Building fan cage
 

Hi all :D I am building my first airboat 25cc homey gasser! i am building the cage out of 1/4" aluminum rod stock.. how do yall bend it and have it hold shape? I made a template from ply to shape the rod but i cant get it to fully form.... this is my first time working with aluminum any tips greatly appreciated!!!!!

RE: Building fan cage
 

Unless you actually use a roller to bend the alloy rod it will want to spring back out somewhat. You just have to slightly over bend it then let it relax back to where you want it to sit.

RE: Building fan cage
 

+1

RE: Building fan cage
 

Cajun of Cajun airboats posts here and if he reads the forum can help you out. I have airboats ( electric ) and admire these airboaters cage systems and never asked as i wait to read the same ?.

RE: Building fan cage
 

thanks Ozpulse! i worked it slightly tighter than the jig they are not exact but are pretty close... close enough for city work :D anybody use alumiweld to solder aluminum? thoughts on it? comments?

RE: Building fan cage
 

I built a cage with the alumiweld rods . all rods need to be close to same size
i melted some small stuff trying to heat 1/4 rod up hot enough.
practice makes you better (i can stick weld good but this is diff)
buy a couple of good stainless steel brushes for cleaning
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...numcage002.jpg
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...eisdone001.jpg

RE: Building fan cage
 

nice cage darts! i am like you i can stick weld a twinky to rebar haha i built an engine stand out of 3" aluminum square tubing some of my welds look great others look nasty biggest problem i ran into is A) i cant find the right temp i.e either not enough heat and it sits on top of the aluminum or i get to hot and it runs every where and gets too thin B) i weld one spot let cool then move to the next and to get enough heat in spot #2 to melt rod spot #1 falls off... any tips?
"

RE: Building fan cage
 

this is what i have so far

RE: Building fan cage
 

i would work from one side to the otherdo two welds wait 15/20 min do two more took about two days to complete