NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 19, 2015 18:43:03 GMT -5
I finally decided to build a 6 wheel cabbing machine. I got inspiration from Zarguy's gargantuan build. Mine is going to be more compact though. I'm designing mine similar to the pixie, but using 6" wheels. I have the shaft pulley and the wheels ordered, and composite decking for the base which I'll build once all the parts are here. Total build cost so far: $42.72 Hopefully this will be finished by the end of next weekend.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 19, 2015 19:11:40 GMT -5
This should be a fun build to watch. What material did you use for the pan and hood and what adhesive to hold it together? Cheapest price I have seen for a full set of OEM wheels for the genie is $580 and the price of the genie is around $1800 so that means they get $1200 for the motor,shaft,spacers,base,pans,hoods,light and water system. I have always thought a really nice home built could be done complete for about a grand so it will be interesting to see what you come up with.
Chuck
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 19, 2015 20:04:38 GMT -5
Chuck I got the 1/8" pvc sheet from a local sign shop for $15. It's kinda like a tough foam board. For adhesive I used Permatex plastic welder. It's a 2 part epoxy. Stinks big time, but seems to be working well. That was $4 at Menards.
I ordered wheels from Kingsley North. I have read they're not the best, but I can refinish them myself when they wear out. I've never used a wheeled machine to cut a cab, so I wanted to use new wheels to benchmark the performance. The wheels were $366 + shipping.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Mar 20, 2015 14:26:03 GMT -5
Hi Nate interesting project what will the drive mechanism be? what type of motor & wetting system? how many wheels will be on the arbor?
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 20, 2015 19:20:23 GMT -5
Holy cow, my wheels were delivered today. I called in the order at lunch time yesterday. Kingsley North rocks!
Ed, this will be a 6 wheel machine & will be belt driven by a 1/4 hp motor. I got the motor for $5 at a local thrift shop!
For water I'll make an overhead system & plumb a drain into the pan. To start I'll probably use just 1 tube & move it over each wheel, but once I have the wheels where I like I may put valves in above each wheel.
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 22, 2015 13:33:04 GMT -5
Ok so I think the shaft I have is too short. I might see if I can work the pulley into the center, but that will only give me another 1.5" or so to work with. The way it sits now there's less than an inch between wheels. I like the picture Chuck posted in another thread of the hood with lights, so I might just order a new shaft & rethink the whole build.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,676
|
Post by Fossilman on Mar 22, 2015 16:28:06 GMT -5
Great idea!! Thumbs up
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 22, 2015 19:48:14 GMT -5
The 1" between wheels would not bother me too bad (that's about normal on the genie) but I would like more distance between the edge of the outside wheels and the sides of the hood. spinning the cab around and trying to use all of the wheel will require some clearance there.
Chuck
|
|
cobbledstones
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 482
|
Post by cobbledstones on Mar 22, 2015 22:31:06 GMT -5
nice build, I like chuck's suggestion, also think about padding the front edge of the water pan to make the long cabbing sessions (in your future) comfortable.
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 22, 2015 22:54:19 GMT -5
I ordered a 36" shaft today ( the one I was attempting to use was 19.5" ) & found a different approach for the hood. It wont be as compact as I originally planned, but I think it'll be much more user friendly. The foam padding I'll figure out when I get that far lol
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Mar 23, 2015 9:55:39 GMT -5
Easiest foam padding is the pipe insulation available at any hardware. Your wheel sequence is backwards for most people. Most go left to right but it is your machine.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 23, 2015 12:05:21 GMT -5
Easiest foam padding is the pipe insulation available at any hardware. I understand that you are not there yet, but this is just for when you are and adding to John's pipe insulation suggestion. I used the pipe insulation, but went to an auto parts store and got some hose - maybe fuel line hose? - which I cut lengthwise down one side to put under the pipe insulation. This added a thickness, thus stability under the foam pipe insulation. The pipe insulation alone was kinda flimsy. Just thought I'd share my solution. hose inside pipe insulation: Looking forward to seeing your new build come together!
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Mar 23, 2015 12:27:29 GMT -5
Enjoying watching your cabbing unit project, NDK. captbob, what is the material behind your drums, and what is in the pans?
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 23, 2015 21:10:00 GMT -5
That's a great idea to add some resiliency to the foam, Capt. Bob. I was wondering if the foam would be flimsy. Thank you
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 24, 2015 9:32:58 GMT -5
captbob, what is the material behind your drums, and what is in the pans? You talking about the silver paint Jan? Just Rustoleum paint if I recall correctly.
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Mar 24, 2015 9:38:51 GMT -5
Thank you, captbob! It looks like there is some type of material where the wing nuts are behind your drums and wondered what it is? I thought it may be something to reduce the water from splashing? NDK, I'm very interested in your project and may want to build a 2 or 4-wheel unit with 6 inch wheels. I'm wondering how the Permatex will hold. ??
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 24, 2015 9:49:22 GMT -5
3 wing nuts hold the hood to the base making for easy removal. It's just the hook overlapping the base that you see.
/hijack
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 24, 2015 16:03:17 GMT -5
Jan I won't be using that hood I originally made, but the epoxy worked well assembling it. Seems rigid enough to take a beating, so I'm sure it would have worked well... Today I just about finished the cabber, & went a whole different direction then my original plan. I used two of these plastic jugs for the hoods. Was visiting my brother and he had them laying on a shelf in his garage. The light bulb went on & I knew these would work perfect. Got it all assembled. 2 1/2" between wheels, and plenty of room if I ever want to add more wheels. Looks like a genie on steroids lol I have a few finishing touches to completely finish it off, but it worked great in a test run. Here's the agate I used to break in the wheels. Dang this style of machine works fast! I moved the 1 piece of orange webbing to each wheel to make sure it would work well spreading out the water. Seems good, so I'll add a piece on every wheel.
|
|
|
Post by gingerkid on Mar 24, 2015 16:31:52 GMT -5
WooHoo, I love your machine, NDK, and Congratulations!! Looks like it will do a nice job cabbing for you!! Do you have bearings on the ends of the shaft? Can you please post a pic of the back of your machine if you get a chance? Thank you for answering the question about the Permatex and the pvc sheet holding together. I really like your idea of using your brother's jugs (that sounds weird...) to make the hoods and pans. What did you use to cut the jugs? Do you have drain holes in the pans? Where did you find the valves (?) for your water system?
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
|
Post by NDK on Mar 24, 2015 17:50:12 GMT -5
Lmao Jan, at least they weren't my sister-in-law's jugs There's only bearings in the center of the shaft. That makes for easy wheel removal. The jugs I started cutting wth a metal cutting wheel on a grinder, but switched to a jig saw with a normal wood blade in it. Made the tight turns easier to cut. I don't have drains hooked up yet. I was going to plumb in solid pvc pipe but made the pans removable, so I'll need to rethink that. The valves I bought at Petco. They're for aquarium airline, but work fine for water. They're a dollar apiece, so if they get boogered up, they're cheap to replace. I was going to run the grits from right to left because I'm left handed, but if I ever want to drill & tap the end for a spin on polishing pad, the right side would be easier to do with reg. right hand threads. Thanks for the interest.
|
|