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Senior Member
Re: Home made lightweight wheel covers
Very nice. I will hace to try the technique. What alloy Al. did you use?
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Senior Member
Re: Home made lightweight wheel covers
Lowell,
I have to admit that I used some basic aluminum sheet From "Menard's Aircraft Supply" (builder's and hardware store) ...so nothing special......it's a basic consumer grade of no documented composition but is easily formed into shapes like this...guessing it is similar to basic 1100 grade (fairly ductile & easy to shape) ...I believe it measured 0.017" in thickness. just my first attempt at trying this so I didn't go deluxe on the materials....just what I had in the shop. If I was buying specifically I would have chosen 3003. A person could also play with different thicknesses as the covers hardly weigh anything in the first place.
I figured if it didn't work the first time I could get different grade materials. Applying the spoon starts at the outside of the piece and it is worked towards the center - could easily mess up if starting the spinning at the center by going too deep to start - but there are plenty of resources out there on line about how to approach the task. I did not use lubricant on the hardwood dowel just to keep the mess down..but a person could use some wax or oil. Since this is not a complex shape - not a lot of friction is involved so there isn't all that much heat generated.
I rather enjoy working a lathe to start....kinda fun watching something morph into a shape as a person works with it.
Sincerely,
Dave S
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Re: Home made lightweight wheel covers
Beautiful Dave! You show off!!! I'll have to come down to 21D and inspect them. I'm free when you areā¦
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