Damn those wheels are heavy

My friend Peter from Drift-Angle in Slovakia asked me about the 100x100 tube construction, "Isnt it overkill ?". 

Well, no, the 2mm wall makes it rather light, the wheels however .... are a different matter.

 


Throwing around a length of 100x100 at 1400mm long isnt difficult, then you add wheels ... wow. Was shocked how heavy it all became.

Progress tho, and its pretty well done, just needs a couple more decals. However, it rolls, and rolls too easy. Is that a bad thing ?

 

Well, in this case, it can be. I have a feeling the car will run away ... i will have to add brakes to the rear castors, but ill also probably want to setup some stopper legs that go under the beams.

I sat on it, and moved about, and im not kidding when i say it moves easier than my wheelchair. Oops.

Making a start on it

Made a start today on the racecar dolly, looks great so far. 

I had picked up some steel from Marz at DiLena metals in Osborne Park the other day. He was kind enough to let me have the steel needed for the dolly, a kind donation, ill be sure to add him to the sponsor list, as this isnt the first time he has given me a considerable volume of steel for a project.

The mainframe is a "I" shape, 1600 long, 1415mm wide, and it grips the body at the join along the underside of the rocker panel.

I cut up the main peices, they are of 100x100x2mm construction. This is a great size as its chunky, strong but not too heavy. Will look factory with some satin black paint and white stickers.



I then cut up the legs. They seem rather stumpy, but im not used to running a 200mm wheel, and thats whats throwing me off, as the dollies in the past ive built are with 100mm nylon wheels, and they can be very annoying as they can easily get stuck on a rivet end, or a small washer.




The legs are of 100x50x2mm, and the U shape pads are a 50x50x3mm tube that ive parallel cut so they can house a 9mm conveyor belt rubber insert so the car doesnt slide about. The sidewalls protrude about 2mm past the top of the rubber so the car cant slide off either.

I welded these onto the end beams, and that was that this evening. Tomorrow ill weld the spine to the end beams to complete the I shape, weld on the wheels, paint, glue in the pads, decals and we ready to roll .. so to speak.

Trust

An interesting thing happened to me today, something that isnt a common occurrence.

I finally made a effort to get some wheels for the dolly today, and went to Blyth Industries in Osborne Park.

I had a guy whom i later found out to be as Eddie, spend about 40 mins going thru options on wheels, nylon, urethane, cost and so on to get me a deal.

In the end he did a great price on some urethane skinned 200x40mm units, these are so incredible, will be like rollerblading across a polished porcelain floor. A pair are with brakes, pair without, and full ball bearing axles, grease nippled top plates .... ok, perhaps, im a little too excited with this. They are however just, wheels.

What was much more impressive is when it came time to pay, the $300 something bill was a issue. Not because of the price, but the fact i had left my wallet at home, and had at that point just realised.

This however wasnt a problem, Eddie casually boxed up the wheels and said "Take them, bring me back the cash tomorrow, day after ... i trust you, and if you do rip me off, that would be a shame but i wont go broke".

Blown away.

I dont often see this in todays day and age, but i have to admit that its a brilliant thing to hear, that there is still good people and trust, something you dont hear very often.

I loaded up and went on my way, but i felt as though good people need to be mentioned, so thanks Eddie, appreciate it.