Frames

[bda28590]

Can you use 1/2" Steel Rod for a go-kart frame?

 

[kibble]

The quick answer is: Yes you *could*.

The realistic answer is: Solid steel rod would be extremely heavy to make a go kart out of and not practical. It's better to use some sort of tubing whether square or round. Square is easier to work with.

 

[RobertD]

And rod isn't as structural, especially by weight, as tube.

 

[Jerryburger]

A friend's kart is made almost entirely of 1" square thick-wall tubing. It's absolutely bullet-proof.

 

[jr dragster T]

1/2 solid rod is like toothpicks. A five foot length of it has like 3 inches of flex.

 

[bda28590]

thats what i was thinking

 

[bda28590]

what if every so many inches put cross beams i guess you could say for support i just have a whole bunch of it just trying to use it up for something

 

[Russ2251]

I hear ya' on the "whole bunch of it" part.
It just sounds like in the end, you're gonna end up with something really heavy. Nothing robs hp more than excess weight.
In my case I strove to keep the whole shootin' match under 100 lbs. It comes in at 94 lbs. complete including engine.