Bill, the kickplate is used as the top plate of the wooden chassis, right?Funny I should read about this tonight. I was just out this afternoon buying material for a chassis for my K-502 amp. Spend $12 for a 8"x10" sheet of 16 gauge stainless steel, polished on one side at the Metal Supermarket and $8 for a piece of 3x1x4 dressed oak. All prices in Cdn. I think the 16 gauge might be overkill. It weighed in a over a pound and half. 18 or 20 gauge would have suffice.