Ski Builders Forum

Hi everyone.
I have to buy some aluminium to make the first cassette for layup (getting closer!) and wondering what alloy and thickness people use. I am planning on a flat cassette layup process to begin with.
I have read a bit and seems 5052 H32 in 0.032" is a popular choice (yield strength 160MPa ultimate tensile stregnth 215 – 265MPa)
The local metal supplier here stocks 5005 H34 (yield 105MPa ultimate tensile strength 135 – 180MPa). This alloy doesn't have as good strength specs as the 5052, but how strong does it need to be?
Any thoughts appreciated.
I also could get aircraft aluminium which is 2024 T3 (ultimate tensile strength of 58,000-62,000 psi (400-427 MPa) and yield strength of at least 39,000-40,000 psi (269-276 MPa). This stuff seems a lot stronger, but may not be as flexible.
Thanks

You are making rockerd skis so the flex of the al is not crucial. The tighter the radius and the way the press is configured you may have to anneal slightly to get that sweet bend but for your setup what ever 16 ga or similar will work. Isn't 16 ga .060? Maybe in inches, Dunno
If you stuff is flat I wouldn't worry so much. Just press the damn ski already!
Just kidding.
Try different stuff and report back. You may want to go cheap as you will likely have to use different cassettes for each different ski you make.

I forget what alloy, but I use 1.2mm for the bottom skin, and .8mm for the top skin

yeah but you got steel don't you?
I use a 5052 16Ga.

I'll be using aircraft grade 0.5mm (I think around 0.016") for mine. Basically because it was free.

Aluminum type 5052-H32 is very common, rather cheap, and conforms really well to ski forms. I've used both .062" and .050" thickness with equal results. It bends nicely but can get kinked if bent about a sharp edge, so be careful.


-S

MontuckyMadman wrote:yeah but you got steel don't you?
I use a 5052 16Ga.

I use aluminum. Whatever the cheapest alloy was.

Just press the damn ski already!

It's starting to feel a bit like that!
Thanks for the help. I'll go with the 5005 H34 in 40 thou (about 1mm) and see how it goes. Press should be functional by the end of this weekend, but 2 straight weeks of work after that will push back any pressing a while.

On the basis of the majority, the most popular type of aluminum for cassette is 5052.
If you use a different type of aluminum, on what it can be reflected?
For instance I bought 0.8 mm 1050 A H24 aluminium for protection of my heat blankets since there is no 5052 in the stock. And I was advised to use this one. It is flex and bend easily.
As for cassette, I don't remember what type of aluminium I use since I bought it before I found out which aluminium type is more suitable for this purpose.
Please explain the rub.