Wooden Wheel sets?

[Puckdropper]

This may seem crazy (and I do not deny being crazy--too much fun) but it occured to me that I could turn wooden wheels out of some dowel (or other) stock and perhaps run it on my G scale track.

What problems am I likely to face? If I polyurethaned the wheels, I think that should smooth problems with water...

[John Busby]

Hi puckdropper
I would sugest if you are going to use wooden wheels you do it how the real railways did it.
Put a metal tyre on them and find drawings of prototype wooden railway wheels before you start to see hoe they constructed them.
They where mostly used on passanger stock because the suspension on early passanger coaches was so[censored] awfull it helped give the passangers a better
and more comfortable journey having the wooden wheels.
I would sugest an insulated plastic centre just to make sure you have insulated wheels
just in case a little moisture does get in
regards John

[tangerine-jack]

Sounds like a great idea! I like John's suggestion of putting a metal tire on them, but that may be beyond most people's abilities. I think just using a hardwood, oak or similar, should give you good service for a long time. Besides, if you make your own, you've got an unlimited supply of replacements. It's certainly an idea worthy of experimentation.


[oX)]

[cacole]

If you have a Michael's or similar craft store in your area, look through their wood doll house and kit items and you may find pre-cut wheels that would just need to be modified into flanged ones. A local Wal-mart has all kinds of hardwood products in their craft area, including automobile wheels.

Instead of polyurethane, I would consider using Jasco Copper Clear Wood Preservaitve. I constructed bridges and trestles out of cedar and redwood, and coated everything with Varathane Spar Urethane. After one summer in the Arizona sun, the Varathane had been burned off, even though it is an exterior grade. I have gone back over everything with Jasco.

[van buren s l]

For those of us without lathes the ends of empty thread spools might work.
Bob

[Karl Reichenbach]

Why would want to make and use wooden wheels?

Makes no sense to me.

Karl

[toenailridgesl]

I agree with Karl. Just about anyone who has been LargeScaling for a few years has lots of useless B/mann plastic wheelsets they have swapped out for metal & would be happy to give them away. Or buy them for literally pennies on evilbay.

[Puckdropper]

The why is simple: I want to. Apparently only the real thing's tried it before, so it's at least worth looking in to.

Also, I don't yet have a lathe, so turning wheels looks like an easy project to do to a) gain some experience and b) see if I like doing it.

The last good reason I have is that I can build the wheels how the real railroads build theirs. To really understand something, sometimes you have to do it.

---

About putting metal bands on the outside: I don't know about that. It sounds like a lot more work to me. If/when I get around to this, we'll see how they work.

The insulated ends idea is a good one. It shouldn't be too difficult to find a good insulator for the ends. I've got some Alumilite casting resin that would nicely "glue" and insulate the axel and wheel.

Thanks for the suggestion on the sealant. I'll look in to it.

[John Busby]

Hi puckdropper
machining the steel tyres is not that hard just a case of practice and the right cutting tools..
If you decide to go that way when time comes to fit them freeze the wheel centres when SWMBO is out and warm the tyres in the oven then press them together.
check all is well then the wheels should be ready for finishing paints ect once they have dried out properly.
Its all practice practice then practice.
There will be people around with far better knowledge than mine who can help you with the finer points
But above all have fun remember those wooden wheels are for passanger cars[:D]
regards John

[John Busby]

Hi Karl and Phil
I can see a place for it if making a passanger coach that had wooden centered
wheels and some did.
Nothing looks like wood better than wood.
I am also able to see your view point as I have a box of asst plastic wheels ready for shipping to the gentleman that does the loco repairs I cannot do I don't get much for them but it ca***hat can be plowed back into the railway.
Phil thats why the two bottles wasn't a problem[:D]
it caim from the railway budget..
regards john

[tangerine-jack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Karl Reichenbach

Why would want to make and use wooden wheels?

Makes no sense to me.

Karl

For shame[V]. I would never discourange anybody from wanting to experiment in new and innovative ways. Perhaps puckdropper is onto something that will revolutionize garden railroading, or at least he could have a spectacular failure. Either way, the sum total of knowledge will be added to and that is never a waste of time. Shame, shame on the small minds that think of creativity as a bad thing!

Truth be told, I also think wood is an odd material to use for a wheel, but then again I've never tried it myself.

[oX)]

[Tom The Brat]

Hmm. A brass tube from a K&S display, or maybe a couple feet of copper pipe would make a lot of tires.

For the 1/6 scale railroad I never got to build, I'd figured on cutting rings from old pipe for tires and flanges and using alumalight or some such to cast them into wheels. The rings were just to keep the tire or flange from getting chipped or chewed up in accidents. Of course, I have no idea how it would have worked out 'cause I had to scale back to 45mm gauge from 9 1/2 inch gauge[B)]

Why make wooden wheels out of dowls? Why not. If you want to try making wheels of wood, go for it.

[Puckdropper]

Just an update...

I took a look at the wooden spools at Walmart's craft section and they're a little small for most G scale stuff... But they'll work if someone wants to use them. I haven't done any more with my wooden wheels idea yet because quite simply I haven't had time or tools.

[bman36]

Puckdropper,
Let us know how it goes for you .A few issues back GR featured an all wooded RR. The work was spectacular. The look...unparalleled. Being a woodworking type myself I find the look of wood to have character. I added real wood details to my Shay almost as soon as it was out of the box. All the best on your venture. Later eh...Brian. [tup]

[van buren s l]

Puckdropper
I was thinking about real spools of cotton such as the wife uses on her sewing machine. Most of the spools are plastic but some companies still use wooden ones. Empty spools are worth saving in the junk box since they come in handy now and again.
Bob