Topic: Help to prepare a seat made out of sheet metal

[Tews19]

I am mocking up a seat for my 550 build, What gauge for sheet metal is best for this application? Once I get it all rolled to my spec's. How can do go about painting it? Bondo first, then primer, sand pain? I am clueless , some guidance please.

[bluesmoke69]

Depends on what kind of seat you want to make, and what kind of tools you have. I made a seat for my bike it's not painted yet, if you have any question you can post or pm me. Also can search on forum example ( cafe seat ). Hope this helps Andrew.

[754]

Try aluminum, 1/3 the weight of steel and no need to paint it. Harder to wel though.
 Guage depends on howbig an area it spans, and wether you can form some stiffening ribs into it. You can probably use .060 or .080 thick material.

[crazypj]

1/8" alloy sheet base with 1/16" alloy seat pan (so you don't have the vinyl over the edges of base)
 If you using steel, 1/16" should be plenty strong enough after shaping, you could use thinner section if you have a bead roller

[Tews19]

Thanks all, I PM'ed you blue. I have access to rollers. I am not sure if I am able to paint the sheet metal though. I want to do an exact replica of the Dick Mann cb750 seat... May be cheaper going in the fibeglass route though.

[754]

Fibreglass just dont shine like aluminum..