Tire Rim Seperation
05-14-2010, 01:39 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Pleasantville,
NS, CANADA
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Tire Rim Seperation
If you're like me, you'll go through a set of rubber tires in no time, especially on asphalt. I now generally use foams, such as Jaco NitroShoes, but before I used to build up my own wheels. Rims are cheap, but I like to re-use stuff if I can. I found a little stub-axle tool I made in my junk-bin the other day and it reminded me of how I used to clean rubber from rims. Thought I'd share it with you,
My first attempt was to try the boiling trick. Even at a simmer, in a little over 5 minutes, I got this:
Apparently, this type of plastic melts at low temps, so the oven trick wasn't going to work either. I think Buggy and MT rims are nylon, and can take the heat.
I didn't feel like buying a pint of acetone only to find it melts the plastic rim too, plus it's messy and stinky.
So I decided to cut the tires off the rims. This left a mess of rubber firmly attached to the rim with the CA.
Next I made a stub axle from a bolt. The hex end fits into the rim, and I drilled and tapped the bolt head for a small machine screw to hold the rim on the axle. I also used my lathe to remove the bolt threads, but that's not necessaary. Filing 3 flat spots at 120 degrees apart will also work.
The next step is to chuck the stub axle with the rim attached, in a lathe, or even a drill-press can work. Using a steady rest (tool rest), use a small flat bladed screwdriver to scrape the rubber off the rim as the rim spins. A little sandpaper can finish the job.
Below is a pic of two rims that used this method. The one on the left still needs work. The one on the right could use some, but I'm satisified with the result.
My first attempt was to try the boiling trick. Even at a simmer, in a little over 5 minutes, I got this:
Apparently, this type of plastic melts at low temps, so the oven trick wasn't going to work either. I think Buggy and MT rims are nylon, and can take the heat.
I didn't feel like buying a pint of acetone only to find it melts the plastic rim too, plus it's messy and stinky.
So I decided to cut the tires off the rims. This left a mess of rubber firmly attached to the rim with the CA.
Next I made a stub axle from a bolt. The hex end fits into the rim, and I drilled and tapped the bolt head for a small machine screw to hold the rim on the axle. I also used my lathe to remove the bolt threads, but that's not necessaary. Filing 3 flat spots at 120 degrees apart will also work.
The next step is to chuck the stub axle with the rim attached, in a lathe, or even a drill-press can work. Using a steady rest (tool rest), use a small flat bladed screwdriver to scrape the rubber off the rim as the rim spins. A little sandpaper can finish the job.
Below is a pic of two rims that used this method. The one on the left still needs work. The one on the right could use some, but I'm satisified with the result.
