How in the ____ do you do this?????

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

Ok guys I'm back for another question ...


I am not looking for any secrets from you about how much you bend your axles as we already covered that topic and I have a good idea of where to start for testing. (but I am willing to take them if you want to give)

What I am wondering is how you measure the bend??? I have the tool recommended by someone here and believe it or not, I am somewhat mechanically inclined. BUT ...I can't figure out how to use this thing with any kind of accuracy. I am looking to be able to repeat a given bend with some sort of consistency.

One thing that I have learned here is to be able to laugh at yourself. If I shared a video of my attempts at using this I am confident that some of you would be on the floor crying because you are laughing so hard!
My fat fingers have stuff falling over and axles turning and nothing lines up. About the only thing I have not tried is standing on my head while attempting to measure. Oh wait ... I haven't tried looking in the mirror backwards yet .....

There has to be a simple way to bend and measure the amount of bend with some degree of accuracy. I mean if I want to try 4* on one and then 9* on another, how do I measure it. I know that I can put a stop on the bender and repeat a given bend, but how do I know how much it is? I know I can probably see the difference between a 4* and a 8*, but I know I can't see the difference between 5* and a 6* bend. I really want to learn how to do this!

So if you are done laughing at my simple mind and don't mind sharing your process to measure the bends, this Derby dad would very much appreciate it!

 

[Vitamin K]

The suggestion I've heard for the DFW is: "Bend it as much as possible without making it so you can't fit it through the wheel without damaging the bore."

If you want something to measure the bend angle of an axle, you can try something like this, though you'd have to extend it to angles past 5 degrees.

 

[Crash Enburn]

Thinkin': Take my advice with a grain of salt (check all my 'win' badges!), but I've always eyeballed it. I did just look at an old car of mine here and eyeballed it against the chart in K's link, and I'm well beyond 5°. Most everything I do regarding that bend is a WAG, but if you look at a clock, each minute mark is 6°. I'll look at that for information purposes, but, really, I just make sure I can still get it through the bore w/o damage.

As to the tool you pictured, if you put your axle at the top, such that the nail head is resting against the flat, I would think that you could get a pretty decent picture of the bend in your axle. Of course, though, I have no idea of scale on that tool.

 

[bracketracer]

I can't tell from the little pic, but did you already cut the notch in it?

http://pinewoodderbyonline.com/threads/digital-angle-finder.3188/#post-37633

 

[B_Regal Racing]

I don't bend the bend. Never have, but I do put as much bend in the FDW as I can. I use this tool:

http://www.derbydad4hire.com/Goatboy-Axle-Bending-Tool-GoatAB.htm

It has a built in stop so you can be assured that the angle of bend is the same in every axle. I have also used the DW bender (which is the only DW tool I still have). It too works OK; however, it is not as precise in duplicating the angle of bend time after time (but it will do the job).

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

Crash & Bracket Racer,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, but thank you VERY much for the information!! The link with the pic helped a lot as that design is a little different than the one I have. I have decided to modify the one I have or try to locate one that is more like the one in the link. ....however it has given me some ideas.

I really want to learn this stuff, and while it may not be important as to the actual degree of bend, it is one more variable that I would like to control so I can see what affects are made as each variable is changed. Because I am on the steep part of the learning curve ( also trying to teach both my son and my wife as they build their cars) I may continue to ask "stupid" questions. I really appreciate the time you guys take to not only answer, but explain and share pictures!!! It REALLY, REALLY REALLY means a lot to us and it REALLY, REALLY helps!!!!!!

BReagle,

Thanks for the reply ....I did buy a bender last month, but have not really used it yet. I know that once I find the "correct" bend, if there is such a thing, that I can repeat it by adjusting the stop nut that I added to my bender. Right now I am more looking to learn how to measure the bends somewhat accurately. That way I can try to make a determination if 4* bend is faster or slower than say a 7* bend. I know you guys can probably just look at a bend and know if it is close, but for those of us that have only ever bent axles with the DW tool and a hammer, we need more exposure and time to the sport.

Vit K,

I printed the sheet you had linked. That helps a lot also as I am a visual person and it gives me a baseline for the axles with a smaller degree of bend. Thanks!

Thanks for everything!!!!

The fleet is moving along, just two more to paint. Some axles are done and some need to be done yet. The DFW axles all need to be bent ( I have several extra that I am going to bend at different angles and test before the final DFW axles are finished). The wheel bores all need to be done yet, so I need to practice on a few old scout wheels first.

Thanks again to everyone!!!

 

[Watchitgo]

I went through a similar process trying to measure the bends. I ended up buying a $3 protractor and made my own set of reference angles on a sheet of paper.

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

I went through a similar process trying to measure the bends. I ended up buying a $3 protractor and made my own set of reference angles on a sheet of paper.

That just might work?????

 

[Rebel Racer]

Thinkin B Racin
I've come up with a thought that could possibly help you with a more accurate way to measure your bend. If you were to cut the head of a spare axle off and bend it where you like it you should be able to place it up against your protractor and measure it very accurately now that the head of the axle isn't in the way.
Then place your good axle and bent axle in your vice side by side and tap it until the two bends are parallel with one another.
It may or may not work , I haven't actually tried it.

 

[Rebel Racer]

 

[TRE]

I have never measured my axle angle

 

[Rebel Racer]

I have never measured my axle angle

Nor do I. Just bend it till it's a good fit through the boar and run it!

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

It appears that this might not be near as important as I thought???? Anyway for those of us that have only bent with a DW tool and a hammer, it is a bit concerning when you don't know where to start .... I think I will try a couple of prepped axles with different bends and see if I can establish any speed differences.

Thanks for all of the replies!