063 aluminum sheet.
They can bend thicker aluminum.
The bottom picture shows the corner welded with an aluminum brazing/soldering rod. It works with a propane torch and it's very strong.
I now have them put a square hole on the folded tab for the nuts to clip on.

[M Fowler]

Who are you getting your chassis from?

I haven't had any stress problems with aluminum chassis using tubes down layout even with 100w transformers.

Mark

Various suppliers ebay,
www.turretboards.com
www.rjguitars.net
http://amplifiednation.com/
http://www.seasidechassisdesign.com/

[Andy Le Blanc]

I use mild steel purchased locally

all the layout and drilling is done in the flat

then bend with a simple break

Id love to have a box and pan rig

steel is cheap and easy, it don't gum up the tooling,
and the stretch on the break more predictable.

if you have the right tooling the material isn't so important

[Gtr_mann]

Is Aluminum not better in regards to not passing magnetic flux from the PT?

I have heard this before ... Not sure if this is a problem, I haven't built enough amps to know..... Maybe Egnater or Fuchs can answer this one...