08-30-2006, 01:55 PM | #1 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell.
Posts: 3,367
| Leaf spring material
I'm going to be making some leaf springs on a project I've been planning for a while. Well I've looked for straps from places like Lowes, Homedepot and things like that but they rarely use them any more (they now use nylon). I also Tried at the lawnmower repair type of places for coils although I found one about a month and a half ago it was difficult to get. since it was so difficult I continued to look for material to make my own leafs with.. Well to make a long story longer. I found a place that has just what we need. Harbor Frieght I was there today to pick up some JB weld and other items and came across this; kinda hidden within everything else hanging up. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92515 They are light weight and should allow for some good flex and there is enough to double them up if you need more support. At $4.99 not a bad deal. |
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08-30-2006, 06:45 PM | #2 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement
Posts: 929
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Do you think those will hold their shape well enough?
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08-30-2006, 07:14 PM | #3 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell.
Posts: 3,367
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I will try them out soon enough and let everyone see. +
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08-30-2006, 07:15 PM | #4 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Here
Posts: 2,324
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X2 Yeah mine bend very easily and they are the juggy's Only one way to find out Try and let us know and maybe i'll buy some too |
08-30-2006, 07:21 PM | #5 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Snover, MI
Posts: 301
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i cant wait to see how they turn out,cant wait to see how they turn out! i just pulled some coils from an old engine, still not sure if i want to make some springs up yet, i think i will for another chassis i have. |
08-30-2006, 07:24 PM | #6 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spring,TX
Posts: 206
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i might have go to harbor freight
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08-30-2006, 07:33 PM | #7 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Home of the ORIGINAL Terminator chassis
Posts: 1,252
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I haven't seen those particular ties, but I think you're going to want to use something that's made to spring back into shape. Those may end up being too flexible but at $4.99 they're worth a try though. I'd start at www.mcmaster.com and purchase some spring steel. |
08-31-2006, 10:40 AM | #8 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell.
Posts: 3,367
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They are thin. But what I was thinking is for a "scale" rig you usually have more than one leaf. Correct. So that is what I was thinking of doing with these and should look sweet to, exspecially if I powder coat them black after there stacked. Maybe I'll make a pair to send to someone to test since I'm really far from even starting my scale rig. Just need to get the lenght and height I need them to be. |
08-31-2006, 10:43 AM | #9 |
R.I.P. Chip Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Crawler State
Posts: 13,938
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I think the main thing is that they aren't SPRING STEEL, and therefore won't have the properties of a spring.
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08-31-2006, 11:34 AM | #10 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell.
Posts: 3,367
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I see what your saying. They do actually feel springy but only one way to find out.. Try it, Test it, then test it more.. |
08-31-2006, 04:50 PM | #11 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 2,489
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I saw those but never thought about that! Good idea!
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08-31-2006, 08:51 PM | #12 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North GA
Posts: 824
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I've got a bunch of actual spring steel laying around here if you're interested...I collected it for my scale project, but I never got around to really starting it. If you want any, I can cut it up the next time I am home and send it to you. |
09-01-2006, 08:48 AM | #13 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell.
Posts: 3,367
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I actually have some but thanks for the offer. I just found this and thought it could help others out and thought I would test it out soon. Actually sooner than later than I origonally thought. |
09-01-2006, 06:35 PM | #14 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Saginaw
Posts: 1,721
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I doubt they will have enough memory to really hold thier shape. BUT - since they are thin and flexible, perhaps you can use a single Jugg spring and use these for extra leafs in the stack - just for asthetic purposes. |
09-01-2006, 07:24 PM | #15 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cincinnati Ohio
Posts: 1,673
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I saw those at harbor frieght when I was looking for materials to make leafs. They are too thin, you'd have to stack too many of them they arent spring steel What I found to be the perfect material (hopefully, havent used it yet) Is the recoil spring out of a pull start. You can snag them from an old lawn mower engine. The one I have is about 1/4" wide, and a good spring steel. You could probably get them for free at a lawn mower repair shop. |
09-01-2006, 08:29 PM | #16 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: DH
Posts: 406
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What about the coils used in a pull start for a nitro motor? Just a thought....
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09-01-2006, 08:32 PM | #17 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 901
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Good idea, also maybe mower start return springs...
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09-01-2006, 08:39 PM | #18 | |
RCC Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Auburn, WA
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09-01-2006, 09:02 PM | #19 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North GA
Posts: 824
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Yup...tried a nitro motor coil...way too narrow and thin. They get bent out of shape easy. The best I have used is the coil off of an old gokart engine. Probably be the same as a mover coil. |
09-01-2006, 10:16 PM | #20 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: between heaven and hell.
Posts: 3,367
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That's what I found about a month ago is the return spring from a lawnmore. I have enought to do about 20 rigs it seems. If they're to thin then, and won't hold the shape do you think a shorter stiffer spring in a stack would help it keep their shape? Giving it more flex? Kinda like the helper springs that you can get? Just thinking out loud. |
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