Tube Thickness???
- Thread starter Hunter65
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dpaxson
New member
i use .0615 or .125 wall 1 1/4" square tubing
jr dragster T
New member
I used 1 1/2" steel tube with a .125" wall for my kart. VERY rigid with pretty well no chasis flex
Doc Sprocket
*********
Yeah, I think I used the same stuff as Tyler for my kids' kart, and dang it's heavy. Good thing it's got reall LOW gearing, or else that PA 4-horse wouldn't have a prayer! I really went overboard first time outta the gate. The tube was free, so I jumped at it, but as I learn things, the less happy I am with it. It's not even done yet, and I'm debating rebuilding the frame. Sick, huh?
Doc Sprocket
*********
ALWAYS take free. Just maybe not use for kart...
frederic
The Junk Man
"Black pipe" from a home center is probably the easiest, cheapest way to go. It's a thick-wall tubing (about 1/8" or so) in a variety of diameters more than suitable for vehicle building big and small.
Because it's so mass produced, it's fairly inexpensive all things considered.
I used to build roll cages out of the stuff. It's also easy to weld because it's fairly thick - you get very little "blow through" which is common for new-to-welding folks on thinner materials.
The black pain that's on them helps control mig-balls if you're using flux-core welding process. Slag doesn't really stick well to painted surfaces.
Chainlink fenceposts are made of the same material more or less, except it's usually galvanized. You can grind the edges where you're going to weld to remove the galvanized coating however don't breath the fumes, it's about 100 times worse than breathing welding fumes, which is toxic enough.
Because it's so mass produced, it's fairly inexpensive all things considered.
I used to build roll cages out of the stuff. It's also easy to weld because it's fairly thick - you get very little "blow through" which is common for new-to-welding folks on thinner materials.
The black pain that's on them helps control mig-balls if you're using flux-core welding process. Slag doesn't really stick well to painted surfaces.
Chainlink fenceposts are made of the same material more or less, except it's usually galvanized. You can grind the edges where you're going to weld to remove the galvanized coating however don't breath the fumes, it's about 100 times worse than breathing welding fumes, which is toxic enough.
porsche930dude
New member
you really dont need it thick at all if you triangulate it properly
brendonv
New member
Thick enough. XD Mine is like 2mm thick or something n works fine. Like porshe930dude said, as long as u do enough supports any tubing will work. Just make everything triangles n u will be right.
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