Building a Better Wheelchair

[TDC57]

Ok, well I had some time to kill while the 0001 chair was drying, so I started on the 0002 ( different supports & seating rakes, plus I'm putting a trunk on this one) this new one appears to be stronger one!, well see how it holds up compared to the first one. We wont accept anything but the best!..

For what it worth, you’re looking at (exactly) $84.68 worth of PVC! And about 4hrs of work.. I hope to have this one the paint booth by midweek (Bright canary Yellow!).

Then I'm going to be doing my children chair over the weekend (Bright RED!). with any luck I’ll have the three completed within the next two weeks. I also ordered up some more wheels (I'm going with the 7 black spoke mags) and I found some real cool 4” red & sliver caster for the kids chair..










Have a great one everybody!..

P.S.
If you see something that is questionable, please feel free to call me on it!, I’ve never done this before and learning as I'm going..

Thanks again everybody!!..

Shaun..

[jayjay283]

Shaun thanks but I really dont need anything. I did hard time in Orange County jail 10 years ago (14 hours hard time) and realized I better get my Karma right lol. Moved to Manhattan got a job and met the woman of my dreams. Now I chill in Chicago tapping that sweet ass and cant complain about a thing. May sound gay but im sure we met for a reason. Anyway I can help I will do my best, just ask

[_paralyzed_]

Ahhhh Karma. There is some good left in the world. e-mike got his stuff back from bpp, Shaun's helping out the world, jay is helping, all good stuff guys. Nice work Shaun!

[JThiessen]

Great JOB!!

A few comments:
1) What portion of the chair are you welding? If its in any way structural, I wouldnt do that. Plastics are of two types - one can be reheated and shaped, the other can't. PVC/ABS are of the type that cant. They get brittle and loose their internal molecular bonding.

2) You are going to have a hard time finding swivel stem casters in anything bigger than a 4" wheel. I may have a couple at work that I can try to get to you. I wont know until next week when I go back to work.

Do you still need that 1" aluminum tube?


Thoughts for the BL version....Cg is extremely important. The operator must be able to have full control of the vehicle at all times. I think someone posted that current models have a horrible CG.

I have more thoghts, but my bathroom remodel is calling me right now (yes, thats the wife!).

Happy new year!

If you need larger caster wheels, you could look into pneumatic ones, I've seen ones from ~8"+ they aren't very expensive and not too hard to get.

[TDC57]

Originally Posted by jayjay283

Shaun thanks but I really dont need anything. I did hard time in Orange County jail 10 years ago (14 hours hard time) and realized I better get my Karma right lol. Moved to Manhattan got a job and met the woman of my dreams. Now I chill in Chicago tapping that sweet ass and cant complain about a thing. May sound gay but im sure we met for a reason. Anyway I can help I will do my best, just ask

You're a true gentlemen and scholar!.. thank you Jay!.. If you have end up in So-cal (you know for a probation hearing or anything, LOL.LOL.) please let me know ahead of time, I know some great spots!..

Thank you again Sir.

Shaun.

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Ahhhh Karma. There is some good left in the world. e-mike got his stuff back from bpp, Shaun's helping out the world, jay is helping, all good stuff guys. Nice work Shaun!

Karma is GREAT thing!.. At least to those who live by the golden rule, (do on to others as you have them do on too you!).. Luckly Sir we've got some great guys (GIVERS!) we should all be proud to know and associate with them..

Speeking of givers!, Thank you for the kind words Sir and please keep-up the great work yourself..

Thanks again for stopping by and letting me I'm on the right track..

Have a great one!..

Shaun.


P.S.
We absolutely need to get together one of these days, for meeting, for drink, for a smoke and for some good times.. I know I've read that you want to get to Cali, well I've got some airline miles I'll offer up if you up for it?? Just let me know and we'll work something out!..

Have a great one Sir..

Originally Posted by JThiessen

Great JOB!!

A few comments:
1) What portion of the chair are you welding? If its in any way structural, I wouldnt do that. Plastics are of two types - one can be reheated and shaped, the other can't. PVC/ABS are of the type that cant. They get brittle and loose their internal molecular bonding.

2) You are going to have a hard time finding swivel stem casters in anything bigger than a 4" wheel. I may have a couple at work that I can try to get to you. I wont know until next week when I go back to work.

Do you still need that 1" aluminum tube?


Thoughts for the BL version....Cg is extremely important. The operator must be able to have full control of the vehicle at all times. I think someone posted that current models have a horrible CG.

I have more thoghts, but my bathroom remodel is calling me right now (yes, thats the wife!).

Happy new year!

Excellent!! I love comments.. I get different prospectives and eyes looking at it!. Fire-a-way .

The first Chair (blue one) I used the plastic welder designed for PVC, Nylon and ABS, I used it on all of the exterior joints throughout the chair. It's been in the RD phase (IE) kids use and abused it for the last few weeks and so for it's holding up quite well. I hear what your saying / warning me against and do appreciate the voice.. Only time will tell for sure and that's kind of why I made a second chair, I wanted to compare a welded chair against a glued chair (I'll be checking for longevity) and presenting the best of the best to the world.. I'll let you know / the team how the RD proceed as time moves on!.. (GREAT THOUGHT!) thank you for making sure I'm thinking things thou..

Actually (OSH) orchard supply hardware carries 6" x 1.5" swivel caster for $15.98 each and I've also found a killer sites that carry some of the more higher end ones along with 8" swivels. I don't know about the 8" one's though!, I'm concerned they will be to tall??.. Again thank you for the comment! And the extremely generous offer!..

I did / was able to find the required tubing at Lowes and Homdepot!.. much like my RD above between the two chairs on the blue chair I'm using ½ alumni rod for axels, as for my second chair I'm going with ½ harden steel rod. I'm thinking that this will holdup better but again only time will tell..

THANK YOU again for the extremely generous offers, thoughts and kind words Sir!, I want to represent the Monster family proud by offering up the best of the best for the cheapest possible..

Please stop by again, I've got some MAG rims coming for the 2nd chair and I'm pippin it out!.. HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAaaa.

Have a great one..

Shaun.

P.S.
Best of luck with you restroom remodel!.. I’m almost done with mine!.. we’ll need to compare pictures! LOL…

Originally Posted by Bad Karma

If you need larger caster wheels, you could look into pneumatic ones, I've seen ones from ~8"+ they aren't very expensive and not too hard to get.

OOOhhhhh can you forward me a link?? The ones that I found are about $30-40 per wheel?? If you know of a better / cheaper spot please post the link!..

Thanks for stooping by and leaving a comments.. I need all I can get!..

Have a great one..

Shaun

[TDC57]

Hey guys well just so you know progress continues!

The first chair (blue one) get used and aboused by the kids on a daily bassis!, to them it new toy! And my boy just learned to pop wheelies in it LOL.LOL.LOL you should have seen him smile from ear to ear!. HAhahahhahaa..

The second chair I'm going a BRIGHT YELLOW. It was good enough for my 57 chevy and I hope it good enough for the chair??. I also order up some mags for it (6 spoke rimes) and I'm thinking about dying them Yellow to match the chair!.. what do you think too Much??? LOL.

Have a great one everybody and thanks again for your time and your comments!..

P.S.
Mike (Mr. Monster) I still have not heard back from you on your permission to use your RCM / logo on the chair!, can you let me know what your thoughts are?? If I need I'll shoot you out a private picture before I go public with my how I'm showing your good / GREAT name / site!.. that's not a problem at all.. but in all farness to you I wont add your name / site without your approval first.. I know you never thought you would end up on the back of 3rd world wheel chair in Africa, or Asia, or Russia, wherever the united nations take it!, but than again I never thought I would be doing this either!. So it's a first for both of us.. .. I hoping you'll just smile and go along for the ride!.. (so to speak!) hahahaaaa

[TDC57]

And a little bling for the blue chair.. LOL.LOL..

[JERRY2KONE]

You are amazing Shaun. It is fun just to read what you are doing every day. Nice work and you seem to be having a good time with this project. So where did you come up with those bolt on rings for the wheels? Or did you have them made somewhere? I am just curious as to how you came up with them. Do you have a system worked out now for duplicating them, or is it all in your head? Just yanking your chain. You seem to be on the somewhat organized side of the spectum. Looking good Shaun. You are going to be someones HERO. Maybe lincpimp's???

[BL_RV0]

WAY cool dude! Back in the 80s my dad have a 150lb purebred malamute named Sachy. (Saa-chee)
Now we have a 10 year old australian shepherd tricolour. She is only about 60lb.

[TDC57]

YES… my mags came in today!..

Now I’m going yellow on the mags to match the chair.. (pimpen!) Someone going to end up with something speiacl.. ( I hope)

Have a great one guys..

Shaun.

[JERRY2KONE]

Now that is the way to Pimp your ride. Nice wheels Shaun. Where did you come up with those wheels, and how much did they cost? I like the solid looing wheels better than the old school spoke wheels. Much more strength in my opinion. I think you need to go with some matalic colors for reflectivity in darkened situations. Looking good young man.

Originally Posted by TDC57

YES… my mags came in today!..

Now I’m going yellow on the mags to match the chair.. (pimpen!) Someone going to end up with something speiacl.. ( I hope)

Have a great one guys..

Shaun.

[_paralyzed_]

Shaun-

Absolutely awesome. Wheelchairs become a part of the users identity, and I know I wouldn't like to sit in something cheap looking all day. Nice combination of form and function. I have no suggestions, you have it covered.

[TDC57]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

You are amazing Shaun. It is fun just to read what you are doing every day. Nice work and you seem to be having a good time with this project. So where did you come up with those bolt on rings for the wheels? Or did you have them made somewhere? I am just curious as to how you came up with them. Do you have a system worked out now for duplicating them, or is it all in your head? Just yanking your chain. You seem to be on the somewhat organized side of the spectum. Looking good Shaun. You are going to be someones HERO. Maybe lincpimp's???

Thanks for the kind words Jerry!.. Actually I found them pre-fabed up for $40.00 for both hoops.. I didn’t want the end user to get their hands dirty by pushing / pulling on the tires.. I hope I’m on the (somewhat organized spectrum) LOL.LOL.. I’ve been on the other side for so long it normal.. hahahhahahhaaaa…

Well if I can make at least one needy person hapy / give the gift of mobility then it’s all worth it on the end.. Linc… Well linc can make his own.. LOL.LOL…

Have a great one Sir..

Shaun.

Originally Posted by BL_RV0

WAY cool dude! Back in the 80s my dad have a 150lb purebred malamute named Sachy. (Saa-chee)
Now we have a 10 year old australian shepherd tricolour. She is only about 60lb.

Nice…. We had a austrailin shepherd back on the farm when I was like 12.. Dam dog come running away and loved the chase the chickens!.. it would piss my DAD off (Big time).. Ahhh good time.. 150lbs isn’t bad either.. Malamute are great dogs and frosty is deffetnly the guard dog of the house.. you mess with the kids and you’ll mess with frosty.. Got any pics??.

Have a great one and thanks again for stopping by

Have a great one Sir..

Shaun.

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

Now that is the way to Pimp your ride. Nice wheels Shaun. Where did you come up with those wheels, and how much did they cost? I like the solid looing wheels better than the old school spoke wheels. Much more strength in my opinion. I think you need to go with some matalic colors for reflectivity in darkened situations. Looking good young man.

Hey Jerry!.. Thanks.. I’ve been doing so much research on this build I know more about wheelchairs, the parts and sizes now than I ever thought I would know.. they are actually the same costs as the outer rings for the spoke wheels.($40 a par) so the cost works GREAT!!. The problem is they are hard soul tires, so it will give the end user a much rougher ride and I'm not sure how well they will hold up on a dirt road (RD) my friend, RD will tell me!.. My gut is saying go back the mountain bike setup, but then again I’ve got try different things to see (for myself) what works and what doesn’t..

Thanks again for the kinds words of encouragement and have a great week sir..

Shaun.

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Shaun-

Absolutely awesome. Wheelchairs become a part of the users identity, and I know I wouldn't like to sit in something cheap looking all day. Nice combination of form and function. I have no suggestions, you have it covered.

Thank you SIR.. i was hopping you would stop by and leave comments.. I don’t want to give anything away that I'm not proud of or doesn’t represent RCM in the best of ways.. I know it's kind of bright and it will be a (little FLASHY) LOL.LOL. but I'm hoping once I install the black seat, and some other things I've got up my sleeve it will all turn out for the better!..

The BEST THING IS!!!!!! I'm able to complete this chair (everything) for under $200.00..

United Nations here I come!!! (Well in a few weeks)..

Have a GREAT ONE and thanks again for all of your help and support..

Shaun.

[Arct1k]

Wow - Really coming on quick (not that i should be surprised) - Wheels look great...