Forums

davesport

I'm in the process of getting everything together to put solar power on my van. I've made mounting hardware for the panels out of 6061 T6 Aluminium & am wondering if it's worth having it anodised before fixing it to the roof. The other option is simply to leave it in its unfinished state.

Advice would be welcome.

Thanks in advance Dave.

Chigman

I would leave them in their natural state Dave,not going to be seen are they,and it would be just another albeit small expense.

steve

camoyboy

If you are planning to use only adhesive to attach your panel to the roof, and no mechanical fixings, then I would recommend getting your brackets anodised. This will seal and prepare the surface to take the adhesive, and make a stronger bond. All of our aluminium parts at Lotus are anodised before bonding for that reason. I would also recommend using a primer on the surfaces to be bonded, to ensure you achieve a permanent joint.
Colin

davesport

Camoyboy.

Thanks for the interesting & informative reply. I'm intending to use only Sikaflex 252 which I've been told is the correct stuff for the job Question

Can you elaborate on the primer aspect of the proceedure & which primer would be the most suitable for the job.? I was intending to scotchbrite the contact patches & de-grease with the likes of brake & clutch cleaner.

The roof is a composite sandwich with painted aluminium skin on the outside.

I've had a bit of a look under an Elise before & the bonding agent can clearly be seen protruding from the contact faces of the extruded sections. Obviously very strong.

Small world sort of. I've got a Chapman derived car in my garage in the shape of a Caterham 7 Very Happy

For a fifty year old design is still an engaging drive & it just goes to show how far ahead of his time Chapman was in his thinking. Add lightness Very Happy

Thank & regards Dave.

Westysprinter

I bought an Anodising Kit from Frost's it cost about £100 and I have done quite a lot of my suspension components with it. You do need to make sure items are extremely clean and you can touch the parts between the anodising bath and the fixing/dying tank. anodising also adds a hard layer to the aluminium great if you expect any wear on the parts.
Oh yeah and ive got a Westfield which as we all know is an evolution of the Lotus 7 rather than a Caterham which is just a direct copy Laughing

davesport

Westy. Just read your reply Laughing

Dave.