Robert Gill wrote:
> OK.Here's the skinny on ALCLAD.You may encounter the terms "ALCLAD"
> and "Pureclad".Both terms designate metal sheets that have an aluminum
> core coated with a layer of pure aluminum onone or both sides. The
> thickness of the coating depends on the thickness of the sheet.The
> nominal Alclad thickness is 4% of the complete thickness for material
> under 0.063 of an inch;2.5% for material in the range of 0.063 to
> 0.187 inch and 1.5 percent for material 0.188 inch and thicker.As for
> the T3 (temper disgnator) it means the material was solution heat
> treated then cold-worked.T6 means it was Solution heat treated and
> then artifically aged.T4 - Solution heat treatedT5 - Artifically aged
> only.T3/T6 are most used. Robert GillValdosta,Ga
Airstream's parts books do not specifically define the metal used on the
60's coaches. However, for the 69-93 coaches the metal is defined as
.040 thick for the sheet below the belt line and .050 for the side and
roof sheets above the belt line. There is no definition of sourcing but
the metal used prior to mid 1982 is described as "bright metal" and
folks into polishing have had good results with it. In mid 82 to 1994
the metal was described as "dull" metal. It had a more visible grain.
Early experiments with polishing were not promising. I have had folks in
a good position to know say that when Beatrice owned Airstream in the
early 70's they experimented with getting the metal from different
sources because the formed metal changed color so much from the flat
sheet.
Charlie
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