DIY: Hand made side strakes
05-04-2004, 03:42 PM
#27
Momentum Keeps Me Going
A true labor of love.. I just wish some after market clones would come out in red/blue/black/silver/green/tit
Still great job... but I think I'll just work an extra couple hours
I love how money works $$$$ = STUFF
(no sweat)
Still great job... but I think I'll just work an extra couple hours
I love how money works $$$$ = STUFF
(no sweat)
05-05-2004, 01:24 AM
#29
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Great job. I was thinking I'd want to have either body-color or black strakes anyway. Might as well do it from scratch! Thanks to your great instructions.
Maybe I'll make a set of "Mad Max" strakes too, for halloween The side vents are one part that's actually fairly cheap so I could have a set made up ready to swap!
Maybe I'll make a set of "Mad Max" strakes too, for halloween
The side vents are one part that's actually fairly cheap so I could have a set made up ready to swap!
05-06-2004, 04:49 PM
#32
Originally posted by pidge1114
This sure isn't a simple DIY...
I'd rather shell out $150 than go through that process.
This sure isn't a simple DIY...
I'd rather shell out $150 than go through that process.
05-07-2004, 09:55 AM
#33
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Yeah, I have to agree with your point as well. Not everyone has the skills or the time to make them. As for my self, I wanted to get the strakes and exhaust finishers but I have to watch my budget ( family first).
I even have the game plan in how to do the exhaust finishers but my wife encouraged me to just get them since I already have saved half of the cost of these items.
I even have the game plan in how to do the exhaust finishers but my wife encouraged me to just get them since I already have saved half of the cost of these items.
05-12-2004, 02:40 PM
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Sorry guys, I can't mass produce them. I have a regular job and family to take care. There was someone who was persuing this mass production deal, I think was antichristpm but he also gave up the idea for the same reasons. Yeah I could have make extra bucks making them but I pass it this time. That is the reason I posted the steps in making them.
05-12-2004, 07:43 PM
#39
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Sweeet! Nice Job Romulus. Unfortunately I, like some of the other RX8'rs don't have the metal working tools/skills and will have to shell out for the kit. That's why yours will always be much more unique.
05-15-2004, 06:59 PM
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Hey guys,
Speaking as another of the less talented RX-8 junkees out there. This I think would be a great starter project for some of you single guys (who have more time than us dads) who'd like to get more involved with mods, and save "A LOT" of money. There's gotta be some place where you can clamp a piece of metal to a table, and cut a pattern out and sand it down. Even if you had to sand by hand. If you screw it up your only out a little bit of $$. Don't let a couple of measurements scare you. It really doesn't look all that complex. They look great by the way romulus
Speaking as another of the less talented RX-8 junkees out there. This I think would be a great starter project for some of you single guys (who have more time than us dads) who'd like to get more involved with mods, and save "A LOT" of money. There's gotta be some place where you can clamp a piece of metal to a table, and cut a pattern out and sand it down. Even if you had to sand by hand. If you screw it up your only out a little bit of $$. Don't let a couple of measurements scare you. It really doesn't look all that complex. They look great by the way romulus
05-19-2004, 05:30 PM
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Thanks romulus for the instruction...great info. Like you, I like and enjoy making things. I am thinking of making my three pieces and may be a bit longer and will propably paint my in red...to go with the brake calipers.
07-06-2004, 07:19 PM
#45
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Amazing job, romulus! I'm in awe! [As I flunked the paper handtowel roller holder project in Grade 8 'Manual Training', I think I'd best head over to Canzoomer to avoid 'another fine mess'. Congrats again!
07-13-2004, 12:26 AM
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on my way to making my own
Hey you all....some of you might have missed the part where romulus said that you could just as well use the 6/6 nylon instead of the metal...
I went to TAP plastics and looked through their bin of scrap plastic. They were charging $1.50 per pound for the stuff. Found a small 3/8" sheet...while I was looking through there, a couple of younger kids were looking throught he same bin for something large enough to, "Make my sunroof lighter...to replace the glass 'cause that could save a whole lot of weight!". Whatever.....
They were busy at the store, and I guess did not to take the time to weigh out my small piece...they just gave it to me free and clear! Nice people!
This was a 3/8" sheet of acrylic (plexiglass) that normally seels for about $5.00 per square foot (way more than you will need!).
I took some time to cut the cardboard just right, by "shaving" with an exacto knife time and again until the couts fit perfectly, then drew those onto the plexiglass. Used a jigsaw with a plastic cutting blade ($3.00 at TAP plastics) to cut them out.
I bought a $100 sander from Home Depot that actually had a 6" disc and a much larger convertable (upright/flat) belt sander (4"). That worked very well...and about 30 minutes later I had a set of nicely rounded strakes!
Now I am looking into having someone electroplate/chrome them, or maybe find some nice shiny silver/chrome paint to go with my sunlight silver RX8...Will post pics when I am done!
thanks for the DIY!
I was also thinking that it would cost about $60 to make molds of the real strakes, then you could semi-mass produce these using normal epoxy. Pack the mold with the epoxy, wait until it hardens to rock-like rigidity, then they can be sanded and painted/whatever....not much cost per strake to do it that way...
I went to TAP plastics and looked through their bin of scrap plastic. They were charging $1.50 per pound for the stuff. Found a small 3/8" sheet...while I was looking through there, a couple of younger kids were looking throught he same bin for something large enough to, "Make my sunroof lighter...to replace the glass 'cause that could save a whole lot of weight!". Whatever.....
They were busy at the store, and I guess did not to take the time to weigh out my small piece...they just gave it to me free and clear! Nice people!
This was a 3/8" sheet of acrylic (plexiglass) that normally seels for about $5.00 per square foot (way more than you will need!).
I took some time to cut the cardboard just right, by "shaving" with an exacto knife time and again until the couts fit perfectly, then drew those onto the plexiglass. Used a jigsaw with a plastic cutting blade ($3.00 at TAP plastics) to cut them out.
I bought a $100 sander from Home Depot that actually had a 6" disc and a much larger convertable (upright/flat) belt sander (4"). That worked very well...and about 30 minutes later I had a set of nicely rounded strakes!
Now I am looking into having someone electroplate/chrome them, or maybe find some nice shiny silver/chrome paint to go with my sunlight silver RX8...Will post pics when I am done!
thanks for the DIY!
I was also thinking that it would cost about $60 to make molds of the real strakes, then you could semi-mass produce these using normal epoxy. Pack the mold with the epoxy, wait until it hardens to rock-like rigidity, then they can be sanded and painted/whatever....not much cost per strake to do it that way...
07-13-2004, 09:24 AM
#47
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rendyr,
Don't forget to post some pictures when you are done :D..... oops! you already said that you are going to post some pictures..... By the way, I am not sure if plexiglass can hold paint well.... my guess with the finishing sanding will create a better surface for the paint to stick. You know reall smooth/polished surface= no good for the paint to stick.
One note, I recently attended in our montly local club meeting and there was a another sunlight silver with the OEM strakes parked next to mine. I looked back and foward and I still like my strakes :D I also noticed that the OEMs are not as protruded as mine (specially the upper one).... not as nice sexy curves...
Don't forget to post some pictures when you are done :D..... oops! you already said that you are going to post some pictures..... By the way, I am not sure if plexiglass can hold paint well.... my guess with the finishing sanding will create a better surface for the paint to stick. You know reall smooth/polished surface= no good for the paint to stick.
One note, I recently attended in our montly local club meeting and there was a another sunlight silver with the OEM strakes parked next to mine. I looked back and foward and I still like my strakes :D I also noticed that the OEMs are not as protruded as mine (specially the upper one).... not as nice sexy curves...
Last edited by romulus; 07-13-2004 at 10:31 AM.
07-19-2004, 11:10 PM
#48
Moderator with a mycocardium
Originally Posted by rendyr
...I was also thinking that it would cost about $60 to make molds of the real strakes, then you could semi-mass produce these using normal epoxy. Pack the mold with the epoxy, wait until it hardens to rock-like rigidity, then they can be sanded and painted/whatever....not much cost per strake to do it that way...
I should have my first production run by this weekend. My mold and resin supplies are in by this Wednesday. My strakes are off and sitting ready to be put in the RTV Silicone molding material and 24 hours later, I will cast the first test resin strakes. After that, it's adapting the mounting method to the real thing. :D I figure it will cost less than the cost you quoted for making your own for a set of the finished product in the color choice of the RX-8.
07-19-2004, 11:12 PM
#49
Moderator with a mycocardium
Originally Posted by romulus
rendyr,
Don't forget to post some pictures when you are done :D..... oops! you already said that you are going to post some pictures..... By the way, I am not sure if plexiglass can hold paint well.... my guess with the finishing sanding will create a better surface for the paint to stick. You know reall smooth/polished surface= no good for the paint to stick.
One note, I recently attended in our montly local club meeting and there was a another sunlight silver with the OEM strakes parked next to mine. I looked back and foward and I still like my strakes :D I also noticed that the OEMs are not as protruded as mine (specially the upper one).... not as nice sexy curves...
Don't forget to post some pictures when you are done :D..... oops! you already said that you are going to post some pictures..... By the way, I am not sure if plexiglass can hold paint well.... my guess with the finishing sanding will create a better surface for the paint to stick. You know reall smooth/polished surface= no good for the paint to stick.
One note, I recently attended in our montly local club meeting and there was a another sunlight silver with the OEM strakes parked next to mine. I looked back and foward and I still like my strakes :D I also noticed that the OEMs are not as protruded as mine (specially the upper one).... not as nice sexy curves...
07-20-2004, 12:06 AM
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Not to give anything away at all!
I actually looked in at the products that TAP plastics had when I went to get some acrylic. They did suggest getting the molding material, and that did seem like a good idea.
It cost around $70 for all the materials to make the molds, and I would have needed the strakes (or something like it) in the first place to make the mold of....
The cost for my materials is about $1.25 for six pieces...that is pretty small, but I would need to hand-make them, so it would not behoove me to make a whole lot of them. What I am planning to do with my design is make a few different types of strakes for different seasons, and put them on my car...some Christmas tree ones for the Christmas season, orange "scary" ones for Halloween, etc...
Hope your mold-idea works out...everyone benefits from not having to pay over $200 for those silly little things...
I actually looked in at the products that TAP plastics had when I went to get some acrylic. They did suggest getting the molding material, and that did seem like a good idea.
It cost around $70 for all the materials to make the molds, and I would have needed the strakes (or something like it) in the first place to make the mold of....
The cost for my materials is about $1.25 for six pieces...that is pretty small, but I would need to hand-make them, so it would not behoove me to make a whole lot of them. What I am planning to do with my design is make a few different types of strakes for different seasons, and put them on my car...some Christmas tree ones for the Christmas season, orange "scary" ones for Halloween, etc...
Hope your mold-idea works out...everyone benefits from not having to pay over $200 for those silly little things...