Turtlerock Forum

Hi, I am looking for suggestions as to what to use to replace top and bottom panels in some rack gear I am modifying.
It needs to be perforated or mesh steel, so it allows air flow and provides screening. It also need to be easy to work with, as I am no tin smith!.
Thoughts?
Cheers,
Paul

If aluminium will suffice, try companies that make security doors as they may have powdercoated aluminium mesh.

Thanks, I thought about that, but I would rather go with steel for the better screening it provides.
Perforated sheet would make a neater finish than mesh, I think. It needs to be fairly rigid too.
Cheers,
Paul

I recall ebay having rack size panels in a perforated style.

Hi Gian, thanks. I did a quick scan of ebay without much luck. Do you remember the search terms you used?
Cheers,
Paul

rack panel steel

some have the word vented, and while its not perforated, it should be fine for what you are looking for.

Weldmesh? Blackwoods?

Hi, I am actually looking for it in sheet form. It's for lids and bottoms of rack mountable equipment, not 19" rack blanking panels. I expect to need to cut it to size.
Cheers,
Paul

Try searching "expanded metal" , I think that is what you might be looking for.
Michael

It's a shame it needs to be perforated.... I have 2 (solid sheet) comms rack shelves f/s in that section

Yes, shame it needs to be perforated, but those 50 year old class A differential amplifiers run pretty hot!
Cheers,
Paul

Expanded or perforated steel mesh, a metal supplier should have it and be able to cut it accurately to size. Expanded is much cheaper but not as nice. I bought some recently (ish) to use as speaker grills on my subs.

This sort of stuff: http://www.locker.com.au/architectural/perforated.html

Thanks, I'll try that approach. I would much prefer to have someone cut and finish it for me if possible.
Cheers,
Paul

Most industrial estates have engineering firms that have sheets of the stuff that they will cut to size for you. Last lot i bought was from Hastings and they cut it to size for me.....Once cut i filed the edges with a bastard file to take off the burrs and aris the sharp edges. I had a stack left over, ie off cuts that is now rusted and beyond the pale.....the sheets i had cut to size where for subs under the stage, de coupled and i had them powder coated black. So it didn't cost too much i told the powder coating firm just to hang on to the job till they where doing a larger run of black and to throw mine in with the larger job. Worked out well.

this stuff.....