Wheel Covers using bicycler DIY ... - Page 4 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

cfg83 · 07-12-2009, 09:51 PM

Christ -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christ

I understand, I understand, and you can use any heat source, as long as it can get you to 240* or so and hold there for a few mins. (Grill?)

I have a heat gun and the pizza pan has holes in it, so I could blast it from below. Maybe put a metal pan in between to help "even" the temp distribution(?!?!?). I could vary the overall temp as a function of distance between the heat gun and the pan.

Lots of good fabbing ideas flying around.

CarloSW2

Christ · 07-12-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfg83

Christ -

I have a heat gun and the pizza pan has holes in it, so I could blast it from below. Maybe put a metal pan in between to help "even" the temp distribution(?!?!?). I could vary the overall temp as a function of distance between the heat gun and the pan.

Lots of good fabbing ideas flying around.

CarloSW2

Got an insulated box that you can put the pizza pan in? You can spray the heat gun into it and watch the internal temp until it gets to a good temp, then just let it cool for a few hours. It should form anyway.

Another thing that you could use instead of PVA is ABS... but I'm not sure about the melting point (before it burns). I do know that you can melt ABS in acetone, and use it for patch plastic. Maybe you could try forming some by soaking it in acetone and pressing it into a mold?

cfg83 · 07-21-2009, 01:40 AM

Hello -

The wheel covers are pretty sturdy after a week :

Wheel Cover Report I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZEBjzB5l5g

To solve the "small valve stem access hole" problem I made a "magnetic" valve stem cover out of a valve stem that can be removed with a 3/8 socket. The socket is metal and the valve stem cover is magnetic, so it stays in the socket after I unscrew it.

I will be making the "donut version" next for the rear wheel.

CarloSW2

Christ · 07-21-2009, 01:42 AM

Great!

As far as improvements, doing the metal work thing actually makes a sort of shallow parabola, which is geometrically self-sustaining. It needs no further bracing, other than the stiffness of the material you use.