Hello cabman and MM, I have been having a think about things over the last few days and have been thinking about rectangular hollow section. Tube is a no no coz I'm going to enclose the whole front end and have some where to store a few bits and pieces! I also find tube to be hard to mitre. I know that it can be bent but try as I might I can't do compound bends.
I decided to go along with the angle section for two reasons which are both connected.
The angle section is fairly cheap so any cock ups are not so bad. I can just chop things about quite easily. I'm working from my head and how I want it to look. When I'm happy it will be easy to 'knock up' the design that I have. All the angles will be right (for my liking) I tend to have a quick sketch and then change things as I go along.
I can also then get a 'real' welder to weld up any really awkward area's for me, I've found a few already
I'd as soon pay someone to do a good job on the area's that I can't do so well coz I can't reach them comfortably. There's not many though so that's ok by me. I can weld pretty well if I can get at things comfortably but awkward internal angles I find really hard. Now I know practice makes perfect but it would probably cost me more in knackered steel than getting a 'little man' or 'little lady' ( Politically correct....please note
) to do those bits right in the first place.
The angles are to give it a 'stealth' look.
I've already decided that the back end of the frame needs to be about an inch higher. Now is the time to change bits and pieces then re-do the frame in rectangular section.
I'm thinking 50mmx25mmx3mm which has about 2/3 bigger cross sectional area than the 30mmx30mmx5mm equal angle. So it will also be about 2/3 heavier. It won't flex as much either so probably won't need as many braces though.
Thanks for the comments, I appreciate your thoughts,
Regards
K