My new skid plates:

[Speedwagon]

Ok, not yet. But this is what I'm going to make them out of:

http://www.superslide.com/

http://www.superslide.com/gallery/gallery/1245870750-l-BLUEIRONOFFROAD1.JPGhttp://www.superslide.com/gallery/gallery/1245872115-l-100_1210.jpg


How much does Super-Slide® weigh?
Grade Thickness Pounds per Square Foot
Blue Iron 1/2" 2.60
3/8" 1.95
1/4" 1.30

Blue Stripe 1/2" 2.60
3/8" 1.95
1/4" 1.30
3/16" 0.98
1/8" 0.65

Red Hot 1/2" 2.60

Yellow Quartz 1/2" 2.60
3/8" 1.95
1/4" 1.30

Steel* 1/2" 20.50

Aluminum** 1/2" 7.50


*Steel weighs eight times more than Super-Slide plastic.
Pound for Pound: Red Hot outwears steel 16 to 1
Pound for Pound: Blue Iron outwears steel 12 to 1

[Brody]

That will sure work. I was kinda lookin around to see what I could use if I boatside my heap, so this comes in very handy. Thanks for the link!

[Andrew]

I'm guessing that's UHMW. I think you can get it in Denver.

[Speedwagon]

I'm guessing that's UHMW. I think you can get it in Denver.

It is, and where?

[MelloYello]

that stuff would be great! Post up any info / pics when you get some.

[Andrew]

It is, and where?

That I don't know. I can try and find out.

[Andrew]

Denver:

http://www.aiaplastics.com/materials.php

Fort Collins:

http://www.alphapd.com/Alphamat.htm

I don't know cost or if they will just sell sheets, but that's a start.

Another place you can get stuff:

http://www.indplastic.com/

[Smash]

Oooo, looking forward to this!

[Speedwagon]

They have fantastically fast email response there. Sent an email last night, and had a response by around 1pm today.

I am talking with a guy there via email, about getting a small sheet sent out to me now. Pretty cheap too, only $20 for the sheet if they have it(20"x37").

Besides, it should be real easy to tell when I'm about to hit a bright blue skid plate on a rock, too. :)

[Haku]

UHMW is awesome stuff, but its bloody expensive. Stuff slides on it really easy, lasts forever, and would make a great addition to a skid plate. I'd be interested to hear what they quoted you for it. I've seen some people use it for boat sides, and just put a layer of metal under it so they don't have to use a thicker sheet. Should work awesome though. A lot of the plastic cutting boards are made of it, or at least the good ones.

JH

[Speedwagon]

UHMW is awesome stuff, but its bloody expensive. Stuff slides on it really easy, lasts forever, and would make a great addition to a skid plate. I'd be interested to hear what they quoted you for it. I've seen some people use it for boat sides, and just put a layer of metal under it so they don't have to use a thicker sheet. Should work awesome though. A lot of the plastic cutting boards are made of it, or at least the good ones.

JH

Hey, I called you today. No answer, and you didn't call me back. :p

And on their specials page, they have:

1 sheet 1/2" x 40 1/2" x 154 3/4" UHMW Blue Iron sheet
Location: Wisconsin Dells, WI $270 / sheet

If I compare the cost of having someone make a high quality skid plate, compared to me cutting this stuff with a saw and bolting it on, I don't think I'll end up out anything extra. But I haven't done a complete analysis to know for certain.

[Haku]

Sorry, I was in the middle of a project and didn't hear the phone ring. Was gonna PM you, but spaced it. I'm super busy with a freelance job and then getting ready for the Moab trip. Cutoff saws are not detachable from the base though, so not so great for cutting a bumper. Angle grinder might do it though. $20 bucks or less at Harbor Freight for one.

JH

[Brody]

Sorry, I was in the middle of a project and didn't hear the phone ring. Was gonna PM you, but spaced it. I'm super busy with a freelance job and then getting ready for the Moab trip. Cutoff saws are not detachable from the base though, so not so great for cutting a bumper. Angle grinder might do it though. $20 bucks or less at Harbor Freight for one.

JH

You can get metal blades for a regular circular saw that run anywhere from $30-100 from quite a few places in town. You can also buy a specific 7 1/4" metal saw from metal supply places from $100 on up. Just make sure that you use goggles because even the specifically designed metal hand helds spew sparks everywhere. These will cut up up about 5/16" steel and look exactly like a wood blade. Harbor Freight even sells some. Anchor Tools is another place and most of the welding supply places carry these 7 1/4" metal blades.

You can also run a 7 1/4" regular metal blade (non steel) in a standard circular saw, but these tend to take forever and are best suited for 1/8" or thinner metal.

[Speedwagon]

Ok, I have ordered a 3/8" x 24" x 42" piece of the blue iron now. Shipping was kinda pricey, but overall not to bad I think. $25 for the material, and $25 for the shipping.

[Speedwagon]

The material has arrived! Didn't exactly come rolled up, so I'm guessing that they are referring to semi-truck sized pieces that they roll up.

http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab248/Jouse1/CIMG0061.jpg?t=1272417511http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab248/Jouse1/CIMG0062.jpg?t=1272417544