RCCrawler Forums

thecrusader · 08-16-2009, 05:52 PM

well after reading a couple of threads, i got some ideas and confidence
and thought about giving making a c channel chassis a go. i bent it quick so its squashed in areas, but its my first go so i dont really care. i am going all leaf springs and think i will use bike chain to make shackles. (thx for that idea

) any way i would like to see were some of you have soldered on nuts and bolts for fittings, and various mounts. i have some pics. i need to make the front and back yet, amongst other things.i made my own leafs out of sprung steel. im proud of them. heres what i have so far, bit rough but that adds character.

Sydwaiz · 08-16-2009, 09:57 PM

Ha! I just bent my first chassis a couple days ago as well! Almost looks the same as yours. One thing I did was squeeze the bulges flat in a vise before I slit it. Nice job on the leafs too.

thecrusader · 08-17-2009, 02:26 AM

thanks im pleased with my leafs, wich can be done with minimal tools.
i dont even have a vice. i had to do my chassis with pliers

. i miss my old workshop and oxy/acetelene setup. im trying to work out how wide to make it. im thinking just under 100mm between the chassis rails. i think this project is going to take longer than i expected.
has anyone got pics of there homemade chassis? im a bit lost on where to go. thanks.

Robbob · 08-17-2009, 05:32 AM

i found the easiest way to bend c-channel was buying square stock, heating it up with the mapp gas and bending it in a vice. it was less prone to crimp and blow the sides of the bends out.

after it was bent i just crew a line down the middle on each side and cut it with my dremel. that way too i knew both sides were bent the same.

hope that helps.

fernando · 08-17-2009, 10:27 AM

Why not be creative. Keep us posted on your build.

lowslowTJ · 08-17-2009, 10:32 AM

also you can search for brazing info to help you attach other steel items to the frame.

kortt · 08-17-2009, 11:31 AM

Looks like you're off to a great start! How hard is the spring steel to bend? What did you use to get the ends bent around into cylinders?

thecrusader · 08-17-2009, 05:13 PM

when the sprung steel is cold it snaps and wont bend. it bends
well under heat. i take a couple of goes, about 3 heats to make
one eyelet so it doesnt stress it so much, and bend it into a c shape
that i know i could squash around with the pliers. then i put a tool
shaft (pictured) in the c shape and do about 2 more heats pulling it around the shaft of whatever your using, and making sure its square.
i took some photos of my trailer with and with out load, fitted with a couple of my springs. they work well. they look a bit flat so i might have to work on my bending and fitting them. im only experimenting atm with single leafs. i just love the idea of having leaf springs. even more making
them myself. thanks for the help, heres some pics.
the trailer is loaded with 3kg of ballast. so there strong little puppies.

thecrusader · 08-17-2009, 05:18 PM

woops double post. (still getting used to things here)
thought i might show an underneath shot of the springs.

08-16-2009, 05:52 PM	#1
thecrusader Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 107	homemade c channel chassis questions. well after reading a couple of threads, i got some ideas and confidence and thought about giving making a c channel chassis a go. i bent it quick so its squashed in areas, but its my first go so i dont really care. i am going all leaf springs and think i will use bike chain to make shackles. (thx for that idea) any way i would like to see were some of you have soldered on nuts and bolts for fittings, and various mounts. i have some pics. i need to make the front and back yet, amongst other things.i made my own leafs out of sprung steel. im proud of them. heres what i have so far, bit rough but that adds character. Last edited by thecrusader; 08-16-2009 at 05:54 PM.

08-17-2009, 10:27 AM	#5
fernando RCC Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: In a very dark cave can't you tell... Posts: 1,708	Great Idea Why not be creative. Keep us posted on your build.

08-16-2009, 09:57 PM	#2
Sydwaiz Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 492	Ha! I just bent my first chassis a couple days ago as well! Almost looks the same as yours. One thing I did was squeeze the bulges flat in a vise before I slit it. Nice job on the leafs too.

08-17-2009, 02:26 AM	#3
thecrusader Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 107	thanks im pleased with my leafs, wich can be done with minimal tools. i dont even have a vice. i had to do my chassis with pliers . i miss my old workshop and oxy/acetelene setup. im trying to work out how wide to make it. im thinking just under 100mm between the chassis rails. i think this project is going to take longer than i expected. has anyone got pics of there homemade chassis? im a bit lost on where to go. thanks.

08-17-2009, 05:32 AM	#4
Robbob Custom Carbon Fiber Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Connecticut :( Posts: 4,501	i found the easiest way to bend c-channel was buying square stock, heating it up with the mapp gas and bending it in a vice. it was less prone to crimp and blow the sides of the bends out. after it was bent i just crew a line down the middle on each side and cut it with my dremel. that way too i knew both sides were bent the same. hope that helps.

08-17-2009, 10:32 AM	#6
lowslowTJ Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Peoria, Arizona Posts: 919	also you can search for brazing info to help you attach other steel items to the frame.

08-17-2009, 11:31 AM	#7
kortt Rock Stacker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 82	Looks like you're off to a great start! How hard is the spring steel to bend? What did you use to get the ends bent around into cylinders?

08-17-2009, 05:13 PM	#8
thecrusader Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 107	when the sprung steel is cold it snaps and wont bend. it bends well under heat. i take a couple of goes, about 3 heats to make one eyelet so it doesnt stress it so much, and bend it into a c shape that i know i could squash around with the pliers. then i put a tool shaft (pictured) in the c shape and do about 2 more heats pulling it around the shaft of whatever your using, and making sure its square. i took some photos of my trailer with and with out load, fitted with a couple of my springs. they work well. they look a bit flat so i might have to work on my bending and fitting them. im only experimenting atm with single leafs. i just love the idea of having leaf springs. even more making them myself. thanks for the help, heres some pics. the trailer is loaded with 3kg of ballast. so there strong little puppies.

08-17-2009, 05:18 PM	#9
thecrusader Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 107	woops double post. (still getting used to things here) thought i might show an underneath shot of the springs.

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