Hi Tim,

My local sources charge about $5 per sq ft for 0.040" 5052-H14
aluminum.

A 17x10x3 chassis needs about 3 square feet.

Bobs around between $2.75 and $3.15 CAD where I live in a trucking/farming
community. No shortage of full-sheet capable aluminium shops. Got 5 within
a 20 minute drive.


That's $15 for materials, not counting wastage because the local
source only sells it in 4x8 feet sheets :-). I compare that to $25 for
a Hammond chassis of the same size already made and spot welded, and I
don't see as big (5:1 or 7:1) of a disparity in prices as you do.

$25 for a 17x10x3 Hammond? You must be in the US. They are $45 here.

So, from my POV, buying retail chassis is just silly.

Cheers,

Gregg