building a complete hub??

[dilligaf]

I have a lathe and all tools neccesary to build a sold aluminum or steel hub. I would rather use aluminum but do you think it will be strong enough? when i say hub im talking the entire piece including the disk the spoke holes are in and disk brake mount all out of solid aluminum.

thanks
Jason

[Sparky]

go for it. the hubs on my 48 spoke BMX wheels are aluminum, and they are likely the strongest hubs you can find.

[badcheese]

I would rather use aluminum but do you think it will be strong enough?

That depends on what alloy you use. If you use a good alloy, it could easily be strong enough.

[Odd Man Out]

If using aluminum go with 7075T6511. It does not weld worth a darn but it is one of the strongest AL alloys you can get and it machines like butter. It beats some steels out there for strength. What lathe will you be using? I am quite interested in your progress. Remember -- LOTS of pictures showing steps and progress if you please.

[dilligaf]

i have a south bend 9" and a lehmann 16" i will probably use the south bend. I will take and post pics as i go.

[ken will]

Could a wood lathe be used to shape an an aluminum hub ?

[John Lewis]

Could a wood lathe be used to shape an an aluminum hub ?

Ken, I used a woodlathe to machine both aluminium and steel for a little Stirling engine I built. I had to rig a jackshaft to get the revs down though. I got my hands on one of those cheap X Y drill press vices and bolted it down to the lathe bed. The tool was clamped in the vice. Worked a treat. Since then I've built a small foundry and used it to construct a Gingery metal lathe from the Gingery book series.

John Lewis