Body panels for roll cage?

[nino]

On Crawlers alu,. looks sweet bare. But it's a different animal, low gearing and all.

I find that old steel toolbox material also looks sweet. My Wraith (sold it to partially finance my Kraton):

 

[slick2500]

$91.72 per box $4.79 a square foot comes in a box that covers 19.15 square feet.
Last night I was able to find a 24x12 sheet of lexan for like $12, and I'm sure I could find diamond plate vinyl as like you all said it would look bad ass.
I'll do some searching around and see what I can find.

The vinyl stuff comes in some pretty cool colors https://www.ebay.com/itm/303348811311

 

[LibertyMKiii]

I have used this stuff before when I don't need the ultimate strength of carbon fiber. The cost is great and a jigsaw cuts it easily or rotary tools...

Fiber glass sheet

 

[JDowns]

Thin ABS sheet is pretty inexpensive. It's flexible, durable, and easy to work with.

 

[Outcastblxnut]

Galvanized flashing would look cool as it’s kind of marbled

 

[slick2500]

What the vibe going to be? I would think some diamond plate would be bad ass.

Looking go so far John.

 

[SARRT8]

Mmmmm Budweiser!!! The panel’s look good also.

 

[slick2500]

If only that would have been a Heineken I could have made a really punny joke.

 

[slick2500]

So I really do not like this Diamond plate "Vinyl". It actually has a texture to it and the raised sections do not stick to anything, so if the raised section is on an edge all it wants to do is lift off. I'm not even sure this is actually vinyl it feels like thick aluminum foil or something. So back to the drawing board on that.

 

[Branson_Basher]

@slick2500 Any reason for not using aluminum?

 

[slick2500]

@slick2500 Any reason for not using aluminum?

I wanted to try and keep it as light as possible. The Lexan is working great, just forming it is a bit tricky and new to me, I already melted one piece pretty bad.

 

[Branson_Basher]

I wanted to try and keep it as light as possible. The Lexan is working great, just forming it is a bit tricky and new to me, I already melted one piece pretty bad.

Are you using any kind of form to mold the lexan to?

 

[slick2500]

Are you using any kind of form to mold the lexan to?

I made one for the hood, the roof I just left flat. I'm going to have to get creative for the one for the sides.

 

[magnetik]

Got access to a printer? The panels should be easy to model since they're flat and diamond plate embossing could be extruded on the surface. I could do one up if you got me some measurements

 

[Branson_Basher]

If you want the side panels to hug the cage you'll need a couple of bends in them. The bends are not perpendicular to the center line of the body.

Maybe lexan is flexible enough to conform to the cage without bends? I don't know since I've not worked with lexan beyond painting it.

 

[slick2500]

Got access to a printer? The panels should be easy to model since they're flat and diamond plate embossing could be extruded on the surface. I could do one up if you got me some measurements

No sir I do not.

If you want the side panels to hug the cage you'll need a couple of bends in them. The bends are not perpendicular to the center line of the body.
View attachment 79924
View attachment 79925

Maybe lexan is flexible enough to conform to the cage without bends? I don't know since I've not worked with lexan beyond painting it.

Yeah the first side panels I made I was able to get them to bend and conform to the cage by heating them up with a hair dryer it took forever though. I am pretty sure I don't want to use the heat gun on or near the cage. The lexan I bought is only 1.6mm thick.

 

[magnetik]

I bet Kydex would be perfect for this.. You'd just make oversized panels and heat the edges and curl them around the frame.

 

[Branson_Basher]

No sir I do not.

Yeah the first side panels I made I was able to get them to bend and conform to the cage by heating them up with a hair dryer it took forever though. I am pretty sure I don't want to use the heat gun on or near the cage. The lexan I bought is only 1.6mm thick.

View attachment 79934

How are your woodworking skills?
Make a form out of a 2x4 and then go to town with the heat gun.

The extra benefit to having the form is for making panels in the future.

I bet Kydex would be perfect for this.. You'd just make oversized panels and heat the edges and curl them around the frame.

If you tried to just lay kydex against the cage and heat it with a heat gun you would deform the cage very badly.

Kydex really needs to be molded around a form that won't deform from heat.

 

[slick2500]

How are your woodworking skills?
Make a form out of a 2x4 and then go to town with the heat gun.

The extra benefit to having the form is for making panels in the future.
If you tried to just lay kydex against the cage and heat it with a heat gun you would deform the cage very badly.

Kydex really needs to be molded around a form that won't deform from heat.

Just okay.
I've built a house, a garden shed, some cabinets, a clock, a shelf, an entertainment center and a desk.
I'm sure I can whip up something with a jigsaw.

 

[Branson_Basher]

Just okay.
I've built a house, a garden shed, some cabinets, a clock, a shelf, an entertainment center and a desk.
I'm sure I can whip up something with a jigsaw.

With a saw, rasp, sandpaper and patience it'll be pretty straightforward.

Remember that if your angles are slightly off you can build the surface back up with wood glue and saw dust then refine it. Much better than scrapping the form that was 90% of the way finished.

Remember it's a hobby, it's supposed to take up your free time