Hello,
I was wondering what is the best gauge of sheet metal to use for a base?

Ray

What kind of a base? How big? What's it for?

A production base/table base. A base that I can place a box to make a person appear/vanish.

I haven't decided on the size, but it will be at the least 60 X 40

Also I am planing on building steps and will use sheet metal for the back.



Ray

Hiya, Magical:

When building props, my tendency is to overbuild and I thought of recommending 3/16" plate for your project. That's not good advice, though, because I have no idea what you're building and how loads will be applied.

Your best bet may be to take a set of blueprints (or even a neat, detailed sketch) to a local welding or machine shop, indicating anticipated loads ("140 lbs here," "hinges there," "that folds up," whatever) and ask them to bid the project for you. Go in person, since faxes and e-mails will likely be ignore in favour of more pressing demands. Ask the shop foreman/estimator to look at your plans and make recommendations.

Though the off-hand advice you receive will probably be free, offer to pay. You will enlist a useful ally by this gesture, and any cost will certainly be offset by liability insurance savings.

Sincerely,
Leland Edward Stone

Are you going to use sheet metal or sheet aluminum? There are different tempers and guages (thickensses0>

I the idea of talking to the sheet metal shop is a good one. Make up a cardboard mockup first to make sure you have the sizes correct.

I have a smoke chamber with a 36" x 60" base. I used sheet metal for the bottom of the base. It is 22gauge.

I also covered the sheet metal after I had it cut to size with a black vinyl on what would be the inside. I screwed it to the base with screws every 2 inches. Then I covered the outside of the sheet metal(base bottom) with black felt.

It is very strong, very thin and has held up well.

Using "armor all" on the vinyl inside really helps you slide in/out