Best frame building material

[Not2B]

[quote=cdr1122334455]I wise engineer once told me two things
1. There is no Best material, there are Right Materials.
2. Use the right application for whatever your material is.
QUOTE]

Very good - and true. Each application is unique.

862 has used plate aluminum, 80/20, welded aluminum tube, and "L" channel in various years. "L" channel (of various sizes) has worked the best for OUR team on the frame. But that's because we don't weld (for many reasons, even though we have MIG, TIG, and Arc welding equipment), we have a tendency to over tighten without spacer blocks (crushing box channel), and we don't use/have CNC Mills or Waterjet cutting (otherwise plate would be nice).

For us, material selection is based mostly on fabrication technique. Look around, see what other teams with similar resources use, and try it out over the summer.