building your own chassis. what tools to purchase?

[m1009cucv]

been wanting to try this for a while. I have about 280 I can spend right now. Few weeks I'll have a bit more. I have a piece of marble to work on. I have a few vices and clamps already. What else would you guys recommend? A lot of options not sure which way to go.thanks guys

[Cheddarcheesus]

Depends on which route you want to go. I'd assume brazing with silver solder. I use the rod bender below.

http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Tuff-MR-0.../dp/B0000AXFCD

Other than that, I've pretty much just been using a good vice and a map torch. Been learning a lot with minimal start up cost. This way you can make sure it's something you want to commit to doing as it's very time consuming. Also a good file set for notching the rod. Possibly some graph paper to help you draw out a design or help making templates. Others will chime in I am sure to elaborate.


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[C*H*U*D]

Need more info on what you want to make. Are you talking about a tube chassis? Scale ladder chassis? TVP chassis?

Help us, help you

[kgb424]

I bought a Jigsaw at Home Depot and some extra metal blades

I went to a steel supply and bought

2 pieces of plate that were 1/8'' X 4'' X 24''

I used my 4'' grinder too get them close to my layout

Then used metal files and finished out the rails by hand

It took me a while but I like how they came out

It really was not that hard to make my own

Chassis rails for my 6th scale Humvee

[K.O.M.]

Method above is the easiest and most straightforward. You can substitute 1/4" Lexan instead of steel stock if you are unsure of the actual geometry--it's easier to cut multiple variations using plastic as opposed to steel. The final version can be flat metal stock or c-channel.

With flat stock, you can cut the shock towers as part of the chassis, with c-channel, you either fab your own or use existing shock hoops then bolt them on to the ladder chassis.

I personally try out 1-2 versions using Lexan for a given body/wheelbase, then cut my final out of aluminum sheet--easier still to machine than steel.

One thing that will help you immensely is a wheelbase axle jig--axles can be bolted to a fixed reference (hopefully the wheelbase of the body you are designing the chassis for) while you monkey around with link lengths and skid height. I just use a 36" long piece of aluminum angle (see a trend for my choice of material?) cut in half and bolted to an MDF board.

[kgb424]

I made a jig to hold the axles centered

So I could make my upper and lower links

At the right lengths

So the axles where centered in the chassis

And centered in the wheel base of the body