I always have random projects kicking around my head but let's start with just one.
Shopping cart + Triumph TT600 engine
I don't have a tubing bender and no budget for one, so I was thinking of using square and then cutting at angles to change direction.
But where I have no idea to begin is sizing, thickness, and metal "type"
In steel, 16 gage is 1/16" wall, and 11 gage is just short of 1/8" wall.
You will probably want closer to 16gage to make the bending easier.
Other materials use similar but not the same gage thuckness scale.
A good general shop-project square tube might be 1 1/2" .120-wall steel, strong enough for lots of stuff and easy to weld. Best is to go to a supplier and forage around, particularly if they have odd cuts, and kinda use your intuition. As you're building the item, test it for strength and don't be afraid to scrap something that's not working and make adjustments in doing it over.
Thinner material may be adequate but is tougher to weld if that's not your thing, forget aluminum or stainless for general shop use.
Asking "what metal size do I need" without constraints on application, weight, torque, design, trussing, etc. is like asking "how long is a rope."
I'm in northeast PA, the shop is in West Wyoming . I have a bender and dies for both 1" round and 1" square tubing. Sounds like a fun and ridiculous project, so if I can be of assistance or be an enabler, I'm available. Seriously, if you have the materials and don't mind the drive, come on down some day and I'll bend up what you need to get going.
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