LumpyTheGrumpyCamshaft

When building a catch can out of mild steel, whats a good thickness. I need it to be as cheap as possible, about 1 liter or more, half is for a catch can, and half is for the radiator overflow.

16g ? think i can get away with thinner ?

808DB1

isnt 16g like fender sheet metal ? i was thinking 12 but im no expert

komat

theres no pressure in the can so it wouldnt really matter how thick it is

AspectIndustries

Just use a plastic bottle if you want cheap. (mt dew or something).

Mild steel, obviously your not planning to powder coat it. It will rust and make the oil into ****, if you planning to drain it back into the pan/motor.

Go aluminum if possible! Or stainless... NOT MILD.

Bailhatch

I would use 18g or thicker just because it would be easier to weld, especially if you are using a MIG. If you're trying to do it on the cheap maybe stop by some exhaust shops and pick up some 3" or 4" drops. Usually they will give that stuff to you. Just weld some caps on the tube and you got a can.

Bailhatch

The inside won't rust either btw. A constant coating of oil will prevent that.

AspectIndustries

Park it through the winter, and well see. Haha. -=P Being that, the whole inside can wall, won't always be coated with oil. Since its a catch can, not an oil pan. (tho ive seen some setups with cans filling oil up like its free!)

welfarepc

never had a problem with my mild steel catch can, been on the car for 3 years.


not too sure about a mild steel overflow, how ever...

E-Rok

ummm it wont rust, atleast not on the inside......

id use 1/8th

ALL IMPORT

why use steel? last thing u want to use. aluminum is the only way to go. if u want to be cheap just use a 2 liter bottle.

nowtype

On eBay, there are a few sellers selling clear acrylic scraps for not much money. Put 2 caps and some fittings and you have a catch can where you can monitor how much oil is missing(if you don't want to do a drain back) or offers an interesting look in your engine bay.

That or buy some scrap 4" SS pipe and cap it and put some fittings.

welfarepc

i can think of two reasons

1) one may not have the resources to weld alu
2) its hard to make a plastic bottle air tight and able to stand up to vac

oh and 3) mild steel is cheap and usually free (aka scraps)


but i wouldnt use it for an overflow...