Help me build an aluminium racing toboggan....

[BoRED S2upid]

That looks fantastic, what an effort. Gutted if you got to a practice slope and a kid on a plastic sledge flies past you, still yours will look ace. I hope you will be kitted out top to toe in Oakley designer snowboarding gear.

[maser_spyder]

Anyway, while I'm waiting for the seat to dry back, I had a look at the materials I had left over, and there was easily enough to make another one (probably two).

So, I've gone for a slightly different design on the second one. Lower, sleeker, and with twin suspension on the rear.

Probably not quite as effective as having the suspension near the front, but still better than a traditional 'luge'.

So, started by bending another couple of runners in my superbly made jig ().



Then I had another look at how to join the two runners together. I could have got straight across, with an arch to join one side to the other, but this seemed a little dull, given my welding expertise.

So, I went for a 'chopper' type arrangement, with long, straight front rods, which I think look pretty sleek.



They also hide the bending distortion you get in the top of the runners!



My welding has gotten a bit tidier too!





Then I fashioned up a set of four brackets for the suspension mounts, to be set right at the back.





And welded them in place.







Finally, test mounted the suspension units, to see how it's going to play out.



They look fine, I think this one will be a lot stiffer to ride, but possibly faster as it's a bit lower to the ground. It looks a bit more like a traditional luge, but with suspension, compared to my other version.



That's all for now, I'll weld on the front hinge tube (similar design to the other one) tonight or tomorrow, and then start on another seat in the next couple of days. The seat for this one will be quite a lot smaller (mainly because I've only got a small amount of Kevlar left!).

[maser_spyder]

BoRED S2upid said:

That looks fantastic, what an effort. Gutted if you got to a practice slope and a kid on a plastic sledge flies past you, still yours will look ace. I hope you will be kitted out top to toe in Oakley designer snowboarding gear.

Spyder ski gear!

I might even get a race suit.

[rhinochopig]

Very very impressive. One tip though, remove the paint from the runners and use some soap and a buffing wheel to get a mirror finish. It'll run much better.

Totally off-topic. Are you still involved with ride-on? If you are, what's last realistic date to order for delivery for Christmas.

[Bill]

I'm genuinely very immpressed with that How much does it weigh so far?

[maser_spyder]

rhinochopig said:

Very very impressive. One tip though, remove the paint from the runners and use some soap and a buffing wheel to get a mirror finish. It'll run much better.

Totally off-topic. Are you still involved with ride-on? If you are, what's last realistic date to order for delivery for Christmas.

Ah, the runners is another thing entirely!

Getting some ultra high density PE strips made, the same material as ski bases, so it should be very fast....

Ride-ons, get your order in ASAP! Plenty of stock, but it leaves time for error if you order early. Our last shipping date is technically the 21st, but I'm hoping there won't be too many this late!

PH discount available if you put it through me, just drop me a pm.

[maser_spyder]

Bill said:

I'm genuinely very immpressed with that How much does it weigh so far?

I've no idea!

Once the paint is properly dry, I'll see if I can get some scales to measure it. At a guess, around 8-10Kg. Light enough to glide, heavy enough to be strong.

The new model should be a bit lighter, there's a little less material going in to it.

[rhinochopig]

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

Very very impressive. One tip though, remove the paint from the runners and use some soap and a buffing wheel to get a mirror finish. It'll run much better.

Totally off-topic. Are you still involved with ride-on? If you are, what's last realistic date to order for delivery for Christmas.

Ah, the runners is another thing entirely!

Getting some ultra high density PE strips made, the same material as ski bases, so it should be very fast....

Ride-ons, get your order in ASAP! Plenty of stock, but it leaves time for error if you order early. Our last shipping date is technically the 21st, but I'm hoping there won't be too many this late!

PH discount available if you put it through me, just drop me a pm.

PE strips excellent. You will of course be waxing them then as well

Re the suspension, you should be able to pick up some cheap springs with a lower spring rate which will make the ride more compliant - they're cheap shocks so they shouldn't cost you much. Check out scrapped children's bikes for a source. If they're oil damped you may also want to fill with a heavier weight oil as they're typically a bit under-damped as standard.

I'll PM you re the jeep when we've finished arguing about proper toys or educational ones.

[filski666]

Haven't finished the first one and already on the second? You just can't help yourself, can you?

Ha ha ha

Good work though, ever thought of a cottage industry?

[maser_spyder]

rhinochopig said:

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

Very very impressive. One tip though, remove the paint from the runners and use some soap and a buffing wheel to get a mirror finish. It'll run much better.

Totally off-topic. Are you still involved with ride-on? If you are, what's last realistic date to order for delivery for Christmas.

Ah, the runners is another thing entirely!

Getting some ultra high density PE strips made, the same material as ski bases, so it should be very fast....

Ride-ons, get your order in ASAP! Plenty of stock, but it leaves time for error if you order early. Our last shipping date is technically the 21st, but I'm hoping there won't be too many this late!

PH discount available if you put it through me, just drop me a pm.

PE strips excellent. You will of course be waxing them then as well

Re the suspension, you should be able to pick up some cheap springs with a lower spring rate which will make the ride more compliant - they're cheap shocks so they shouldn't cost you much. Check out scrapped children's bikes for a source. If they're oil damped you may also want to fill with a heavier weight oil as they're typically a bit under-damped as standard.

I'll PM you re the jeep when we've finished arguing about proper toys or educational ones.

Oh,

The springs on there are 750lb, too much. Ideally I need around 300 - 400lb instead (I guess). I'll take a look around to see what I can get hold of cheaply.

Jeeps are very popular this year!

[RacingPete]

Dear maser_spyder_santa,

I have seen your new designs on the Internet and would like to make offer a proposal for purchasing one of your highly custom M_SMk3 sleds. Please, by return, inform me of the said purchase price of vehicle...

[rhinochopig]

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

Very very impressive. One tip though, remove the paint from the runners and use some soap and a buffing wheel to get a mirror finish. It'll run much better.

Totally off-topic. Are you still involved with ride-on? If you are, what's last realistic date to order for delivery for Christmas.

Ah, the runners is another thing entirely!

Getting some ultra high density PE strips made, the same material as ski bases, so it should be very fast....

Ride-ons, get your order in ASAP! Plenty of stock, but it leaves time for error if you order early. Our last shipping date is technically the 21st, but I'm hoping there won't be too many this late!

PH discount available if you put it through me, just drop me a pm.

PE strips excellent. You will of course be waxing them then as well

Re the suspension, you should be able to pick up some cheap springs with a lower spring rate which will make the ride more compliant - they're cheap shocks so they shouldn't cost you much. Check out scrapped children's bikes for a source. If they're oil damped you may also want to fill with a heavier weight oil as they're typically a bit under-damped as standard.

I'll PM you re the jeep when we've finished arguing about proper toys or educational ones.

Oh,

The springs on there are 750lb, too much. Ideally I need around 300 - 400lb instead (I guess). I'll take a look around to see what I can get hold of cheaply.

Jeeps are very popular this year!

Your other option, which will probably cheaper, is to contact an industrial spring manufacturer. I've done this in the past when fettling the DH forks on my MTB tandem. The standard springs were just too soft and the damping not man enough, so I ordered a range of higher spring rate coils to play with. They cost very little compared buying proper bike parts. Sadly I can't remember who I used.

You'll need to measure the ID and the un-compressed length and specify the spring rate you want and tell them you need them "closed&ground"

[maser_spyder]

rhinochopig said:

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

Very very impressive. One tip though, remove the paint from the runners and use some soap and a buffing wheel to get a mirror finish. It'll run much better.

Totally off-topic. Are you still involved with ride-on? If you are, what's last realistic date to order for delivery for Christmas.

Ah, the runners is another thing entirely!

Getting some ultra high density PE strips made, the same material as ski bases, so it should be very fast....

Ride-ons, get your order in ASAP! Plenty of stock, but it leaves time for error if you order early. Our last shipping date is technically the 21st, but I'm hoping there won't be too many this late!

PH discount available if you put it through me, just drop me a pm.

PE strips excellent. You will of course be waxing them then as well

Re the suspension, you should be able to pick up some cheap springs with a lower spring rate which will make the ride more compliant - they're cheap shocks so they shouldn't cost you much. Check out scrapped children's bikes for a source. If they're oil damped you may also want to fill with a heavier weight oil as they're typically a bit under-damped as standard.

I'll PM you re the jeep when we've finished arguing about proper toys or educational ones.

Oh,

The springs on there are 750lb, too much. Ideally I need around 300 - 400lb instead (I guess). I'll take a look around to see what I can get hold of cheaply.

Jeeps are very popular this year!

Your other option, which will probably cheaper, is to contact an industrial spring manufacturer. I've done this in the past when fettling the DH forks on my MTB tandem. The standard springs were just too soft and the damping not man enough, so I ordered a range of higher spring rate coils to play with. They cost very little compared buying proper bike parts. Sadly I can't remember who I used.

You'll need to measure the ID and the un-compressed length and specify the spring rate you want and tell them you need them "closed&ground"

Brilliant, thanks for that. I'll get asking around.

It's not that urgent, the springs can be changed pretty easily with the units installed, so I could always chop and change to suit the course!

[maser_spyder]

RacingPete said:

Dear maser_spyder_santa,

I have seen your new designs on the Internet and would like to make offer a proposal for purchasing one of your highly custom M_SMk3 sleds. Please, by return, inform me of the said purchase price of vehicle...

Well, you're not bouncing on my knee I'm afraid.

Seriously though, what would you charge for a home made toboggan?

[rhinochopig]

maser_spyder said:

RacingPete said:

Dear maser_spyder_santa,

I have seen your new designs on the Internet and would like to make offer a proposal for purchasing one of your highly custom M_SMk3 sleds. Please, by return, inform me of the said purchase price of vehicle...

Well, you're not bouncing on my knee I'm afraid.

Seriously though, what would you charge for a home made toboggan?

Depends on who's doing the welding

[911motorsport]

Wow!

That's not just any toboggan.........

That's an MS (Maser Spyder)super lightweight, hand crafted, fully sprung Aluminium Toboggan

[maser_spyder]

rhinochopig said:

maser_spyder said:

RacingPete said:

Dear maser_spyder_santa,

I have seen your new designs on the Internet and would like to make offer a proposal for purchasing one of your highly custom M_SMk3 sleds. Please, by return, inform me of the said purchase price of vehicle...

Well, you're not bouncing on my knee I'm afraid.

Seriously though, what would you charge for a home made toboggan?

Depends on who's doing the welding

Harumph.

£10? Works out at about 1/6 of the cost of the materials I've ruined.

[maser_spyder]

911motorsport said:

Wow!

That's not just any toboggan.........

That's an MS (Maser Spyder)super lightweight, hand crafted, fully sprung Aluminium Toboggan

Ah, funny you mention that, I need a 'brand name'!

Any suggestions? Name/logo would be great, I'll run it off the vinyl printer and stick it on the runners!

[RacingPete]

maser_spyder said:

rhinochopig said:

maser_spyder said:

RacingPete said:

Dear maser_spyder_santa,

I have seen your new designs on the Internet and would like to make offer a proposal for purchasing one of your highly custom M_SMk3 sleds. Please, by return, inform me of the said purchase price of vehicle...

Well, you're not bouncing on my knee I'm afraid.

Seriously though, what would you charge for a home made toboggan?

Depends on who's doing the welding

Harumph.

£10? Works out at about 1/6 of the cost of the materials I've ruined.

Don't sell yourself so cheap... I offer £20

[Bill]

rhinochopig said:

MTB tandem

Eh? That's worthy of a thread in its own right IMO.