Making A Luggage Rack

[Rik398]

Hey folks.

So basically, I am not really wanting to pay out over £80 for something that is basically a few pieces of metal, so have decided that I want to make my own luggage rack for a top box. I have been wanting to make something from scratch on the bike for a while now anyway so kinda doing it for the sake of doing it as well if you know what I mean.

Basically, I have come up with a design which basically just requires cutting and bending some sheet metal, removing the need for welding (there is a machine somewhere either here or at my grans but don't really want to jump into welding just yet, plus I want to make it from alloy if funds allow).

So yeah nothing fancy as the box will be on it basically all the time so it does not have to be nice looking as such, though I will probably stick some paint on it when done at some point.

My question is that, being new to this, where can I get hold of some sheet metal? I can easily get some on ebay and online, but I was hoping I could just pop in somewhere and pick some up. I looked at B&Q but they seem to have really thing stuff for furniture covering and the lark so not really what I am after. Probably silly to look there in he first place but like I say... new to this. So where / what kind of places should I be looking?

Thanks Folks.

[Rik398]

I am aiming for something like this, but probably just a single 90 degree bend, and probably just a more or less square slab rather than anything shaped so I have more surface area for the box to prevent mass wobbles.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=SW+Mot ... 2,s:0,i:94

[megawatt]

I make brackets and carriers out of stainless. More difficult to work with than alloy, but stronger and cheaper to weld. Buy alloy off eBay or google a supplier. Make sure you buy the correct grade as some can't be welded and others will crack. I use 304 or 316 stainless which polishes up like chrome.

Can sell you some 1.5 or 2mm by 125mm stainless, but not cheap to post. Or I'll make carrier for ya?

[Joeman]

Dont mess about with metal, you should make i out of cardboard!!!......

.... Then post it to Megawatt for him to use as a template!!

[Rik398]

Thanks for the replies folks, think I am just going to stick to ebay I think, they seem to have a fair amount of that kind of stuff.

Yeah think I may go for steel really. Doesn't really matter as like I said I reckon I can make a decent one without welding out of one piece, the fitment to the bandit seems to be really simple.

And cheers for the offer but kinda want to get the fun from it by doing it myself. I will be back on here if I run into any issues though, and will probs post finished results at some point. Just figuring out whether to wait for the student loan or wait for my wages, got some other stuff to take care of as well.

Thanks Folks.