Making wire wheels

[ferrarissimus]

Some guys asked me for my technique to make wire wheels, so I will show my method I use since15 years.

Most F1 and sports cars up to the middle of the 60's used wire wheels in a different pattern depending on the manufacturer like Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, Bugatti, Aston Martin etc.
Ferrari mostly had a different pattern on the front and rear wheel.So you have to study the photo material for the actual type.

The essential condition is 1. a lathe

2. a drill stand or milling machine and

3. a dividing head for the drill stand.

further need all bars (e-bay)
and 0,4 mm wire (hard)
The hub is turned from all bar 12 mm.

[ferrarissimus]

Note the turned 0,5 mm grooves that are a leading axle to prevent the deviation of the 0,5 mm drill.

The rim is turned from all bar too.

Holes are drilled on the dividing head

[ferrarissimus]

To be continued...

[rx-7]

Oh! This is very good...watching with interest!

[ferrarissimus]

The hub needs 72 holes, 2x12 holes at the outside and 2x 24 at the inside.

Rim needs the same distribution.


The big challenge was now the safe fixation of rim and hub for an easy insertion of the wire spokes.

This is a alu disk, with a 3 mm hole in the centreto fix the hub and three 3mm holes at the outside for the rim.

In the centre hole is a simple screw, the three screws at the side are from an distribution box for electrical installation in hollow walls. These screws have a wing instead of a nut and enables a good fixation of the rim.The disc was a flat groove turned (35 mm diameter for 16 inches wheels in scale 1/12 )The centre boring got a 8mm deepening for the smaller outside of the hub.

Hub and rim are fixed now.

This is the solution of wheel fixation from MFH for their 1/12 scale wire wheels.

[jaydar]

There is a how-to on Max Moto on converting plastic motorcycle wheels into metal-spoked wheels which may help.

Look under the HOW-TO tab at

http://www.motomodeling.com/

joe.

[ferrarissimus]

The wire can easily inserted with a medical needle holder.

[blakebirk]

excellent post! thanks for sharing!