I use the DD4H 92's. If I don't warp them how long til I retire a set, in my search to this question it seems like guys use them a long time. I apply more axle kiss during prep, anyone else like to do this?
how long do axles last?
- Thread starter BulldogRacing
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I reuse axles a lot. I dont retire them unless I screwed them up. I have not redone the axle polish, which is probably why I'm slow. Typically I'll clean them with denatured alcohol, then reapply Jig... that's it.
G
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My mistake!
Stainless steel is harder than plastic! The wheels bores will give up way b4 the axle ever will.
Stainless steel is harder than plastic! The wheels bores will give up way b4 the axle ever will.
Sorry for hijacking but do you guys cut your axle bending groove before you polish? This last time when working with my son's axles we just finished up polishing and picked out an axle to use as the DFW. I marked the line and chucked it in my drill press to file a groove with a thin angle edged needle file. First few times doing it like this went fine but this time I accidentally slipped and scratched the crap out of polished area. I am thinking next time to do that step first or put the axle in a clamp or vise to have a surface to lay the file against. I considered taping the polished area but didn't want to have any glue residue left behind but now I am thinking my cleaning process will likely take care of that anyway.
2 things.
BSB, I have no idea why you quoted me or what you're talking about. No one mentioned about plastic or wheel bores so I'm not sure why that was brought up.
ngyoung, I was thaught this method by a very very smart man (Spirit). I'll chuck up my marked, unpolished axle that I'm using for my DFW. I'll then spin it with that dremel while I'm using a second dremel (or drill press and dremel combo) to make the cut on my mark. For some reason the double rotation makes a really good cut and I've had no problems. I will then polish not only my cut, but the entire axle through my process at that point. Don't over complicate it. If you cut your groove first, then polish, do your bend after. No need to tape or worry about damaging your polished area.
BSB, I have no idea why you quoted me or what you're talking about. No one mentioned about plastic or wheel bores so I'm not sure why that was brought up.
ngyoung, I was thaught this method by a very very smart man (Spirit). I'll chuck up my marked, unpolished axle that I'm using for my DFW. I'll then spin it with that dremel while I'm using a second dremel (or drill press and dremel combo) to make the cut on my mark. For some reason the double rotation makes a really good cut and I've had no problems. I will then polish not only my cut, but the entire axle through my process at that point. Don't over complicate it. If you cut your groove first, then polish, do your bend after. No need to tape or worry about damaging your polished area.
G
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Obsessedderbydad said:
It was just a statement. Sorry, I quoted your post. My thinking is, how much abuse can an axle get from a plastic wheel running on it? Axles should last darn near forever if treated properly. I have been running a set for over 5 years. Wheels being made from plastic will last a long time, but nowhere near as long as an axle.
ODD, BSB is right that the wheel bores will give out before stainless steel axles will wear out. When I re-prep my axles, I wash them, lightly buff them, and re-apply the Jig. I have the same axles in my 2nd Hand Smoke SS car since I started racing in late 2013. Take care of the axles and they will last a long time.
I'm not saying BSB was wrong by any stretch about the wheel bores giving out before the SS axles. All I was saying was I was quoted and nothing in the first post or mine talked about wheel bores and longevity of them. I was just pointing out that I didnt know why that was even said when no one asked about it.
I like to use my drill press for the bending groove. I chuck it up, raise the drill press table so the axle head plunges into the hole in the table till the table is flush with bend point. I then lay a small file flat on the table and create the groove. This prevents slipping the file onto the running surface and provides more precise control over groove placement.
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Obsessedderbydad said:
Here is what I thought..........what else could cause the axle to wear? Isn't that why you would retire an axle? What touches the axle but the wood from the body, and the plastic on the wheel. Both of them are softer than the axle itself.
I was tying to get the point across that the axles never need to be retired with the exception like ngyoung said you come up with a better polishing process, or maybe you drop the car and bend them rendering them useless.
I do exactly like you stated in your post. I clean them with alcohol, wipe them on a T shirt, and jig them.........that is it! Bulldog asked about retiring the axles and I just don't see the need.
Correct. Unless you scratch them, Nick them or know your axle prep or polishing was not very good, but that's a tough call to make.
down4derby said:
See... Some of us paid attention in class! Now that's a fool proof method. Thx!
I usually do the chuck the axle in the drill press then put the thin diamond wheel in the Dremel and make sure the rotations are going opposite and it buzzes a notch in the axle very well. A bit too well... I buzzed right through an axle the first time I tried it.
- Nov 24, 2011
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