Sheet steel

[mikekushy]

Hi all.

Thought someone on here may be able to help.

Looking for a sheet of steel for a digging project. Ideally 4mm thick and needs to be a minimum of 1.2m x 1.2m.

Not too fussed about condition, as long as it has no holes.

Kind regards, Mike.

 

[IanWalker]

Mild

Mild Steel Plate 2500 x 1250 x 4mm Grade S275. Buy online or call to order.

www.fhbrundle.co.uk

 

[mikekushy]

Mild

Mild Steel Plate 2500 x 1250 x 4mm Grade S275. Buy online or call to order.

www.fhbrundle.co.uk

I was hoping to use up some old scrap/off cut rather than buying new.

But that is a good price for the size of sheet and grade, Thanks!

 

[Leclused]

I can't send you one but I can share you what we use as sheeting.

These are preformed decking sheets, stronger than flat sheets and lightweight . Picked up on free-cycle group of building materials.

 

[Leclused]

an other alternative are drive plates. Perhaps you can find a damaged one at local building site that you can pick up after asking off course. A 6-pack of beer does wonders sometimes ;-)

drive plate

 

[PeteHall]

There was someone near me trying to get rid of a steel oil tank recently. Would need cutting up in-situ as it's too big to fit out, but it was free.
I'll see if it's still available if you're interested @mikekushy

 

[AR]

Oil tanks are usually made out of sheet a lot thinner than 4mm, so probably not suitable.
A couple of observations about using steel plate- Firstly, a 1.2m square bit of 4mm thick is going to be pretty heavy, and if the dig site is a fair way underground will be a total PITA to get there. Secondly, if it's intended for long-term support of anything, it will rust and eventually give up the ghost; you could be creating a real problem for someone in 30-40 years time if it's not temporary.

 

[pwhole]

I would also counsel against it - this steel plate hidden under a patio (covering an old shaft) conformed almost identically to your specs, and we really struggled to move it about and it was a major pain in the arse cutting it up. And yes, it was rusty, sharp and very nasty to handle. Surely this is what our world of plastic was implemented for?

 

[mikekushy]

There was someone near me trying to get rid of a steel oil tank recently. Would need cutting up in-situ as it's too big to fit out, but it was free.
I'll see if it's still available if you're interested @mikekushy

Yes please Pete. I've got a battery cutter ready for it

 

[mikekushy]

Oil tanks are usually made out of sheet a lot thinner than 4mm, so probably not suitable.
A couple of observations about using steel plate- Firstly, a 1.2m square bit of 4mm thick is going to be pretty heavy, and if the dig site is a fair way underground will be a total PITA to get there. Secondly, if it's intended for long-term support of anything, it will rust and eventually give up the ghost; you could be creating a real problem for someone in 30-40 years time if it's not temporary.

It's at the bottom of a 8m shaft so easy enough to lower. 1.2x1.2m is just the gross dimension, it will be cut further yet.

It's going to be Sat on 3 x 28mm bars and we will be attaching hangers for blast protection...in essence its mainly for shuttering purposes, without having to remove the shutter. So even a couple of sheets of 1.2mm layered up should do the trick!

 

[mikekushy]

I would also counsel against it - this steel plate hidden under a patio (covering an old shaft) conformed almost identically to your specs, and we really struggled to move it about and it was a major pain in the arse cutting it up. And yes, it was rusty, sharp and very nasty to handle. Surely this is what our world of plastic was implemented for?

View attachment 18988

I'm not sure if any plastic would hold up to shrapnel from repetitive he blasts?

 

[mikekushy]

I've added some photos for a better idea of the sheets purpose. We also want to protect the lip of the bottom concrete ring, as seen in the second photo.

 

[pwhole]

Ah, I see. Well I guess a lick of outdoor paint first wouldn't hurt then? Might give it another 20 years more.

 

[JAshley73]

I would suggest calling around to a few fabrication shops with either a press-brake, or laser machines. If you have a drawing - even better, a CAD drawing - a laser-cut sheet is no issue for a shop like that.

If you have a sketch, send it to me and I can put it in CAD without too much fuss. (Probably...)

 

[AR]

Yes please Pete. I've got a battery cutter ready for it

A blade cutter of some sort rather than an angle grinder I hope, given the tank will still likely be full of kerosene fumes? 💣

 

[shotlighter]

A blade cutter of some sort rather than an angle grinder I hope, given the tank will still likely be full of kerosene fumes? 💣

Good advise! Some years ago, my father in law made a father in law shaped hole in the wall of a boilerhouse, containing the oil tank he was cutting!
(Unfortunately he survived.)

 

[mikekushy]

I'm looking into a plastic alternative tbf, we can always use ply as a blast coverage on top. Thanks for the thought food people!

 

[pwhole]

I was thinking about this sort of thing:

https://www.oxfordplastics.com/en-gb/products/road-plates-and-trench-covers

 

[Long Drop]

...keep your eyes open and you might find one lying around in the road for free.

 

[Steve Clark]

There are some thin sheets which appear to have been dumped in Trowbarrow Quarry, near Silverdale.

Exact coords : 54.1745559193622, -2.7960332986070666