Source for DIY bash-plate materials

**chasio** · 18th December 2011, 07:54

The other day a bloke was fitting some signs on my street and I asked him about road signs they replace and what happens to them. He told me they just skip them. We got talking about using them to make bash-plates and he said he'd drop one in next time he had one about the right size. Got home from work same day and he'd done it already: top bloke! I am now the custodian of a damaged blue arrow sign (one of the round ones).

My current bike already has a plate, so if anyone else wants the sign, let me know and it's yours. Or drop into Directionz in Glenfield (16 Ashfield St) and ask them nicely and see what happens.

Cheers - Chasio

**Woodman** · 18th December 2011, 08:38

Nordie, oh Nordie...

**unstuck** · 18th December 2011, 09:05

We had the contract for tranzit nz highway maintaince in the southland area and used to keep all of the old signs to sell for our xmas outing, worth big money for scrap. I have made all sorts out of them, very handy.

**chasio** · 18th December 2011, 11:28

Originally Posted by unstuck

We had the contract for tranzit nz highway maintaince in the southland area and used to keep all of the old signs to sell for our xmas outing, worth big money for scrap. I have made all sorts out of them, very handy.

Yes, lots of options... Been thinking about knocking up a plate to hold soft bags off the bike, but I can always go down and ask for another one if I actually get around to it. (Or maybe I should use it to re-inforce the new number plate when it arrives... Hmm.)

And yes: a nod to Nordie on the bash plate.

**cooneyr** · 18th December 2011, 13:53

Cautionary Rant

I'm one of the fellas that spends public funds (taxes or rates) on installing and replacing signs (keep left arrow is a RG17). These signs are not cheep, especially if modern ultra reflective one, so just be making sure its legit to have them.

Remember that it is YOUR money that pays for a replacement one.

/Rant

Cheers R

**dino3310** · 18th December 2011, 14:19

Thats a lot easier than pinching them just not as much fun

**BMWST?** · 18th December 2011, 14:43

I woulda thought these would be a bit thin for a bash plate...think about the forces involved..200 kg plus coming down onto a pointy bit..not to mention any forward speed...what are they 2 or 3 mm aluminium?

**gav24** · 18th December 2011, 19:53

Nah. They're a good 3 to 4 mm, and work well as bashplates, take the weight of a DR650 landing on them and sliding over rocks as well with no serious damage or dents yet...
I've left the reflective surface on mine so that oncoming headlights will give a cool neon effect at night...

Some scrap dealers will sell them back to you for scrap value just about. Local guy in Paraparaumu has an absolute aladins cave of shiny things and will usually sell stuff back. Cant remember the company name but is in the industrial area on Ihakara street. Top bloke and a magpie like me!

**NordieBoy** · 18th December 2011, 19:57

Originally Posted by BMWST?

I woulda thought these would be a bit thin for a bash plate...think about the forces involved..200 kg plus coming down onto a pointy bit..not to mention any forward speed...what are they 2 or 3 mm aluminium?

They're mainly for rocks being flicked up, which they're brilliant for.
2.5mm soft alloy with a plastic skin.

Mount them with zip ties and bash them back into shape with a rubber mallet...

**gav24** · 18th December 2011, 20:02

Only 2.5mm !
Wow, mine is thicker I'm sure, but that reflective sticker is pretty thick so could be right. Anyhoo, mines bolted on using the engine mounts and the two "spare" captive nuts under the rear of the frame (for a centre stand?) and it has taken some serious abuse - really pleased with it, especially for the price... erm free!

**unstuck** · 18th December 2011, 20:08

I have also used them for a chain guard and made panniers out of them, a toolbox to keep my water pipe gear in and the give way and stop signs can be made into oil drip trays for the leaky 4x4.

**chasio** · 18th December 2011, 20:22

Originally Posted by cooneyr

Cautionary Rant

I'm one of the fellas that spends public funds (taxes or rates) on installing and replacing signs (keep left arrow is a RG17). These signs are not cheep, especially if modern ultra reflective one, so just be making sure its legit to have them.

Remember that it is YOUR money that pays for a replacement one.

/Rant

Cheers R

Totally agree and this is legit. He told me they skip the buggered ones (this one is bent and the front scraped heavily) and dropped it into my drive on his way past. I didn't think I was advocating any wrongdoing with this post...

Cheers - Chasio

**cooneyr** · 18th December 2011, 20:57

Originally Posted by chasio

....I didn't think I was advocating any wrongdoing with this post...

Cheers - Chasio

No you weren't but my post was just to make anybody else reading the thread realise that its public money that pays for the replacements. One of the local construction companies (one of 5 major firms) down here in Chch loses about 2200 cones a year. At $40 each this is about $88k that is thrown away each year. This was before the earthquake and there is a hell of a lot more gear out there now so hate to think what the lost gear will be at the end of 2012 after the rebuild works have really cranked up.

Just making a point that it's no somebody else that pays, its all of us that pay.

Can you tell that this gets me going

Cheers R

**Ocean1** · 18th December 2011, 21:07

Most abused bash plate I ever had was made from the clad sheet used to make electric frying pans. It was 3mm alloy bonded to 1.5mm stainless. Took me a while to learn how to shape it but it was worth it. I had one on a KT250, mounted over 12mm of eurethane, you could literally throw that beastie at big sharp rocks with absolute impunity.

You can still find frying pans made of that stuff, but they're formed with the SS on the outside.

**unstuck** · 18th December 2011, 22:12

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Most abused bash plate I ever had was made from the clad sheet used to make electric frying pans. It was 3mm alloy bonded to 1.5mm stainless. Took me a while to learn how to shape it but it was worth it. I had one on a KT250, mounted over 12mm of eurethane, you could literally throw that beastie at big sharp rocks with absolute impunity.

You can still find frying pans made of that stuff, but they're formed with the SS on the outside.

Any tips to impart on shaping said material.