No Weldding Frame

[GoDaddy]

Since I'm not a welder, I want to put some frame together using bolts and nuts. Will check Lowes if they have metal, if not will look for free stuff(weight frame) or craiglist under free. I saw one user here used the weight workout parts for frame.

What do you guys think, possible?

I dont know how i'm gonna deal with the front wheels and turning as yet.

This is going to be electric for my son. He doesn't like the noise from the gas engine. Only 30"L X 60"W

 

[TOO FAST]

I think you'd have a hard time keeping everything tight and square. Take the plunge and buy a small arc welder (80-100 amp) and learn to weld, or get someone to weld it up

 

[GoDaddy]

My reply to that is I'm cheap. If i have money, I buy already built one. I'm even thinking of using woods instead of metal. Will have to do the math which cost more.

 

[EagleTalons]

Please don't use wood. Bolting a kart together isn't that bad of an idea. Just takes drill bits and cut off blades to make all of the stuff you need.

 

[brendonv]

It will work but not very well. I would be always scared about bolts coming loose. Weld if u can, ask around if anyone of ur mates have one u could borrow.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

I'm cheap too, but a welder is something you will use and use again, and if you get a decent one (you can get decent lincoln, miller, and even old craftsman stick welders for 50-100 on CL), treat it right and it will last you a lifetime.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

My only real complaint looks like this: When you try to bolt together sections of hollow tubing, the tubing will begin to crush as the bolts get tighter. As the tubing crushes, the bolts effectively loosens. So you tighten it more. And the tube crushes more. and so on. Whether square, rectangular, round, doesn't matter. You could go with a heavy wall tube to combat this, but it'll have to be mighty heavy!

Offhand, the only way around this problem I can think of is something flat and solid like angle. But while angle won't crush, it will bend and deflect under shear load, much more than hollow stock. You'd have to carefully engineer the frame with triangulation to make it rigid enough, yet watching your weight. It could be done though. Next time you're in a Costco or similar large industrial/commercial warehouse-type building, look up at the ceiling joists. While welded, they are generally angle and a great example.

 

[EagleTalons]

Just use nylock nuts and lock washers. No worries there.

 

[Rotore]

it'll be alot safer with a support on the corners

 

[EagleTalons]

I remember someone in my shop using some aluminum? Tubing for a football steppy thingy. Now kids were falling on the thing all the time and it never bent or anything. I can't remember the wall size, but it was strong and light! That would be the stuff I would use for a kart if I was going to bolt one together.

 

[TOO FAST]

My reply to that is I'm cheap. If i have money, I buy already built one. I'm even thinking of using woods instead of metal. Will have to do the math which cost more.

Man if you're that cheap you might as well quit now because karts
are the gift that keep on taking - forever. Also being too cheap
really can jeoporidize someone's safety.

 

[GoDaddy]

Once again, this will be for a kid. It will be eletric. Will probably goes maybe max of 10 mph. I'm not trying to built a dune buggy for adult. What is the cheapest welder, $300? I saw 2 go kart(adult) for $300. Anyway, i shouldn't say I'm cheap. I should say I'm more CONSERVATIVE. I don't think it's worth it for me to spend over $100 on something I will probaly only use once or twice.

Rotore :it'll be alot safer with a support on the corners

That's what I was thinking of doing, that's the picture on upper left hand corner.

Anyway, thank for all your comments.

 

[vandancouver]

then just buy a go kart for 150 bucks or something. already completely done and stop trying to think how to build it, etc.

say you can get all the metal for free
you still need hardware
steering wheel
seat
centrifugal clutch (at a minimum)
tires/bearings
heim joints or something along the lines of steering
at a minimum a band brake
chain
sprockets

the list goes on and on. all that will cost over a hundred i guarantee it.

 

[vandancouver]

oh yeah, engine!

what i did for my first cart was bought one for 125, complete with engine off craigslist

i fixed the engine (not hard) and it ran perfect. sold it for 250.
bought a new frame that had suspension
neighbor gave me a motor..blahblah

just take steps

 

[GoDaddy]

you guys are missing my point. I want to see how cheap i could get to build just the frame. That's all i need. I have motor, controller and stuff.

Once, Second, third again, This is going to be electric, so no clutch. Thanks for you input.

Thread closed until further noticed.

 

[vandancouver]

thread is back open again.

cheap frame, likeyou say get scrap metal and do it up
let us know how it goes

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Bed frames.

 

[motor_head]

go to a farm auction if you can most all will have a welder probalbly the most common would be a 220 stick welder and can be had for cheap

 

[GoDaddy]

Ok Open it is..
Now it's more like it(possitive thinking)

Bedframe ha? I have extra in the garage. Aint it abit heavy? My motor is only a 350watts and 24V controller.

As for a welder, I found one. One of my cousin has a little one. 120v that's a plus. He said it only weld cast iron, if i remember right.

 

[GoDaddy]

I guess I'm not the only one who is crazy trying to built a frame with bolts and nuts.

I came across this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiFBTS9rxvs&NR=1