What is the thickness of fender steel?

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: What is the thickness of fender steel?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 08:38 pm:

Hi.

What is the gauge of the steel for fenders. If it matters, the model is a 1927 Coupe.

I am measuring about 0.033", which translates to a 21-gauge, but (for some reason) I thought it would be 18 gauge (0.0478")

Thanks.

Dennis.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By roy palmer on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 09:06 pm:

Good question.

I was told that the reproduction fenders from Rootlieb were not as thick as the originals. Don't know if that's true or not..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Dupree on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 08:51 am:

The metal I have measured is generally 19 gauge, both fenders and body. The Howell's sheet metal parts are typically 20 gauge, you can really tell the difference. Since 19 gauge steel is fairly hard to come by, I am using 18 gauge for the repair/replacement parts I make.

Ron Dupree


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 09:12 am:

Thanks.

I guess the fenders are a little thin, then.

Thin tin, then???


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Randy Driscoll on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 12:58 pm:

Ron is correct, Ford, and much of the auto industry of the time used a lot of 19 gauge. When I first measured some early tin I came up with 19 gauge and thought maybe I was getting bad readings because 19 gauge is an odd size by today's standards. To confirm my findings I weighed some body panels, measured the area and and looked at my steel weights chart. The weight per square foot fell exactly between 18 and 20 gauge. I used 18 gauge to make the new panels.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 03:49 pm:

When I first bought and began restoring my '26 coupe back in 1970, it was all original but very rusty. I had a large ball pein hammer sitting on top of the rear corner of the roof. As I was trying to grab for it, I accidentally lost my grip on it and it slid off the roof and hit the rusted rear right fender with a loud clang. I examined it expecting the worse, but there was not even a mark, so I wouldn't classify the steel as "thin".

The lower the gauge number, the thicker the steel: 20ga.=.0359"; 19ga.=.0418"; 18ga.=.0478". If I had to guess, I would say that the fender steel is about 3/64" or .046" thick.

I have seen old Ford newsreels where the Model T fenders are shaped in a giant press with male and female forms which shapes them in one smash of the press. If they started off with 18ga. plate, it is possible that the 18ga. is slightly thinned to around 19 plus ga. by the pressure of the massive press. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Lambert on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 08:56 pm:

This is all helpful. I checked a little further and the fender that I am repairing appears to be 19 gauge, while the fender I am using for a patch appears to be 21 gauge. I think that I am setting myself up for a bout of wailing, weeping, et cetera if I use a different thickness.

Your thoughts?

Thanks.


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration