How To Make Wooden Wheels With Bicycle Rims And Tyres

Wooden wheels cost a fortune to buy - but I found an easy way of making them for almost nothing. Apart from a bit of fiddly woodwork, there is a major challenge that needs overcoming for a wheelmaker - how to attach a rubber tyre. (You could in theory not bother, but everyone would hear you coming from miles away.) A rubber tyre (whether hollow or not) needs a channel to sit in, so the rim needs to be made of channel-section steel or aluminium - and that’s probably impossible to make without quite a big ring-roller.
So, I looked again at the bicycle wheel and tyre combination - and really it’s very impressive. Light and strong and cheap. But there’s a problem with the axle - it’s designed to be supported at both ends, and it will bend if you don’t. So if you’re making go carts or carriages bike wheels don’t really work. Replacing the spindle requires replacing the entire hub - which means the spokes too. So you may as well start from scratch. Which is what I’ve done.
Perhaps the key to getting these wheels tight and strong is making an accurate drawing in the first place. That way you can make all the parts accurately too, just by copying the drawing. In this case there are 8 spokes per wheel and 8 pieces that fit between them and 8 more felloes - 24 pieces, plus the hub. I made 4 wheels - so it was well worth my time to make two good templates / patterns at the start and use them to make all the 96 parts quickly and accurately.
(I looked at different numbers of spokes - and they changed the appearance of the wheel a lot. An odd number probably looks best, but I settled with 8 for simplicity.)
More to come on this project - keep an eye out on this channel. (Well, of course you could always subscribe. And like. And share. And send us presents. You know, whatever!)
Here's our online store where you can see some of the craft things we make and sell..
www.wayoutwestemporium.com/
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www.patreon.com/user?u=276131...
Copyright WayOutWest. All rights reserved. Please share if you like, but don’t copy or use without permission. Just get in touch via email blowinblog @ gmail.com
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[@piousminion7822]

Lucky me. I go searching on how to make a wooden wheel, and I find a video by one of my favorite and the most wholesome channel I'm subscribed to. :)

[@WayOutWestx2]

Wow, thanks!

[@JCisJD]

Thats a CAN BE BOTHERED man. Oh what a lovely relaxing 1970s voice, I do believe that has been one of my favorite experiences watching a how do youtube vid, thank you so much !:)

[@MyHomeUSA]

I subscribe to your channel strictly for the sound of your voice which in my humble opinion is the most enchanting storytelling, beautiful voice, which I've ever heard in my entire life! You ought to try to narrate audiobooks, especially children's books, your a natural!!!

[@WayOutWestx2]

Aw, thanks!

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I agree. Tim has such a lovely voice.

[@paulandrulis4672]

I watched this and smiled. You have a very unique way of looking at things and that is a very good thing in itself. I would have never of dreamed of repurposing a bicycle rim in that manner. Good job and great work.

[@Mauromoustakos]

Excellent !! Excellent !! You are a real master !!

[@mountainsmith4716]

They look great! Thanks for the inspiration.

[@madamebowen3682]

We had metal wheels on our cart. To stop the noise when we collected our messages in Stromness, all we could do at the time was attach old rope we had picked up off the beach. When you say an easy way... I see a lot of hard work, but the end result looks amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[@dansarmar1]

That is an awesome idea, I have a couple of retired bikes from my kids and need a couple of carts for moving beehive components around the workshop. It is probably simpler to buy a cart but I do like making my own gear.

[@verygoodvibes]

that is some fantastic results! thank you! very inspiring!

[@maryjocookson7156]

Absolutely brilliant, what innovation and craftmanship! Thanks so much.

[@pw35226]

This project is very cool. I'm looking to stiffen and reinforce my electric hub wheel for my trike, and you've given me inspiration.

[@ahmdabdallah5811]

God has said in the Quran: { O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous - ( 2:21 ) [He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him]. ( 2:22 ) And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful. ( 2:23 ) But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.( 2:24 ) And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before." And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally. ( 2:25 ) Quran

[@amtb70x7anunkwn9]

OUTSTANDING !!! Excellent Job Well Done Sir!

[@sda5510]

Fantastic video! Exactly what i needed to move one of my projects forward. Thank you for posting your video.

[@icysteve46]

thanks for a great idea for my similar problem. very nice step by step instructions

[@valve0radio]

Very Well presented! A pleasure to watch!

[@alanreid9831]

love your clear voice great demo

[@fynbo1007]

They are just so beautiful made, thank you for sharing your amazing video. God bless you and your family

[@hawkdaddy64]

It doesn't take genius but rather just a strong will to do the job right.

[@gordonmillar998]

A Pitza Cutter used as a measuring tool! Whao. Computer CAD drawing for templates! A BandSaw! Mine's made of wood :-)) A SPINDLE MOULDER! A Lathe! A Grinding Disc as a Spindle Gouge! And There's that Hole boring tool that I used for a while before working out the points need to be inserted the same way! You're a man of many talents sir. Love the wheels Quite a surprising Video!.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Gordon Millar Thank you, Gordon. I know, I'm so lucky. Tools, materials, ideas - just never enough time!

[@davidbyrhtnoth375]

Brilliant video! Thanks for sharing.

[@pathin1]

As always, you make me smile with your ingenuity.

[@augustussohn893]

Sir, I have watched many, many of your videos and I am left in awe at your resourcefulness. This video is a great example. Thank you for posting all these wonderful videos for people like me to vicariously live life in the country!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Augustus Sohn Thank you - we appreciate your feedback. It's fun to make the videos but they are a lot of work so it's good to know so many people seem to like them. Just wish we had more time in the day to get more done : - )

[@tarkapaszuly]

Thanks for videos! You give me new ideas, I will use them in my farm. Greetings from Hungary.

[@MrNhojstrebor]

That is just brilliant, fabulous job old chap.

[@davidhooper83]

You are amazing. What a beautiful piece of art.

[@Diozark]

Another talented craftsman hard at work!!

[@jrvanlienden2190]

Absolutely brilliant and nicely done video.

[@francesluck6597]

Lovely job! It looks great.

[@TexasKid747]

Impressed. Nice job.

[@captrodgers4273]

just wanted to say thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. im planning to build a 4 wheel pedal bike and i was searching for a solution to this problem of the weak axels. im gonna build some wooden tires lololololol, thank you way out

[@rheidtech]

Love it. Loaded with great ideas.

[@TaylerMade]

i like the logic in your solution.. well done, i will keep this in the back of my mind for future reference.

[@janglebomr]

Awesome idea using the bike rims! Very nice job! Thanks for the great idea!

[@mozarth]

Awesome work!

[@Leohoe]

Excellent work !!

[@cabbiter]

Thanks for the upload!

[@dashingvandal]

Nice work and YES this did help me out. Thank you for posting it. And you are easy to listen to without dragging it out. Thanks!

[@WayOutWestx2]

joseph lamperth I'm pleased to hear it!

[@galovelhosobrerodas4676]

joseph lamperth

[@madsmckeever]

you're a genius Tim :)

[@richardlewis9163]

Wow! That's Awesome!

[@aerocam2]

Absolutely incredible work! I'm inspired to attempt a project that I would never have thought possible as a result of watching some of your techniques. Bravo, my man, bravo!

[@lefaymodronangus9429]

I'm going to make wheels same way as you did, but it will be for my wooden bandsaw, besides measuring the concave of the wheel with a pizza cutter is just genious, thank you for the inspiration

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Lefay Modron Angus Thanks Lefay - that's a good idea. Good luck!

[@geranimojess]

If I could give it more "Thumbs up" I would...that was one of the best Video's I've seen in a long time and very enjoyable to watch...It's given me several ideas for a Western Style Veranda I'm putting around my Garden Work Shed...Thank you for sharing ...

[@WayOutWestx2]

+David Dunne Thank you David! Good luck with your project (share a video, maybe?)

[@marvinmiller7434]

Simon garb uncle bridge over troubled waters

[@carlajensen8167]

Dav.id Dunne

[@cindychefneux4742]

David Dunne

[@mr.actiongal1017]

you can give him more thumbs up and for free

[@SmokeFlame1]

Hello from Canada. Magnificent. Please keep us updated on your project.

[@alf9956]

Absolutely brilliant.......

[@y2ksw1]

Very nice, I always wondered how to make wheels 😊

[@Saartje05]

This is so cool. What a great idea.

[@caliokiegirl]

You are a very talented woodworker. Loved your video.

[@sheldonfort1563]

This was a delightful video.

[@edoy.i9386]

if the tires can withstand a heavy load, it's good even great! Congratulations from the Czech Republic.

[@megaleo451]

Great video. Thanking you kindly. Cheers!

[@hyperuben]

A simple like doesn't do enough justice to this great video!

[@BikemanforU]

You guys are havin way to much fun... You are a master craftsmen. We will be giving your channel a plug on our live show this Saturday. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK

[@WayOutWestx2]

+BikemanforU Thank you - now I'll have to stay up to silly o'clock to watch it : - )

[@rodrimachado100]

Excelente la idea, muy buena.

[@robertk3850]

I just watched this video.............You Sir are a master craftsman .......Digger

[@WayOutWestx2]

+robert k Aw thanks, Robert. Not really, but I really enjoy it all : - )

[@learrus]

Fantastic video, very relaxing and educational; brightened my otherwise very dark week and now I know how to build wagon wheels.

[@paulkersey7564]

Marvellous ,thank you.

[@micthejoiner]

excellent m8,great video and awesome thinking,i was looking to make a few wheels for a project this has saved me a lot of headaches,,,thanks

[@WayOutWestx2]

Great! Good luck with yours : - )

[@tewika6853]

excellent and beautiful work, very smart use of tools too! Thank you very much for the video:)

[@ruskiryan2398]

Excellent video, and great narration too.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I am enchanted and so impressed with such clever, imaginative engineering prowess.

[@taildraggergirl120]

Kirsten Whitworth multipack

[@taildraggergirl120]

Agmachnery

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

👍👌👏 Oh WOW, simply fantastic, very well done, Sir. Congrats for having all those skills. Thanks a lot for making teaching recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all of you (humans, animals and plants).

[@curtistucker8059]

That was actually pretty amazing

[@josephhaddakin7095]

That's pretty cool lookin'. Thanks for the video.

[@keithtynan7469]

By God, that's a lovely bit of work! A clever idea and very well made.

[@antonioortiz4544]

Very nice! Thank you!

[@sixchaulks]

amazing job

[@MrJanKeys]

Very nice work. I am inspired to do something similar in winter

[@PRNadh]

Excellent work done., very much interesting during its work done, many many thanks.

[@erniezamora9509]

thanks man thats a great project thanks alot man

[@gokhanyurudogru94]

Excellent work

[@goneextinct7056]

BRILLIANT!!!!! AMAZING!!!! AWESOME!!!! KUDOS!!!! THANK YOU THAT WAS MOST ENJOYABLE WATCHING I ONLY WISH I HAD YOUR SKILLS!!! THANK YOU

[@creativeobsin]

I come back & watch this video now & then. It always makes me smile, combining old with new, what a fun idea! :D

[@pama.6676]

creativeobsin

[@creativeobsin]

Yes? what is it? :3

[@fishmut]

Great job there and very creative, they look really good well done.

[@Nissan-pe3hw]

Exelente trabajo , y que ingenio. congratulations. Saludos desde Aguascalientes Mexico.0

[@RoseThistleArtworks]

Beautiful!

[@flyslideride]

Fantastic!

[@diydarkmatter]

well done sir . very fun to watch . cheers

[@LeosTueftelei]

Excellent work !

[@ifell3]

I've really enjoyed watching that!!!

[@ammagato]

BRAVISSIMO!

[@wildhaggis6326]

Wow they look great

[@h7oslo]

Very nice, Tim ! Thank you for posting the vid. I'd like to give that a try. Very nice moulding head you have on the machine ! Thanks, rc

[@QuyNguyen-lb7sy]

Really enjoy while watching your video. Thanks alot.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Quý Nguyễn Thanks Quy!

[@edsautter51]

I have a piece of farm equipment I needed wheels for and this clearly is a great solution. Fantastic idea! Keep them coming. If these wheels are indeed for the donut cart I can't wait to see the completed cart and the final where you are selling them at the market.

[@WayOutWestx2]

ed sautter Cheers Ed - yes for the doughnut cart. I'm doing my best but there are just so many distractions!

[@MadJack-yl6od]

awesome video thanks!

[@MakingItOutOfTheWoods]

Tim! I need that hole thingy!! I'm off online shopping now - and love the wheel, but of course, loved seeing you doing some wood whirling on the lathe most of all! Claire x

[@HHeirloomIA]

Your ingenuity and videos never cease to amaze me. Such wisdom comes from experience. Good work sir!

[@WayOutWestx2]

***** Thank you!

[@DoleshEdit]

Awesome woodworking skills and way to approach building a wooden wheel! Thank you!

[@nomadbud4378]

WOW great work .

[@generallifehacks4317]

Amazing Ideas 💡

[@lilyfurley9833]

this gives me inspiration to spray paint my remote control Subaru body shell

[@father771]

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks Mark

[@alphasigmasezon8597]

very good

[@josephdupont]

this was very amazing and creative...

[@withintheether]

beautiful and well explained!

[@WayOutWestx2]

+withintheether Thank you : - )

[@avalonbear61]

A fantastic tutorial ! I have a funeral carriage to build before Oct and this is going to save me a lot of work.

[@WayOutWestx2]

Thanks. (Did you see my hearse build?)

[@avalonbear61]

No but Ill go look for it for sure.

[@eltonherrera7524]

wow! very impressive, quite the skills sir.

[@ironian24]

brilliant video and very well put together.

[@ellisonrepair]

Beautiful work. Thank you for sharing :-)

[@WayOutWestx2]

Double Dog Farm ~ Shoestring Gardening on a KISS Principle Thank you!

[@MrMarigoldify]

Amazing!

[@carmelpule6954]

Well, Sir, I must congratulate you for many issues but mostly about the fact that you realised that when you had the thin metal spokes, the working spokes where those above the shaft and they all worked in TENSION and there were so many of them that while those on top held the load in tension all the rest of the thin metal spokes held the thin rim in a circular shape. Now here you go using a thin rim with wooden spokes which work in compression with the lower ones taking the load. Now I admired the manner in which you realised that when the load is taken by two wooden spokes away from the vertical, the rim would not be able to take so much load and it would deform so you put in the in between pieces to retain the shape and use strengtheners to sandwich them ensuring that when the lower wooden spokes are not vertical , the arc in between can take the load as a Bridge. Congratulations once again. As far as the" art" goes, you certainly created the right look.

[@WayOutWestx2]

+Carmel Pule' Thanks Carmel - but it really wasn't that difficult to figure out. Just common sense, isn't it?