Thread: Wheel Making AUSSIE Style

These wheels are 6" dia.I tried to make as big as the lathe would let me.I was after the limits of my machinery,and to work out what tooling I need for future wheels.I have been trying smaller setups as well.
No I am not making a waggon yet.
I will be making a wood lock shortly.Then a model of my own design to see how I go.Maybe head first into a big smelly heap LOL

Hey, great to see you having a go at it, well done.

Here's a bit more reading for you, make sure you follow all the links, the more you know, then the better you'll be informed, to see if your making any mistakes.

What are you building, that these wheels are for anyway ?

regards radish

Excellent work Ross. I know you have put in a tremendous effort on this project and it has worked. I hope, we are going to see a lot more of your wheels in the near future. I feel sure you will have some plans and ideas for using spoke wheels and we will all look forward to that. You should be really proud of your achievement. I know I would be. Great effort Ross, congratulations on a job well done.

Originally Posted by radish

Hey, great to see you having a go at it, well done.

Here's a bit more reading for you, make sure you follow all the links, the more you know, then the better you'll be informed, to see if your making any mistakes.

What are you building, that these wheels are for anyway ?

regards radish

These wheels were only made to see how to go about making them,with no particular end use in mind.Only make from pine laying around after out house was built,puls a cyprus fence picket I chopped for the spokes.The only decent bit of wood was the jarrah for the hub
Radish! Where is this extra reading you mentioned?
I have read your wheel making on the english waggon site.Cant think of its name at the moment,but very good.You are the master of model waggon wheels
How about you put some picks up for us all to see please

Ooops, very sorry about that, try this site, you'll have to do a bit of searching as there's bit's and pieces all over the place, BUT, there are some excellent modellers who post on this site.
As for me being " You are the master of model waggon wheels ", don't think so, there's lots more better than me, go check out the site and you'll soon find plenty more.

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Now that lot should keep you tied to the computer for about a week.

regards radish

Nice work Aussie,
I like the jig you have there for sanding the spokes, very clever

Hadn't thought of segmenting seperate pieces like that to make the rim, very good.

How did you cut out the centre?

Imagine how big a model would be with 6" wheels!!!

Aren't lathes cool

cheers, billy

Originally Posted by Billy

Nice work Aussie,
I like the jig you have there for sanding the spokes, very clever

Hadn't thought of segmenting seperate pieces like that to make the rim, very good.

How did you cut out the centre?

Imagine how big a model would be with 6" wheels!!!

Aren't lathes cool

cheers, billy

Hi Billy
Segmenting waggon wheels is done in full sized wheels.I think because it keeps the grain long for strength.
I stick the segmented bit to a 3"dia block,then clamp in chuck as in photos.
Because lathe is small I had to make an aluminium outrigger type tool holder that enabled me to cut the OD and hold the part off tool to cut the rim off the block.
A long story,but I have a grook neck and dont want to hold wood tools It jerks my neck around.
Pic shows cutting the inside out.
When cut deep enough I go to the back and part it off.
pics show other sizes and a truck wheel
Like I said earlier,he 6" wheel was to see how big I could do on my lathe.No good making a model waggon one day,then finding I cant make the wheels or cant make them big enough.Just me I know..A bit like testing the bath water before you hop in.

That is bloody great Aussie!!

Do you think there is a limit to the size of wheel that can be done that way?

Is it just limited by the lathe size, or are there mechanical considerations in the timber to take into account?

Originally Posted by artme

That is bloody great Aussie!!

Do you think there is a limit to the size of wheel that can be done that way?
Yes I would say so.You might wear it if it got too big.
I have seen a wheel maker in action at Sovereign Hill.The rim segments are cut on a large bandsaw and drilled for the spokes on another machine.Each segment is put on the spokes and np g;ue between segments or spokes and segments
All held together with the steel tyre and press fitting of spokes into the hub.
I dont have the right names for the parts,but you get the drift Hey!
I have included a wheel being sanded to size.
where as I turned my OD before I started assembly.They sand it to size after wheel is assembled

Is it just limited by the lathe size, or are there mechanical considerations in the timber to take into account?

I have included a wheel being sanded to size.I think this one was about 36" from memory



& another fitting rim segments no glue

nice work Aussie,
hope your neck gets better.
Ive got some health issues at the moment too, having tests on my heart, given gallons of blood, wearing a monitor.

Hopefully all will be fixed soon, whatever the prob is.

I reckon I'll be back to the dozer tomorrow or Friday, having shed withdrawals.

cheers, billy

Thanx Aussie.

Hi Aussie,

Looks really good to me.

Nice looking wheels!


Regards,

Chipman

Originally Posted by radish

Ooops, very sorry about that, try this site, you'll have to do a bit of searching as there's bit's and pieces all over the place, BUT, there are some excellent modellers who post on this site.
As for me being " You are the master of model waggon wheels ", don't think so, there's lots more better than me, go check out the site and you'll soon find plenty more.

The Scale Model Horse Drawn Vehicle Forum - Powered by vBulletin

Now that lot should keep you tied to the computer for about a week.

regards radish

What have you done The Scale Model Horse Drawn Vehicle Forum - View Single Post - Have to start somewhere

Originally Posted by wheelinround

What have you done The Scale Model Horse Drawn Vehicle Forum - View Single Post - Have to start somewhere

Well, what can I say, -------- OK, it looks like he decided to get his feet wet out in the big wide world, ah well, now he can see how others do it, eh.

Plenty of people on that forum to give him some good advice now.