Affordable roll cage mock up?

[Lessen]

Hey fellas, some of you may know that I've been wanting to make a custom roll cage for my TMaxx. The end product will be made of steel but I'm looking for suggestions on what I can use to mock up the design. I need something soft enoug and flexible by hand but sturdy enough that it won't get bent when I don't want it to.

Any ideas? I'm looking for affordability... read.. cheap.

 

[slowngreen]

1/8th in steel rod is flexible enuff to bend by hand, I'm not sure how much abuse it would take though without bending...

 

[Lessen]

Yeah, you're right. I could just mock it up with narrower steel. The final product will be heavier than 1/8in. though. I was just thinking something easier to work worth as I'm brainstorming the design.

 

[Rolex]

If you're just looking for a way to lay out the fit and finish to get measurements, wire coat hangers will work. If you don't want to weld, brass rod stock bends nicely and soldering would be a lot easier.
The easiest, cheapest, quickest and most accurate would be a tube bender and brass tube, spot soldered at the joints. The bender and the tubing should be available at the LHS.

 

[Lessen]

ahhh.. coat hangers. genius!

 

[Rolex]

Go cheap. If you don't want to weld, use boogers to hold the joints in place.

 

[MotoGod]

I was going to suggest coat hangers as well...but got beat to the punch! They do work great for modelling things.

 

[Lessen]

yeah, I don't feel the need to do any soldering or welding on the mock up. I'll be welding the final piece of course though.

 

[slowngreen]

u gonna use like 3/16th rod on the final peice???

 

[Lessen]

I have a Hard Bodyz cage on my wife's EMaxx. The main bars are 13/64. So yeah, 3/16 is about right. It seems sturdy enough. It's going to mount at eight locations... bumper supports (stock) and shock towers (RPM).

 

[slowngreen]

yeah most tubers are made out of 3/16ths and they take a beating!!!

 

[savagefan04]

another option is pipe cleaners from a hobby craft store.
they come in packs of 100 and you can twist them like tie wraps to keep their place. only issue you may run into is trying to keep the overall shape as u add more pieces.

 

[Rolex]

Come to think of it, pipe cleaners would be great to secure all the hanger connections with.

 

[Lessen]

another option is pipe cleaners from a hobby craft store.
they come in packs of 100 and you can twist them like tie wraps to keep their place. only issue you may run into is trying to keep the overall shape as u add more pieces.

I had thought of that too, but was worried about exactly what you've said.