I did not weigh the bash plate because I do not have a scale. However, by calculating the surface area and the total volume of the bash plate one can get to a fairly accurate figure for the weight.
The total surface area for my bash plate is 1828.75 cm2
I used 2 mm mild steel, therefore the total volume is 1828.75 x 0.2 = 365.75 cm3
Mild steel's density is 7.85 g/cm3
Therefore the weight of my bash is 365.75 x 7.85 =
2.87 kgInterestingly, if would have used aluminium (2024 alloy) which has a density of 2.77 g/cm3 (they all vary from 2.63 to 2.85) the weight difference is not that big as I would have thought.
Most aluminium bash plates are made from 3 mm thick aluminium. On the same design an aluminium bash plate would weigh in at the following:
3 mm Aluminium would way 1.62 kg
4 mm Aluminium would way 2.03 kg
The difference between my 2 mm mild steel bash plate and a 3 mm aluminium bash plate on the same design is 1.15 kg.
So with basically a few beers less and a few extra minutes on the exercise bike per week, me and DR are equal to one with an aluminium bash plate.
