Whatever solution you finally come up with will fit your needs I am sure. I have bought wholesale plate aluminum before from a local welder/micro brewery fabricator. It was for a project of 3 canoes at the time it was half the price of anywhere else because they had so much on hand. I still have 3 of the 12″×12″×1/2" plates waiting to repurpose at some time. The cheapest prices sometimes are right under our noses.
CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!