Skid plate advice

[frenchconxion]

Hi guys, I am straightening up the tub on my 8x8 and notice the underside has had a pretty hard life. I. Am looking for skid plate suggestions, I was thinking of some thin Ali chequer plate smooth side down.

[amphibious drew]

Do some searching on here. A sheet of poly would be much better for several reasons. Member racerone3 has put one on several machines.

[Rock Doctor]

I'm with Drew, Poly will work way better than Aluminium. Nothing sticks to rocks better than Aluminium.

[guyfox]

I had to replace the skid plate on my 02 conquest. I went with a new skid plate and put it on myself. Not a hard job, just time comsuming. Also having a second pair of hands goes a long way.

[Mike]

Like Drew mentioned, if you will search the site there are a lot of good threads on the topic. Here is one in the how-to section of the site to get you started: How to make a skid plate

[frenchconxion]

Now I just need to work out where to find poly sheet here in France. Then try to get the French to understand what on earth I want it for!!!!! Bad enough trying to get a decent beer round here! Thanks guys you reduce my pain load by 50%

[rodp]

You're going to pay through the nose for hdpe in Europe, it's twice the price over here than in the states. Amari want 30 quid for a 3mm sheet 2ft sq !!!

[frenchconxion]

Ouch... definite wallet dent coming up! Thanks Rod, I may look at finding an old 45 gallon plastic barrel and see if that could be straightened out or something

[rodp]

Already looked, they're 600mm dia x 900 high and vary between about 1.5 to less than 1mm thick. However, I have seen some IBC liquid containers about that are quite thick, they're 1mtr cubed, getting one for nowt is a different matter. They also come in black.
You may be in a better position to aquire one if the contents of pet food come in them. My supply of all things container wise came to an end when the driver retired

[frenchconxion]

Rod the problem with the IBC's is that over in france they are around 90 quid a piece. .......I have found MP industrial plastics And also a company in hull on ebay selling sheet pieces cheap my next question would be what grade 300 500 or 1000? I am guessing 300 but would this affect the weld quality? So many questions

[rodp]

IBC's can be expensive, hence wanting to go through the back door for a damaged one. I hadn't considered welding pieces together, I wanted it all in one piece, I don't really trust plastic welding having seen some attempts at it before.
As far as I'm aware the different grades represent the quality / ingredients of reconstituted HDPE, the lower the number the more rubbish in it, therefore I assume the better grades would weld better.

I'll make a more concerted effort to try and locate some IBC's this coming week, wouldn't cost a fortune to cut a big sheet from one, roll it up and ship to France. I do (did ?) have a contact at Tennants chemicals. If I can track him down they may have some damaged heavy duty ones. Because they make concentrated acid their IBC's have to be perfect with no damage, so something with a faulty neck / seal would suit us perfectly.

Rod

[frenchconxion]

Rod, I have a contact up in lacashire that cut the tops out of their used ibc's I may be able to get some of these free I may give them a call this week see if they have any damaged ones they would cut the sides off for us. So the 300 may be the stuff to avoid ? I did a search on ebay and came up with gfg plastic fabrications ltd in hull which is not far from my inlaws. I am seeing what price they will do a sheet of green hdpe. I will let you know what I find out.
Thanks for the help
Carl

[rodp]

Carl, what do they do with what's left when the tops have been removed ? They would leave a piece 4 x 1+ mtr.

[frenchconxion]

Rod. They use them for stori g meat in for petfood production

[rodp]

Damnit ............... you just can't scrounge useful stuff nowadays