Narrowing an aluminum rim
- Thread starter bogkid
- Start date
Are you talking about cutting and re-welding the rims to make them narrower? I have seen one member do it (karl), but if you don't really know what you are doing it could just turn out to be a disaster
Bansil
Painter of gnomes....
I guess cut 2" out of it, jig it up and weld back together 
OR do you mean something else?
OR do you mean something else?
Smerft85
Member
Do you have the correct tools to weld aluminum?
JTSpeedDemon
2019 Build Off Winner!
At first I was thinking put it on a lathe, but that's a good way to permanently ruin them, now that I think about it!
But yeah, you'd better be reeeaal good at cutting and welding aluminum to attempt this, it's probably easier to get some 6" wide rims.
But yeah, you'd better be reeeaal good at cutting and welding aluminum to attempt this, it's probably easier to get some 6" wide rims.
narrowing rims
Thanks for your responses. Yes, I do have a lathe and have already dismounted the tires (made my own tire removal tool) and proceeded to cut the rim halves apart. I also have TIG and MIG aluminum welders. One rim half is 3 1/2" and the other is 5" for an 8 1/2" rim.
My main concern was due to the rim taper. If I cut out 2" from the 5" half, I don't think the remaining pieces will be close enough in size to weld. Will probably go ahead and cut them and see how the remaining parts fit together. If I can't get good alignment, I can always just order a couple of VanK 2 1/2" rim halves and weld them to my 3 1/2" to make up 6".
Thanks for your responses. Yes, I do have a lathe and have already dismounted the tires (made my own tire removal tool) and proceeded to cut the rim halves apart. I also have TIG and MIG aluminum welders. One rim half is 3 1/2" and the other is 5" for an 8 1/2" rim.
My main concern was due to the rim taper. If I cut out 2" from the 5" half, I don't think the remaining pieces will be close enough in size to weld. Will probably go ahead and cut them and see how the remaining parts fit together. If I can't get good alignment, I can always just order a couple of VanK 2 1/2" rim halves and weld them to my 3 1/2" to make up 6".
Bansil
Painter of gnomes....
the diameter mismatch could pose a problem, any pics? nice to see different tech on here 
anickode
Active member
Is this a one piece rim to begin with?
Remember you need to maintain the deepest part of the taper in order to be able to put the tires on.
Remember you need to maintain the deepest part of the taper in order to be able to put the tires on.
Thanks again for your responses. Yes, It was a one piece rim, which I put in a lathe and cut away the weld to separate the halves. I was aware that the narrow part of the rim is necessary for the tire bead to sit in while you're mounting the tires. I can post some pictures if someone could tell me how to attach them- I can look at the site for directions to attach photos.
