aluminumn residential driveway gate with scroll work. What scroll machine to buy?

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The aluminum gate will be a two section piece a total of around 16 feet long and 6 feet high. that means each half is about 8 feet long with a weight of each side should be about 75 to 100 pounds.It will be opened with a mighty muel gate opening system. This gate opener says not to use a solid gate due to wind loads. We do get 3 to 4 really gusty storms a year here in North Carolinafor the scroll work I want to use some 0.5x1" aluminum tube so it is really beefy looking, but I can't seem to find a scrolling machine that will do metal that thick. Any recommendations? If it comes down to it I might just taper the 0.5x1" wal thickness of 0.093" metal down to 3/16" anyone ever try that?the wooden colored areas of the fence will actually be 1x5" aluminum tube 16 gauge wall thickness. I wanted some wood in the design because I have a wooden privacy fence on the other side. and it will tie in asthetically.for the outside perimeter i was thinking of using 2x2" x 1/8" wall thickness tube. Anyone know if that will be strong enough?I did do a forum search and there are a couple of pages on steel gate designs, but I couldnt' find one on aluminum?Thanks for any feedback.
Reply:Scrolling tube usually isn't all that easy since tubing crushes. Creating a guided scroll jig like they use to bend square tube will be a project in and of itself, and then I still don't know if you will be successful because alum is so soft.Or you can just buy the pieces...http://www.kingmetals.com/Catalog/Ca...3&ViewAll=truehttp://www.kingmetals.com/Catalog/Ca...ogDetailId=918.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:thanks for the links and this is for my own driveway, so if it breaks, its my own liability.i found this web site with drawings and a list of all materials used , might be very helpful to those that need guidance on what thickness metal to usehttp://www.gatedepot.com/category/al...riveway-gates/
Reply:I don't have much experience with aluminum, but I'm with DSW on using tubing for the scrolls. I don't think you'll be able to bend tubing that tight. Solid stock or out source (King's).Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:Just remember aluminum scrap is $1.79 right now, tweekers will steal your gate.
Reply:really? I was getting about 50 cents a pound for scrap aluminum a few months ago, should of waited!
Reply:Originally Posted by middleofnowhereJust remember aluminum scrap is $1.79 right now, tweekers will steal your gate.
Reply:I would look for a soft alloy like 3003 instead of the more common 6061 aluminum.Miller xmt304,  Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.