Arch skin

[Bricklayer]

I have come across some sheets of 28 gauge stainless for a steal of a price. It would of been nice to have it when I built my arch this winter but not how it worked out. I attached 16 gauge steel to the inside of the arch and welded it fully. Is it possible to attach the stainless from the outside? I was going to get it bent at a local shop to go around the angle iron and fit perfectly. What is the best way to attach it? Pop rivets? I have had zero luck with self drilling self tapping screws on this project. The angle iron seems to chew them up or they overheat and break off. I even bought the real expensive stainless ones. No luck. I'm sure someone out there has skinned their arch from the outside. Any pics?
Thanks

[lpakiz]

Yes, I covered mine over the angle iron with SS sheet. It took some time, but here is how I did it.
I clamped the sheet exactly where I wanted, drilled all the pre-located, center-punched holes thru both the sheet and the angle iron with the correct size tap drill for 10-24 SS screws. Removed the sheet and tapped all the holes in the angle iron, then drilled out the sheet to 3/16 clearance size. Finally, re-attached the sheet with SS Torx head screws permanently.
If I did it again, I would try to slightly heat the sheet to expand it, so that it would tighten up upon cooling. I have a few slight bulges between bolts when it gets hot. I left a half-inch border of angle iron showing on all 4 sides of each sheet. Make sure you have a vertical "stud" wherever you needed to splice 2 sheets, and leave 1/2 inch between the ends of the adjoining sheets.

[Bricklayer]

The only seams I'm going to have will be the corners since mine is a 2x5 so arch is 2x6 a full sheet 4x8 will do the whole arch do you have any pictures?

[Bricklayer]

I went to pick up the 4 x 8 sheets today abd they are aluminum mill finish not stainless like they told me. Still took them 25 bucks a sheet. Can I use these to cover my arch? I've got it pretty well insulated. I can put my hand on the side for about 5-10 seconds before its to warm. The arch rails get hot but not much of the aluminum would be touching them. I checked it with my gauge and its 22 gauge aluminum.

[maple flats]

To attach with self drillers, measure the diameter of the driller tip on the self driller, then use a regular bit that size or even a 1/64 or 2 over. They will still hold well but will not snap or twist off. You will need to be sure not to over tighten them. Pop rivets work good too, in either case, look for aluminum fasteners or they will eventually fail. Most of the damage will happen in the off season, as dissimilar metals work against each other. The 22 ga. aluminum will show issues far before the angle iron, that would take a very long time to fail.

[Bricklayer]

I was going to get the edges bent over 2" to fully overlap angle iron. On both sides then the same on front. Should give it a good tight hold. My arch front gets a lot hotter then the sides. Can't hold my hand on the front at all. Will the aluminum be able to take the heat? And should I bend it over on to the arch rails 1". My arch rails sit out from my pan 2". I want to have a nice clean look without having to put a trim piece over the seams.