Weldless rack idea
11-30-17 | 06:42 PM
#1
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From: vermont
Bikes: road bike, mountain bike, touring bike
Weldless rack idea
I am wondering if this is a horrible idea or not...
Would it be possible to make a lightweight rack out of plate metal? The top of the rack would be pretty self explanatory and the legs would be screwed on to tabs folded off the side. Basically a wide U with the sides folded over for rigidity and maybe the legs would be a "L".
My curiosity comes from a lack of lightweight and inexpensive fat bike racks. I would only be using them for bikepacking style bags so a dry bag on the rear rack. A front rack would only be a sleeping bag/tent combo.
If it would be possible, I am assuming the lower numbers (3003) would be a more bendable material and .190 would be a good thickness? I am using this site as reference. https://www.metalsdepot.com/aluminum...aluminum-plate
Am I crazy?
Thanks,
Would it be possible to make a lightweight rack out of plate metal? The top of the rack would be pretty self explanatory and the legs would be screwed on to tabs folded off the side. Basically a wide U with the sides folded over for rigidity and maybe the legs would be a "L".
My curiosity comes from a lack of lightweight and inexpensive fat bike racks. I would only be using them for bikepacking style bags so a dry bag on the rear rack. A front rack would only be a sleeping bag/tent combo.
If it would be possible, I am assuming the lower numbers (3003) would be a more bendable material and .190 would be a good thickness? I am using this site as reference. https://www.metalsdepot.com/aluminum...aluminum-plate
Am I crazy?
Thanks,
11-30-17 | 10:49 PM
#2
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Bike racks have been assembled with only bolts/rivets. Bike racks have been made from flat sheet before. I would make no assumptions about the alloy number referencing strength, stiffness or fatigue aspects, but these details are easily learned with due research. Andy
11-30-17 | 11:13 PM
#3
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From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
The OP may not be crazy, but must be young. Decades back racks exactly like he envisions were the norm. These steel racks were soon displaced by lighter die cast aluminum racks, specifically those from Pletscher and their ilk. In turn, Pletscher racks lost favor to welded racks which claimed to offer greater stiffness.
I don't claim that we've reached an endpoint in rack evolution, and may see new designs that move from welds, but winning design doesn't always win in the market place.
I don't claim that we've reached an endpoint in rack evolution, and may see new designs that move from welds, but winning design doesn't always win in the market place.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
11-30-17 | 11:37 PM
#4
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+1, not crazy, but also not breaking any new ground since the 1930s or so:
^ Rack made of bent strips of Duralumin (what we'd call 2000-series aluminum now.) I'm considering/sketching out a light-duty front rack along the same lines.
^ Rack made of bent strips of Duralumin (what we'd call 2000-series aluminum now.) I'm considering/sketching out a light-duty front rack along the same lines.
12-01-17 | 04:28 AM
#5
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From: vermont
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Wow... I honestly thought this forum would call me crazy. I was kinda depending on it to be honest. For 30 ish dollars for the aluminum its worth an attempt.
Could anyone give me advise on alloys and thickness. 1/4 seems like too much so thickness is probably set. I know the aluminum strips from Home depot do not like to be bent at 90 degree angles and will snap off so this is my main concern. My tools are basically a bench vise, a hammer and pliers.
Thanks guys. I'm OK with not being original. Does 40 make me young? I've been riding for 27 years of that counts for something.
Could anyone give me advise on alloys and thickness. 1/4 seems like too much so thickness is probably set. I know the aluminum strips from Home depot do not like to be bent at 90 degree angles and will snap off so this is my main concern. My tools are basically a bench vise, a hammer and pliers.
Thanks guys. I'm OK with not being original. Does 40 make me young? I've been riding for 27 years of that counts for something.
12-01-17 | 04:39 AM
#6
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From: vermont
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OK... quick research... Bend radius is important. So make a wooden template with rounded edge and bend it over that. Unless I want to use a torch, the 3000 is my metal. HD does not say what their aluminum is. Its a secret I guess.
thanks
thanks
12-01-17 | 05:17 AM
#7
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Keep in mind that flat material has no resistance to buckling in compression. So you need to form structural shapes, especially for the legs.
Good luck with the project.
Good luck with the project.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
12-01-17 | 04:37 PM
#8
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by 'L' you mean extruded angle stock ? it will give strength, flat strip will not..
https://www.metalsdepot.com/shape/Angle the 6061 at the top?
Or have you access to a sheet metal brake to fold the sheet stock into a 3D shape?
....
https://www.metalsdepot.com/shape/Angle the 6061 at the top?
Or have you access to a sheet metal brake to fold the sheet stock into a 3D shape?
....
Last edited by fietsbob; 12-01-17 at 04:41 PM.
12-02-17 | 11:40 AM
#9
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When I get ideas on making something non-standard like tooling or whatever, I frequently look through the material guides on Online Metals.
Aluminum Guide
Aluminum Guide
