By Frank Ross
There are many ways to dress up a truck, trailer, garage or workspace but none of them have the dramatic impact and appeal that aluminum diamond plate provides. The popularity and durability of diamond plate is most often seen on fire trucks, ambulances and heavy-duty trucks, but in recent years folks have found a way to incorporate this highly durable, attractive metal into just about every conceivable form known to man. Simply put, if a design idea in conceived, someone has built it in diamond plate.
In addition to the standard motor vehicle dress ups, tool boxes, kick plates and workbench applications, diamond plate shop accessories have been created in everything from tool and towel racks, trash cans, switch plates and even shop lights. However, if you’re the typical home owner with a shop and tools, you want to make as many of these yourself to save a few bucks and have the exact dimensions that meet your particular needs.
For common uses such as kick plates, Quick Ship Metals has precut diamond plate aluminum ready to ship, and special orders cut to specific sizes are not a problem. Both are routinely shipped out daily. For a quick solution to shelving needs in a garage or work area, these heavy-duty one-piece Diamond Plate Shelves are perfect. They’re extremely strong and ready to mount.
Although the eye appeal is a strong motivator for using diamond plate, the ease of working with it is also a major factor. You can cover a lot of abuse on the front, sides and back gate of a horse trailer by wrapping it with .063 diamond plate. It’s easy to cut, shape and attach with a minimal amount of tools and labor. Another positive aspect of this versatile metal is the added weight to a vehicle or trailer is minimal.
When selecting diamond plate, the most common question consumers have is related to thickness. In general there are two common areas of application, decorative and structural. For decorative use where you are not supporting weight, .063 would be a good thickness. Our .080 and .125 diamond plate is ideal for applications where you need more strength such as the interior walls of a trailer. These grades are great for uses that do not require structural support. Our Heavy Duty Aluminum Diamond Plate Corner Protectors, made of .125 DP, are very popular. It features a one piece design for solid strength and rugged protection. Some people also use the .080 grade for wainscoting in high traffic areas. For structural use or for building trailer ramps that have to support a lot of weight, use ¼” 6061-T6 TREAD PLATE.
If you’re the type of person that is more of a hands-on craftsman, the sample pack enables you to hold the metal in your hands and get the feel for the various gauges. For only $12.99 you can order an Aluminum Diamond Plate Sample Pack that contains .063″ through .125″ thicknesses offered by Quickshipmetals.com. The .250″ thickness is not in our sample pack but available upon request.
As a dedicated Harley rider in a very hot climate I can tell you that parking your motorcycle on asphalt, sand or plain dirt and hoping the kickstand won’t sink into the hot surface and topple is no way to leave your ride. What you need is a custom cut 6” x 6” Motorcycle Kickstand Plate. Besides being a sharp addition to your bike, having the peace of mind is worth a lot more than the cost of this handy plate. Another great idea for bikes is the Flame Motorcycle Pad.
This flame sculpted diamond plate motorcycle pad is custom cut from .080 aluminum diamond plate and it will provide your bike with a stunning parking spot that your buddies will definitely envy. This 10’ x 4’ bike pad will accommodate most size motorcycles and includes a non-skid rubber mat to rest on.
When the brightly polished look isn’t what you’re looking for, consider Black Aluminum Diamond Plate .063″. This unique metal gives you the advantages of a tread plate surface, without the weight of steel.
Another positive aspect of using aluminum diamond plate is the ease of care. After a while, the accumulation of road dirt and residue can leave your beautiful metal with a dull appearance. With a few easy steps and a little elbow grease, you can quickly restore the once-bright shine. Start by using a very fine steel wool to remove any accumulation of dirt and film. Next you need to use a lime-cleaning agent and a rough sponge to scrub the surface thoroughly. If you have sensitive skin, when using strong cleaners a pair of heavy-duty rubber gloves is always the wise option. Once you’ve got the film and road dirt removed, wash away the cleaner with soap and water. Now you need to apply some Mother’s Aluminum polish. A microfiber cloth is the preferred method of application, and it is best to work the polish into the surface slowly concentrating on small areas at a time for a smoother, even appearance.
Once the polish has fully dried, finish off the process and add a layer of protection by applying a coat of Mothers aluminum wax. This is the most challenging part of the job, so be very careful to use very small amounts of wax at a time. Trying to wax a large area can lead to spotting and streaking. To prevent the wax from building up on the edges, apply the wax in as thin a coating as possible, paying particular attention to rub out any streaks that begin forming.
QuickShipMetals.com carries Aluminum Diamond Plate in sizes and gauges that are perfect for any application. For additional information or assistance with your order, login to our Live Text and Chat Support try our toll free number, 1-888-2177.
