Raising Thomas roof, ok to use carbon steel instead of galvanized?

[blissout]

A local shop can cut me some carbon steel hat channel now, but galvanized will be another week and a half. Can I use the carbon, considering I'm spray insulating it afterwards? I know it's dirtier to weld, but I'm doing it outside anyway. Is it structurally ok to use though?

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by blissout

A local shop can cut me some carbon steel hat channel now, but galvanized will be another week and a half. Can I use the carbon, considering I'm spray insulating it afterwards? I know it's dirtier to weld, but I'm doing it outside anyway. Is it structurally ok to use though?

much safer ( for you ) to weld carbon steel than galvanized

[PNW_Steve]

Carbon steel is what most of us use with very good results.

[Tango]

If you must weld galvanized...grind the coating back around the weld joint.

[blissout]

Ok great, I ordered the carbon steel. Only $350 for 14 gauge including tax custom bent and cut to length.

What about sheet metal? Obviously galvanized for that but can I go with 20 gauge considering I'm going to have to deal with that 6 degree angle thingy to deal with? The new hat channel is going to make a new ~3 degree tilt. Or should I still definitely go 18 gauge?

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by blissout

Ok great, I ordered the carbon steel. Only $350 for 14 gauge including tax custom bent and cut to length.

What about sheet metal? Obviously galvanized for that but can I go with 20 gauge considering I'm going to have to deal with that 6 degree angle thingy to deal with? The new hat channel is going to make a new ~3 degree tilt. Or should I still definitely go 18 gauge?

I've noticed with some conversions that used thinner sheet metal to cover the rise, that the foam insulation makes it bulge a bit, and when the sun hits the new shiny paint, it unpleasantly catches my eye - you could disguise that a bit if it matters to you, by using a low luster or flat paint so it doesn't reflect the light so much, or go with the heavier gauge sheet metal

[Tango]

The least I would ever use would be whatever is closest to the stock body panels. On buses that is typically around 16 ga. Many makers spec their own sheetmetal and quite a bit of it works out to about 15 ga. (no such thing if you go looking for it so settle on 16).


Go too light and you will probably get some pretty nasty "oil canning".

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by Tango

The least I would ever use would be whatever is closest to the stock body panels. On buses that is typically around 16 ga. Many makers spec their own sheetmetal and quite a bit of it works out to about 15 ga. (no such thing if you go looking for it so settle on 16).


Go too light and you will probably get some pretty nasty "oil canning".

I plan on getting a junk yard bus body - then I'll have pre-painted panels and hat channel for the raise and spare roof sections to work the transitions on the roof