Here's a How2 for making a jig for making quick rims for your wheels.
First of all this is what we’re after.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7lr03.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7lrms.jpg
Now how do we get to this point.
I like to use bought wheels for my rims as they are made of maple and can be shaped quite nicely, maybe that’s why the wheel makers use it, plus they already have a nice shape and at Hobby Lobby their pretty cheap for the 1” & 1 1/2” wheels.
1. We need a base, I have tons of 3/4” ply so that’s what I use.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7m2jq.jpg
Notice that the plywood is next to the fence,always keep it next to the fence, Find center and drill a 1/4 hole but not quite all the way through.
2. Now glue a 1/4” dowel in the hole, it needs to be long enough to be glued to the base go up through the indexer and hold the rim blank.. Your base is now ready.
3. You need to make some type of indexer I have blogged about them and there are many videos out there.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7mm81.jpg
Once you’ve marked your indexer on some plywood drill out the center hole 1/4” and place on the base over the dowel. As in the picture.
4. Now you need to slide the base over so you can drill the holes for the indexing pin to be set.
[this is the small bolt with the fender washer in the picture.] 5. Clamp the base down next to the fence once you find your indexing distance..
6. You can now turn the indexer and drill the holes at the 5 places needed. [I drilled 10]
You will now be able to turn the indexer to any of the drilled spots.
+++ if you’ll notice I’m making a 5 hole rim so need 5 index points BUT I also want some lug bolt holes to go between them so need to have a ten point indexer to get the job done.+++
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7ndtz.jpg
7. Now you need to place one of you rim blanks on the jig unclamp the base and find where you think the spoke holes will look the best, then clamp the base back down at this point and be sure the base is up to the fence, always use the fence for you guide.
You may not need it but if some thing changes you have some thing to go by.
8. You now need to drill a hole using one of the index holes as a guide so you can put the index pin in to hold the indexer in place [Use a hand held drill for this] as you drill all your rim holes. This will go almost through the base plywood.
You should now be able to turn the indexer to the 10 different points needed, slide in the pin and it will hold the spot to be drilled.
9. Use a 3/8 drill bit for you rim drilling bit. [You can use a different size bit but I have other uses for the hole that you’ll hear about later.]
It really doesn’t matter where you start drilling. I do like starting all my hole at the same index point, so mark it., and remember we will be using every other hole for the rims and then switch when we want to do the lug nuts.
+++The base will have to be changed [slid over] for the lug nut holes as you need it in closer to the center of the tire,
Make sure you drill the first rim hole almost through the indexer plywood as you will need to put a 3/8 dowel to hold the rim in place for the rest of the holes.
Now place the dowel to keep every thing in line and work your way around..
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7owg5.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7oyy5.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7ozc3.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7ozyc.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7p0id.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7p13j.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7p1ia.jpg
There you go a nice rim that can be sanded down to fit in your tire.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7p59g.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7p6pr.jpg
Once the jig is made you can make tons a rims in minutes with out ever having to mark any thing again.
Be sure to keep a few extra rims around, that way when you get ready to make a set a rims next time just set the base on the drill table put in one of the extras and its a snap to line everything up.
10. Now if you really want to get fancy you can shape the rim holes with a router bit with a 3/8 guide bearing [This is why I use the 3/8” bit so a 3/8” router bearing will fit in the hole.]
+++Some times I need to drill the holes out a little so the bearing will go in easier.
You need to be extra careful doing this so use a toggle clamp or some other hold down to be SAFE.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7ov7p.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7pt0i.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7ptsh.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7pu4x.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/pm7puix.jpg
Be sure to use a hold down, the bearing does most of the work of guiding but BE SAFE OR IT AIN’T WORTH DOING.:no:
This is NOT MY $.02 BUT A MUST!!!!!*
#4 Over and Out
