Help me build an aluminium racing toboggan....
Discussion
chevy-stu said:
Been coming back to this to read every couple of weeks too, and it's provided great entertainment... Congratulations on what you've achieved.. 
Excellent!maser_spyder said:
I also forgot to mention....
We'll be in Kitzbuhel, Austria, for all of February and March next year, trying out all the local toboggan courses in the area.
If there are any PHers heading out this way, drop me a PM and you're more than welcome to come along and 'test' any of these models!
I'm actually working out in Tirol (Soll, St Anton, St Johann & Landeck) and surrounding areas in Switzerland and Italy for about a week in mid Jan and again for 10 days in late Feb/early March, so may try and meet up to check out the 'Tobogoffs' in action on the slopes.. We'll be in Kitzbuhel, Austria, for all of February and March next year, trying out all the local toboggan courses in the area.
If there are any PHers heading out this way, drop me a PM and you're more than welcome to come along and 'test' any of these models!
Drop me a pm, and I'll give you my mobile number, and you can give me a shout when you're in the area. I'll be in Oz until mid Jan, so not heading out until later in the month.
There's a good, albeit bumpy, toboggan run in Soll, and also a really nice one in Going just up the road. The Kirchberg one is good for night runs. I've also been reading about one I didn't know about, on the road up to Pass Thurn, no doubt we'll have that tried and tested by late Feb....
Edited by maser_spyder on Monday 6th December 19:26
Dont suppose you would mind putting up some design plans and what materials where used for the toboggans (all 3) as I would like to make one or 2 of them in Finland over next summer ready for next winter there... dont have the time this winter due to a trip to LapLand to sort them out.
Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
Du1point8 said:
Dont suppose you would mind putting up some design plans and what materials where used for the toboggans (all 3) as I would like to make one or 2 of them in Finland over next summer ready for next winter there... dont have the time this winter due to a trip to LapLand to sort them out.
Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
They're all a little different in terms of materials, but if you let me know which one you like, I'm happy to tell you what went in to it.Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
maser_spyder said:
Du1point8 said:
Dont suppose you would mind putting up some design plans and what materials where used for the toboggans (all 3) as I would like to make one or 2 of them in Finland over next summer ready for next winter there... dont have the time this winter due to a trip to LapLand to sort them out.
Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
They're all a little different in terms of materials, but if you let me know which one you like, I'm happy to tell you what went in to it.Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
Du1point8 said:
maser_spyder said:
Du1point8 said:
Dont suppose you would mind putting up some design plans and what materials where used for the toboggans (all 3) as I would like to make one or 2 of them in Finland over next summer ready for next winter there... dont have the time this winter due to a trip to LapLand to sort them out.
Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
They're all a little different in terms of materials, but if you let me know which one you like, I'm happy to tell you what went in to it.Or are you going to turn this into your own business idea?
Mk1 has 3/4" 10SWG tube for most of the structural, and 1" box for the seat, although tube would have been better if I'd had the pipe bender at the time.
Mk1 uses 1 1/2" x 1/4" thick tube for the outer hinge, and the centre is 1" 14SWG tube (light and strong enough).
Mk3 is made of offcuts, so not using the most ideal parts, but rather bits left over.
Uprights made of the offcuts from the runners, crossmembers made with offcuts of the larger outer hinge from the Mk1, although 1" 10SWG might have been lighter and easier to bend in a bit in the back to make it more comfortable.
Side parts are 3/4" 10SWG tube, which could possibly be made slightly smaller.
If you stick to 14 or 10SWG materials, it will be plenty strong enough. I did try some 16SWG, but it's just not thick enough to give any real strength. 1/4" thick is very heavy, so use anything this size sparingly (like the hinges, which could have been made smaller).
Actually, they're probably all massively over-engineered and over-specced, and could be made lighter and more cheaply with thinner materials. But given the choice of making them strong, or light, I went with strong. I'll have no tools to do repairs once I get to Austria!
In any case, it's more fun to experiment, post your results!
Have been finishing, painting, applying decals, and fitting PE strips to the Mk2 and 3 this week, it's hectic with work, so not a huge amount has been done unfortunately.
The Mk4 will be a variation on the Mk3, but with slightly better materials (and a bend in the back crossmember to make it more comfortable). I have the runners bent, just need to do the last of the fabricating, which should take a couple of evenings at most.
Mk5 is going to be totally different, and may need its own thread entirely.
Hmm.
Mk1 Seat mould didn't go too well, I think I didn't use enough release agent, or used the wrong stuff, as a log of the plug got stuck in the new mould.
Still, live and learn!
I've now got quite a lot of work to do in salvaging the mould, as I had to destroy the plug getting it out. Perhaps a composite seat wasn't such a great idea after all.
Not posting pics of this bit, it's ruddy embarrassing! Just see the final product (here's one I made earlier style).
Mk1 Seat mould didn't go too well, I think I didn't use enough release agent, or used the wrong stuff, as a log of the plug got stuck in the new mould.
Still, live and learn!
I've now got quite a lot of work to do in salvaging the mould, as I had to destroy the plug getting it out. Perhaps a composite seat wasn't such a great idea after all.
Not posting pics of this bit, it's ruddy embarrassing! Just see the final product (here's one I made earlier style).
maser_spyder said:
Hmm.
Mk1 Seat mould didn't go too well, I think I didn't use enough release agent, or used the wrong stuff, as a log of the plug got stuck in the new mould.
Still, live and learn!
I've now got quite a lot of work to do in salvaging the mould, as I had to destroy the plug getting it out. Perhaps a composite seat wasn't such a great idea after all.
Not posting pics of this bit, it's ruddy embarrassing! Just see the final product (here's one I made earlier style).
From what I've heard with release agents, is the more the better! The heat of the reaction can destabilise a thin layer maybe!?Mk1 Seat mould didn't go too well, I think I didn't use enough release agent, or used the wrong stuff, as a log of the plug got stuck in the new mould.
Still, live and learn!
I've now got quite a lot of work to do in salvaging the mould, as I had to destroy the plug getting it out. Perhaps a composite seat wasn't such a great idea after all.
Not posting pics of this bit, it's ruddy embarrassing! Just see the final product (here's one I made earlier style).
freecar said:
maser_spyder said:
Hmm.
Mk1 Seat mould didn't go too well, I think I didn't use enough release agent, or used the wrong stuff, as a log of the plug got stuck in the new mould.
Still, live and learn!
I've now got quite a lot of work to do in salvaging the mould, as I had to destroy the plug getting it out. Perhaps a composite seat wasn't such a great idea after all.
Not posting pics of this bit, it's ruddy embarrassing! Just see the final product (here's one I made earlier style).
From what I've heard with release agents, is the more the better! The heat of the reaction can destabilise a thin layer maybe!?Mk1 Seat mould didn't go too well, I think I didn't use enough release agent, or used the wrong stuff, as a log of the plug got stuck in the new mould.
Still, live and learn!
I've now got quite a lot of work to do in salvaging the mould, as I had to destroy the plug getting it out. Perhaps a composite seat wasn't such a great idea after all.
Not posting pics of this bit, it's ruddy embarrassing! Just see the final product (here's one I made earlier style).
Wish I'd known this before, the can just said spray on, wait, then go for it. So I did.
Never mind, it'll just take a lot longer to prepare the mould, which is time I don't have right now! Mk3 is nearly finished though, so I've got at least one I'll be able to take with me.
Great thread, I'm loving the development!
There's a reasonable toboggan run in Maria Alm (not so far from Kitzbuhel) in case you weren't aware; open for night tobogganning (on tuesdays I think). There is a restaurant at the top of it where you can eat drink and be merry, then jump on the toboggan and go back down the hill. Usually you get pulled up the hill behind a tractor, with a load of other sledges. Was good fun when we did it, but there was a bit of a flat section about 3/4 the way down...
Anyway, might be worth checking it out.
keep up the excellent work!
There's a reasonable toboggan run in Maria Alm (not so far from Kitzbuhel) in case you weren't aware; open for night tobogganning (on tuesdays I think). There is a restaurant at the top of it where you can eat drink and be merry, then jump on the toboggan and go back down the hill. Usually you get pulled up the hill behind a tractor, with a load of other sledges. Was good fun when we did it, but there was a bit of a flat section about 3/4 the way down...
Anyway, might be worth checking it out.
keep up the excellent work!
Whitean3 said:
Great thread, I'm loving the development!
There's a reasonable toboggan run in Maria Alm (not so far from Kitzbuhel) in case you weren't aware; open for night tobogganning (on tuesdays I think). There is a restaurant at the top of it where you can eat drink and be merry, then jump on the toboggan and go back down the hill. Usually you get pulled up the hill behind a tractor, with a load of other sledges. Was good fun when we did it, but there was a bit of a flat section about 3/4 the way down...
Anyway, might be worth checking it out.
keep up the excellent work!
That's brilliant, cheers.There's a reasonable toboggan run in Maria Alm (not so far from Kitzbuhel) in case you weren't aware; open for night tobogganning (on tuesdays I think). There is a restaurant at the top of it where you can eat drink and be merry, then jump on the toboggan and go back down the hill. Usually you get pulled up the hill behind a tractor, with a load of other sledges. Was good fun when we did it, but there was a bit of a flat section about 3/4 the way down...
Anyway, might be worth checking it out.
keep up the excellent work!
We did Gaisberg (Kirchberg), Soll and Going last year, and no doubt we'll be seeking more on the day we arrive.
Only problem is, I've no idea what the other punters will make of our home-made efforts, I would guess they'll just mark us down as eccentric Brits!
Epic thread Maser - congrats! Your sledges look ace. I'd buy one, and I already have this:
Just one thing, the Porsche that I have folds up almost flat and comes in a nice shiny carry case which means taking it to the mountains isnt such an issue. Are you guys driving or flying out to Kitzbuhel? Will you be ok taking it on the plane weight and size wise if flying?
Might be something worht thinking about for mk vi...
Just one thing, the Porsche that I have folds up almost flat and comes in a nice shiny carry case which means taking it to the mountains isnt such an issue. Are you guys driving or flying out to Kitzbuhel? Will you be ok taking it on the plane weight and size wise if flying?
Might be something worht thinking about for mk vi...
chrisga said:
Epic thread Maser - congrats! Your sledges look ace. I'd buy one, and I already have this:
Just one thing, the Porsche that I have folds up almost flat and comes in a nice shiny carry case which means taking it to the mountains isnt such an issue. Are you guys driving or flying out to Kitzbuhel? Will you be ok taking it on the plane weight and size wise if flying?
Might be something worht thinking about for mk vi...
Excellent, ta!Just one thing, the Porsche that I have folds up almost flat and comes in a nice shiny carry case which means taking it to the mountains isnt such an issue. Are you guys driving or flying out to Kitzbuhel? Will you be ok taking it on the plane weight and size wise if flying?
Might be something worht thinking about for mk vi...
We're driving out in the Landcruiser, with the very back seats taken out for more space.
However, two month's worth of kit, my three pairs of skis, Mrs Maser's skis, our 'loan' skis (for visitors), boots, marmite, etc. Means it'll be a bit of a squeeze...
I have roof bars with skis racks, but I really didn't want to use them on the long journey, makes a whopping difference to fuel economy.
Still, I've just had my truck back from the garage today, two new cylinder heads, new radiator, new LPG system, and a bucketload of cash later, it's as good as it will ever be. New gas system should improve the economy quite a bit.
If this all goes to plan, and I don't run out of time, there will also be six toboggans coming out with us too (with a maximum of around four people there at once!). Maybe overkill.
Can anybody lend me a trailer?
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