Where/how to buy sheet metal steel?

[DaJe]

I might as well start working on building my case soon. So the first thing I need will be steel. Where's a good place to buy it, for a good price? What do I want to look for when buying steel. There ae so many different types of it. What's a good thickness to get?

[Commando]

Steel is heavy as hell. Have you thought about aluminum? Home Depot has a huge selection in the roofing section.

[nil8]

1. Find your local metal wholesaler
2. Ask a LOT of questions. It's there job to help you out.
3. Find a machine shop with a press brake.
4. Make elaborate plans in a CAD program, take it to the machine shop and show them what you want.
5. Get them to do your bends for you.
6. You have a basic skeleton of a case. Have fun.

[DaJe]

I've thought about aluminum. it would be lighter, and easier to bend. It would also cost more. I just want to use steel. And I'm willing to try bending it myself. But, there is a guy nearby that I could have cut it and bend it.

[Drac998]

Even big stores that have an automotive section carry rolled sheets of aluminum for body repair. I've seen it here on the north side in Canadian Tire, something like $10.99 CAD for a single sheet big enough to cover the side of an ATX case. Commando is right to, Home Depot carrys sheets of aluminum, diffrent dimensions and gauges.

[nil8]

If you do bends, get a good vice and attach it to your workbench. Then cut some angle iron the size of the vice's jaws. It helps on 90 degree bends and also to prevent the jaw pattern from marring your metal.

Start off with small, easy bends. Like 90 degrees on a foot or less of material no wider than 8 to 12 inches. Anything large and you're asking for trouble until you get comfortable or knowledgeable of how to make proper bends.

Oh, and use a brass sledge. It won't mar your surface.

[DaJe]

Or I could use a rubber one. And I'm not buying metal that can be rolled up. That wouldn't be sturdy enough to form a case.