Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
What he said↑.
Dirt cheap kart
- Thread starter Cbreiter
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OzFab
Well-known member
As I said earlier, I use 16ga & that's pushing it. Best case scenario, that frame will fold in half as soon as you put any weight on it...It's great when you can utilise materials you have laying around but, only if it's suitable...
Cbreiter
New member
Ok, I will check out what I can get from work. What wall thickness do you guys recommend on square tubing? Is .188 overkill? and is 1x1 good, or should I see if I can get larger stuff?
I use 2mm thick square tubing. I am not too sure what that is in inches now (too lazy to figure it out). I wouldn't go thicker or thinner than that
OzFab
Well-known member
Extremely; half that thickness is just about perfect
It depends on the overall size of your frame; maybe 1.25" will be better if it's on the large side
Cbreiter
New member
Ok, I will see what is readily available. I can get good deals on the steel if it is something that they order in on a regular basis, but if I have to special order it, the price goes way up. I know they use 4" tubing, lol, but I think that is about .250 wall or something like that. We manufacture mowers, snowblowers, and rock removal equipment, that go behind tractors. So generally most of the stuff they have in stock is heavy wall, but I will see what they have.
1" X 1" X 2mm wall thickness is probably one of the most common dimensions that you get. You shouldn't have problems getting it
Cbreiter
New member
So, just in case anyone is interested, I measured the wall thickness on my pipe I was using with a digital calliper. It is 1.5 mm. Not sure if this changes anything at all, just wanted to let you guys know.
That is a little thin, and might be a pain welding. You might have to do a bit more triangulation suppost
OzFab
Well-known member
Well, it could be worse...
Just be aware that it won't be the safest kart on the planet...
Poboy kartman
Senior Moments Member
That would be the one in my avatar: No engine and 4 flat tires. ..The only way to get hurt by it is trip over it!
machinist@large
Active member
You said it....
:toetap05:
Is that the voice of personal experience talking again? 
That would be the one in my avatar: No engine and 4 flat tires. ..The only way to get hurt by it is trip over it!
:toetap05:
Is that the voice of personal experience talking again?
Cbreiter
New member
It is a pain to weld, but I really don't wanna throw away all of it, so if it workable, I'll just brace the heck out of it, lol. It's really just for fun that it's being built anyway. Never gonna see more that about 6.5 hp, and has super small rear wheels, so I can't see it going high speeds either.
zbuck
New member
1.5mm comes out as .059, which I think is to thin. Does that tubing have a seam in it? If so I would be scared of it splitting. Instead of HP and high speed, I would be worried about the stress/torque you will be putting on that thin wall tubing.
qtband
Well-known member
Since the OP has all that pipe, would it help if he doubled the bottom (rectangle) stacking it and welding it together? I'm not sure, but someone will know.
OzFab
Well-known member
Well, as I suggested previously, I think it's borderline & I would definitely not recommend anything thinner; The AmEx is built using 25mm x 1.6mm tube; As long as the construction & design are sound, I don't think it'll be a problem (but don't qoute me on that if it all goes horribly wrong...
)
firemanjim
Just kartin' around....
I agree with QT, in that if CB has enough of that tube, just double up on the main frame, and add triangulated bracing. If you stack one on top of the other, use strips of flat stock 1&1/2 x .09 thick along the perimeter to tie it all together nicely and add MUCHO strength to it......
Cbreiter
New member
If I got some square 1x1 square tubing (at least 2mm wall), and built a frame like this, and welded it underneath, would it be adequate?
If I got some square 1x1 square tubing (at least 2mm wall), and built a frame like this, and welded it underneath, would it be adequate?
Triangulation seems a bit exessive, but you are on the right track
zbuck
New member
I would forget about the thin wall tubing and just use the square frame.- Status