Would anyone know what alloy was used in the late 70's on the Barth siding? I want to do some repairs and want the finish to match. (non painted) My guess it's alloy 3003 or 5052 but don't really know.

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Belote:
Would anyone know what alloy was used in the late 70's on the Barth siding? I want to do some repairs and want the finish to match. (non painted) My guess it's alloy 3003 or 5052 but don't really know.

see image 39 as posted by Dave Bowers:
http://www.imagestation.com/album/index.html?id=4291661707
click on pic to select, enlarge to original size and you can read that siding was (then) .040" Alcoa Tonecote

Thanks, that gives me a starting point.

The old Barth ads say "aircraft aluminum". That can mean anything or nothing, but 2024 T3 alclad is by far the most common aircraft alloy. The clad coat is 1100. If the sheet stock is clad, the underlying alloy will not make any difference as far as finish goes.

According to what you may want to spend to verify the composition, there are many Metal Testing Services companies that can do it. Look them up in Thomas Register Onile or go to Google. I think you could snip off a small sample for them and mail for testing. What it would cost I have no ideal. A sample could be taken from a hidden area - behind a headlight assembly or similar.

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Barth Wannabe
Nick and Glo

Would it be feasible to assume that it was a widely used product within the RV industry at the time?...i.e.: Could it be the same spec (or a kissin' cousin) to that used by Airstream, Avion, et al?.....(Avions were built in Benton Harbor, MI, about 40-50 miles from the Barth plant - maybe had a mutual supplier? A son of the Avion founder still maintains an Avion repair shop there....Maybe the supplier & specs could be traced fairly easily...Then again maybe not...I'd be interested in any findings.....

My own suspicion is that the typical aircreaft skin, 2024 T3 is a bit too stiff to run through the dies that form the rib pattern, although I have not seen the machine myself. I saw it for sale somewhere a while back. Does anyone know where it went? It would be invaluable in the event of a mishap.

2024 is a copper-bearing alloy, and can be detected by some chemical or other, but I can't recall right now. I also seem to remember testing for clad or not with something. Does this jog anyone's memory? I am in school for several weeks, so I won't see any of our metal men at work for a while.

[This message has been edited by bill h (edited April 20, 2004).]

Reading the description of aluminum alloys, it seems that 2024 is a logical assumption. I don't know about "clad" but I do know that 1100 is pure. I looked up 2024 in McMaster Carr and a 4'X 8' sheet is approx $250. Still researching. Thanks for all the input. I have noticed that the front flat sheet (the door to check engine) and the entry door aluminum seem to be out of a different material than he siding, because it definitely will not shine up the same.
(seems a lot duller)

Terry, you probably wouldn't want to pay this much for a verification test, but I was curious what one would cost. So here is some info from a Testing Services Firm that specializes in aluminum!

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Hello Nick

Thanks for your question to our Materials Testing and Failure Analysis page on our web site. Yes , we can arrange to do this. The cost will be $150.00 and I will need a sample size of 4" by 4". Payment would be expected prior to release of results.

In case of any future testing needs in the field of Aluminum and its alloys please do contact us at Secat. Our capabilities are listed at www.secat.net

Regards

Shridas Ningileri
Project Manager
Secat Inc
1505 Bull Lea Road
Lexington KY 40511
Tel: 859 514 4989x114
Fax: 859 514 4988
Email: sningileri@secat.net
Secat - Technical Solutions for the Aluminum Industry


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Barth Wannabe
Nick and Glo

Thanks Nick, Right now, I'm working on getting small samples from distributers for workability and polishing to see how they match up. I'll keep the tester lab on file if it comes to that.