Where to get aluminum?

[pedalinbob]

I am wondering where to get thick bare aluminum plate to create heat sinks...

any ideas?

thanks,

Bob

 

[Evan]

Aluminum cookie sheets are available anywhere, but a sheet metal shop might be cheaper and solve the problem of making nice looking cuts and bends.

 

[StuU]

Check with your local metal supplier/recycler.

 

[lambda]

Most hardware stores have a "SteelWorks" display that has aluminum sheet stock in it also. Look for the 6/8ft lengths of aluminum stock about 2" wide and 1/8 to 1/16" thickness.

 

[Monsters_Inc]

Search for computer water/extreme cooling sites. 'Cold plates' are usually available in alu, copper and silver.

 

[Entropy]

Home Depot is probably a good bet... It's worth the trip just to get some evil ideas while wandering around.

 

[LED-FX]

Scrap yards or metal recycling places are a good source, used to get alloy plate here, that was off cuts from manufacturing,some offcuts were a couple of feet square!

Try looking in yellow pages for non-ferrous metal dealers.Best to visit them around lunch time, take a big packet of biscuits and ask the guys in the yard for offcuts or scraps.

Adam

 

[Eric_M]

www.onlinemetals.com

 

[KC2IXE]

Define - "thick"

some folks call .060 sheetmetal "thick" - I don't start to call it thick till it gets to .5. Up to 1" thick is fairly easy to get - beyond that.....

 

[eluminator]

I used to use aluminum cookie sheets, but the only ones I've seen lately have a non-stick coating. I went to Home Depot and got an aluminum push plate that is used on swinging doors.

 

[pedalinbob]

thanks for all the help--i found a lot of possibilities!

by thick i meant .25 inch or more...

thanks again,
Bob<---gotta get better at searching the web...

 

[KC2IXE]

.25"

www.metalmart.com
www.onlinemetals.com
www.yarde.com
http://www.mousebar.com/fhome.html

and of course, ebay

Go to your local machine shop and ask about "drops"

 

[jeff1500]

I bought some aluminum flat bar at Home Depot.

And I also saw some cast aluminum "feet" for deck posts at True Value.

 

[EMPOWERTORCH]

Aluminium is used in partitioning as a strengthening agent. As my company re-organises itself on a regular basis, partition walls are aslways been hacked about and there are often skipfuls of aluminium extrusion offcuts to be had, some pieces 3 or 4mm thick!