Miniature Tools

[Art Rafael]

Since so many projects that I consider call for wheels,
and since I knew and stated that I was not very accomplished at building them,
I decided to conduct some serious experimenting and learn how to build a good and true wheel.

In the past I had used flat stock made round on the anvil horn.  It resulted in a good circular form.
The hubs that I've built were also good.
But when I put the round and the hub together with spokes, things got off center and askew so that the wheel bounced and wobbled.

This time I decided to cut rims from brass plumbing pipe:


 


Then I turned the hubs, measured carefully, marked equal spacing and drilled holes to match on the rim and hub employing tooth picks for alignment


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Then to ensure that all the parts were true and level devised an apparatus for assembly:





And inserted spokes true to the rim and the hub:





And a nice true - balanced wheel resulted:





So I did it again.  And now there are two built to resemble old style type implement wheels.





Two more and I can build a four wheeler of some sort. 
I didn't intend to make such a big deal of it all since building wheels must be one of the oldest crafts in the history of mankind.   
But it was a nagging shortcoming of mine that I had to overcome once and for all.
I may in the future discover better methods and instrumentation, and I'm open to all ideas,
since I know that there must be more than one way to build a wheel.   Ralph

[Papaw]

Inventors, artists, and others have been attempting to re-invent the wheel since it was first devised!

[Chillylulu]

Art,

It looks as if the hub holes are offset  from centerline and the rim holes are centered.   Is that observation accurate?

If so,  why are they designed like that?  How hard were those hub holes to drill?

I am once again in awe, looking at the pictures of your craftsmanship.

Chilly

[Papaw]

Bicycle and motorcycle spokes are designed that way. The spokes can be adjusted to correct out of round and off-center.

[john k]

Some, a few wagon wheel spokes are set that way as well.   Great work on these wheels, you know these would look great on a riding, "Sulky" plow. 

[Art Rafael]

Hi Chilly.

And thanks again.  Yes, the holes are offset on the on the hub and centered on the rim. 
I'm sure that Papaw is correct regarding bikes, etc., but I'm not sure why they were offset on "solid" antique heavy equipment.
It might have been done to distribute the load along a greater portion of the axle.
Perhaps some of the other old timers (I say that respectfully) know better why that was done.

I was merely trying to closely copy some old wheels that I've seen to add authenticity to a project
and also noticed that often the front wheels were smaller diameter and had spokes centered on the rim and the hub.
That's what I'm working on next.  The holes on the hub were a Bear to drill perfectly spaced and angled.
I used a V block propped on the drill press and drilled 8 holes in each hub before separating them,
having learned the hard way that I needed to be able to hold the stock for drilling.
This is evident in the picture of the hubs with all the toothpicks.

Ralph

[Art Rafael]

Thanks, John.
A riding sulky plow would be a good idea.  I'm still also considering the horse drawn road grader you suggested,
but I hesitate to commit till I'm sure that I can actually do it, and I just can't see it in my mind's eye quite yet.
And I just botched the second set of wheels and screwed up in trying to cut a gear, so I'm starting over - next week.

Ralph

[turnnut]

 very nice job done on those wheels Ralph.

 never would have thought about copper pipe for rims, good idea.

 as for the offset spokes, to me it would seem like it would prevent side flexing
 on wider rims like on implements. (not sure if I said that right)
 it would give it inside & outside equal strength.

 thats only my obsevation.

 good luck on learning to make differant types of gears.

 Frank

[Art Rafael]

Thanks Frank. 

Yes, of course - increased rigidity and flex prevention and decreased lateral sway  .  That makes good sense.
 And I can see how that works - the same reason that towers such as windmill, etc. are built in "A" frame patterns to increase rigidity and stability under load (wind and weight).

Ralph

[Art Rafael]

Had a good weekend, and managed to build two more wheels. 
These two are front wheels at 1.5 inch diameter with the spokes centered (not o0ffset) on the hub. 
The first two are rear wheels at 1.75 inch diameter.

I think that I've got wheel building down to a fine science,
but I can't say that I enjoy it.  It is still a breath-holding, highly anxious experience for me.
Drilling eight 1/16 inch holes centered and equally spaced on a 1/2 inch hub is very tricky.

Ralph

[john k]

These wheels wouldn't look all that bad on a wagon.  Horse drawn type with the 5th wheel on the front axle.    Very nice work.

[turnnut]

very nice Ralph.

if I may, I will use two words.

"Drill Master"

have a good week, Frank

[rusty]

>Drilling eight 1/16 inch holes centered and equally spaced on a 1/2 inch hub is very tricky.

Some of the very first machines designed to automate woodworking were machines for making hubs and spokes for wagon wheels. It is not all that easy full sized either ;P

Those wheels would look great on a steam traction engine ...

[Art Rafael]

Thanks, Gents.

Those are all good ideas and may have a place in my future.
But, for now, I'm hooked on the idea of building an old type horse drawn grader as John K suggested.
I figured that if I could build four acceptable wheels and the blade adjustment hand wheels and worm gears
I could figure out the rest.??  Any way, I'm headed in that direction - I think.

Ralph


 I hammered the hand wheels on the anvil horn to true round (getting good at that). 
 





Now the tricky part -- drilling four 1/16 inch holes in each wheel for spokes.


Practiced some on a straight 1/8 inch rod.  This was like manufacturing a sewing needle.


 

[OilyRascal]

I'm in love with it already.  I'm so happy you've decided to conquer this.