Making Wheels!

[tacocat]

Thanks for posting this! It really shows how much of a deal your wheels are considering how much work and tooling goes into them.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Step 12: Cutting the beadlock grooves.



Step 13: Chamfering the edges. Taking the sharp edges away makes it look better, makes the tire easier to mount, and prevents the beads from being cut.



Step 14: Final cleanup and inspection. The deburring tool cleans up the hub hole, the xacto removes any wayward burrs in the design, and the countersink is used on the hub bolt holes.



Step 15: Bath time! They all go to the kitchen sink for a good soapy brushdown, then toweled off and left to sit until they are completely dry.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by tacocat

Thanks for posting this! It really shows how much of a deal your wheels are considering how much work and tooling goes into them.

Don't remind me.

Wheels are not very profitable for me to do, but I do enjoy making them.

[DickyT]

Thanks for sharing the process Duuuuuuuude! I feel smarter and dumber at the same time. Smarter because I know how you do it now, and dumber because I only understand the setup for about 1/2 of it.

[RcBro]

Very cool to see. Also nice you mentioned the quality difference between delrin and the other acetal products. I wish all customers understood the difference!

[EddieO]

Did you grind the face grooving tool yourself?

Interesting process.

Later EddieO

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by EddieO

Did you grind the face grooving tool yourself?

Interesting process.

Later EddieO

Yes. I've got a couple that are curved, one for parting, and another for the beadlock grooves,.



I bought a stick of 3/8 key stock to practice on first since it's cheaper and easier to work with than tool steel. It'll harden enough to make a few cuts to see if you're on the right track.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Grinding tools is my favorite part of a shop lathe. Very satisfying work.

[Duuuuuuuude]

All cleaned up and ready for packaging.

[BadWagon]

Sexy!

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by BadWagon

Sexy!

Thanks, I've been working out.

[rcaholic13]

Nice! "Thumbs-up" Those twisters mine! Look good..

[84yoda]

More vendors should do this to show whats all involved making all the different rc parts. Then maybe, MAYBE people could understand how some parts cost what they do.

Anyways, great job. I hope one day I will own machinery like this to make my own parts. Please post more if you can, I like seeing this part of the hobby.

[Barndog Racing]

Wow thats awesome thanks for explaining the process!

[JoeConti]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

All cleaned up and ready for packaging.

Thank you so much for sharing. It is so good to know what goes into making these wheels. I come from a line of bad experience with beadlocks. I am very interested in these wheels but am very concerned about the strength of the beadlock screw holes. I have stripped a few while, some others have failed in my time. You can imagine why I'm asking you this:

Will the treads survive regular removal and reinsertion of the beadlock screws whenever I remove the tyres to get any water and dirt out?

This is now technology for me.

Thank you

[JatoTheRipper]

Very cool of you to share this.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by JoeConti

Thank you so much for sharing. It is so good to know what goes into making these wheels. I come from a line of bad experience with beadlocks. I am very interested in these wheels but am very concerned about the strength of the beadlock screw holes. I have stripped a few while, some others have failed in my time. You can imagine why I'm asking you this:

Will the treads survive regular removal and reinsertion of the beadlock screws whenever I remove the tyres to get any water and dirt out?

This is now technology for me.

Thank you

If you're going to be removing/reinstalling the screws often, I would go with an aluminum wheel. Even the best plastic will eventually strip or cross-thread with such tiny hardware.

Having said that, if you are careful threading the screws back in, my wheels should be trouble free for a long time. I do not thread the holes, and instead let the hardware form it themselves when they are installed. I've found it creates a more secure fit that prevents the screws from pulling or working themselves out.

I also recommend venting the tires and not the wheels (my wheels do not come vented). It makes it much easier to get the water out without disassembly.

[JoeConti]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

If you're going to be removing/reinstalling the screws often, I would go with an aluminum wheel. Even the best plastic will eventually strip or cross-thread with such tiny hardware.

Having said that, if you are careful threading the screws back in, my wheels should be trouble free for a long time. I do not thread the holes, and instead let the hardware form it themselves when they are installed. I've found it creates a more secure fit that prevents the screws from pulling or working themselves out.

I also recommend venting the tires and not the wheels (my wheels do not come vented). It makes it much easier to get the water out without disassembly.

Thank you for your answer

[nothinspecial]

The tool nerd in me loves this, I need a garage so I can expand my collection to non snap-on tools.

[kylechandler1300]

Wow nice write up. Thanks