Thank you gentlemen for the compliments. First Kevin, just wondering where Eagle River is, I'm flying to Anchorage on Friday, my first time in Alaska. Looks like anywhere in the state is very nice scenery.
Pretty easy build actually. The strips are 1/8" x 1/2" width flat steel 6" long. I welded them to 3/8" thick plate at a spacing corresponding to the ribs on an actual running board. Welded short pieces of angle to use as a guide for the upper plate so it wouldn't rotate any when being pressed. Simply laid a piece of sheet metal between the strips (oiled both the strips and the sheet metal before pressing). Used my 20 ton press to squeeze the plates together and the result were as pictured. I also used a 1" thick plate between the ram on the press and the top plate (thought it might help distribute the load). Was pleased with the results, might look at it some more after the trip to see if I need to adjust anywhere, but I think I'm on the right track anyway.
Thanks, Tom
