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n/a
DELETED (Inactive)
48 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 16 2004 : 6:27:25 PM
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Would aluminum be better for a electric go-kart od wood. two people will be driving this kart.
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gokartmaniac
Apprentice
Germany
105 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2004 : 7:42:27 PM
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wood if because you cant weld aluminum and take a aluminum pipe and you can bend it over your knee i would recomend a strong two by four or one by two frame with a 1 inch plywood base board what kinda motor are you using
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BEatonNo1
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
1133 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2004 : 7:43:04 PM
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if you have the tools, metal is definantly going to beat wood for a go cart.
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cirvin
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
1542 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2004 : 8:29:08 PM
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Yea, get some good steel and a beefy engine.
I tried to build a go kart out of wood, don't expect it to be as good as a metal cart at all.
http://daxter12.topcities.com |
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BEatonNo1
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
1133 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2004 : 9:55:58 PM
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wood if because you cant weld aluminum
This isn't true if you have the proper wire you can weld just about all metals. Any good size hardware store will sell aluminum welding wire
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take a aluminum pipe and you can bend it over your knee
aluminum can be just as strong as steel if designed properly.
the problems with aluminum is that pricewise you could make it out of steel tubing for cheaper
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Kale
Nobel Prize Winner
Canada
795 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2004 : 10:52:35 PM
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Probably a compromise would be best. Tubular steel for the frame since it is easy to weld and cheap. Use aluminum for sheeting/body coverage (anywhere you need a panel to fill in a space in the frame) since you can just rivet it onto the steel frame. A cheaper way would be to use thin plywood, but it would be heavier. Either way, covering the frame probably improves your aerodynamics a bit.
Use GOOD bearings for your wheels. A lot of speed loss in karts is due to poor wheel bearings.
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n/a
DELETED (Inactive)
48 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2004 : 06:56:21 AM
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thanks for the help.
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2004 : 09:19:39 AM
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The only "proper" way to weld aluminium would be to use a TIG welder (very expensive), oxy-gas (takes great skill) or heli-arc (no idea what's involved with that). Using a MIG or stick welder won't work at all....Well, MIG might if you can find the correct wire and have the skill, but with stick you'll end up just cutting right through the aluminium...
A word about aluminium though...Often, with homemade projects, steel is superior to aluminium. Sure, it's heavier, but it's easier to join and work with. Also, aluminium actually takes some engineering to work with. By the time a "non engineeer" has designed an aluminium frame to be as strong as it's steel equivelant, the aluminium version is often much heavier.
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da-g-dog
Mad Scientist
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2004 : 6:47:38 PM
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The only "proper" way to weld aluminium would be to use a TIG welder (very expensive), oxy-gas (takes great skill) or heli-arc (no idea what's involved with that).
Just so you know, heli-arc is the same as TIG. Specifically, heli-arc is the TIG process using a helium based shielding gas. But there are several different mixes that can be used depending on the type, thickness and joint that is being welded.
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Using a MIG or stick welder won't work at all....Well, MIG might if you can find the correct wire and have the skill, but with stick you'll end up just cutting right through the aluminium...
You are mostly correct about stick welding aluminum. It is possible, but not cost effective. Only one or two manufacturers make the rod, but its such an exotic product, it isn't commonly used. But wire feed aluminum welding is actually somewhat common. It uses a different gun and feed system, as well as shielding gas. Its actually quite effective. The main difference between steel and aluminum wire feed welding is wire feed gun travel speed.
hike master kyle |
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BEatonNo1
Nobel Prize Winner
USA
1133 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2004 : 8:00:46 PM
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Yeah stick, and wire feeders are just two different types of MIG machines. Cost wise, they are getting really close. I forget the brand but they make very affordable machines, however I dont know much about their quality. Aaron your probibly right about the proper way to do it. heli-arc welds always look the best. especially chromed or on aluminum.
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It uses a different gun and feed system, as well as shielding gas. Its actually quite effective. The main difference between steel and aluminum wire feed welding is wire feed gun travel speed.
I haven't ever seen fluxcore aluminum wire, so if youre machine doesnt allow you to use gas sheilding then you would have to see if the manufacturer had a kit or something.
as for speed, most should have enough adjustment
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da-g-dog
Mad Scientist
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2004 : 03:44:50 AM
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Yeah stick, and wire feeders are just two different types of MIG machines.
MIG is a welding process, not a machine. MIG stands for Metal Inert Gas.
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Aaron your probibly right about the proper way to do it. heli-arc welds always look the best. especially chromed or on aluminum.
TIG is by far the most common process used to weld aluminum, and by far the best looking when done correctly.
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I haven't ever seen fluxcore aluminum wire, so if youre machine doesnt allow you to use gas sheilding then you would have to see if the manufacturer had a kit or something.
as for speed, most should have enough adjustment
Right, they don't make flux cored aluminum wire. The flux cored processes are way too dirty to try to use on aluminum. And any machine worth purchasing will be able to be set up to run a fast enough wire speed to weld aluminum. Just make sure to use the correct shielding gas, a CO2 steel mix won't do the job correctly.
hike master kyle |
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Aaron Cake
Administrator
Canada
6718 Posts |
Posted - Feb 18 2004 : 09:27:32 AM
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Just so you know, heli-arc is the same as TIG. Specifically, heli-arc is the TIG process using a helium based shielding gas. But there are several different mixes that can be used depending on the type, thickness and joint that is being welded.
Ah, that makes sense.
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But wire feed aluminum welding is actually somewhat common. It uses a different gun and feed system, as well as shielding gas. Its actually quite effective. The main difference between steel and aluminum wire feed welding is wire feed gun travel speed.
Cool. Learn something every day. I have never actually seen someone wire-weld aluminium, so I just assumed that it isn't done. Anytime I've seen aluminium being welded, it's always been TIG or gas.
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Q: aluminum or wood.
