Making Oversized Spokes

[@ThisOldTony]

great video Ron! enjoyed.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much, Tony. You posted a masterpiece this morning!

[@volksboy62]

This Old Tony is the best too! It is awesome to see you watching other cool creators

[@Bobbitt3]

Thanks for showing the mistakes and how to adapt. It’s nice to know even a master is always learning!

[@RonCovell]

Always!

[@ElectricalExistence]

This fellow is the Bob Ross of metal forming. I could see him saying things like "Now we will just make a happy little bend." or "there are no mistakes on only happy unplanned alterations to the pattern.".

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@gbt4880]

"Bob Ross" works. When I first started watching Ron's videos, he kind of struck me as a Mr. Rogers for grownups. Gentle voice. Speaks slowly and clearly. Always smiling, but never in a way that's condescending or prideful. I'll probably never make a wheel but Ron's videos are so educational and entertaining that I watch them all. Twice.

[@RonCovell]

Wow - thanks for the wonderful comment!

[@ButBigger42]

I love how Ron casually knows more than everyone about everything but isn't cocky or arrogant about it. He is just happy to show us mere mortals some of his tricks.

[@RonCovell]

Well, thank you for the compliment - but I certainly DON'T know everything. I try to learn something new each day, and I love hanging around with people who are smarter (or more experienced) than I am.

[@pesterenan]

Ron, I know it takes a little more time to convert the measurements that you do, to standard units, but know that this helps us viewers from outside the US, A LOT! I can't imagine how much "thousands" are, but I can understand those millimeters! Haha nice project! Your excellent craftsmanship really shows in every project!

[@RonCovell]

Well, I grew up with the Imperial system, and it's the one I understand intuitively - but I realize that only 3 out of 193 countries use it, and I want my videos to be understandable to as many people as possible.

[@Gottenhimfella]

I have a question: is a "ten thirty two" screw twice as big as a "five thirty two" screw, and if not, why not? 😄

[@RonCovell]

I certainly acknowledge that the Imperial system has some quirks. Threads 6.3mm and smaller are designated by a number, and larger threads are designated by a fraction. And no, a #5 screw is not half the diameter of a #10 screw. I can't tell you why this is the case, but I do understand why more rational systems are used by most of the world. If you think the thread sizing system is odd, look into how the thickness of sheet materials are measured. The larger the gauge number, the thinner the material!

[@Gottenhimfella]

@@RonCovell It is great comfort to find that there are still North Americans who can respond in a sweetly reasonable way to a bit of light-hearted ribbing. You're not of Canadian extraction, perchance? If you're a born and bred citizen of the US: Have you ever thought of standing for high office?

[@RonCovell]

Well, I do consider myself a 'born and bred' US citizen, bur really, the vast majority of everyone in North America has ancestors that came from somewhere else. I have no interest in holding any political office. My life is complicated enough as it currently stands!

[@BuckJolicoeur]

Very cool. This was my one question. In answering it, you made me realize (yet again) how taking a little time with simple tools, making a jig or tool is the key to making almost anything.

[@RonCovell]

Yes, simple fixtures can really expand your capabilities!

[@rgetso]

Time and expense invested in simple fixtures minimizes time wasted in frustration and mangled parts.

[@ChristopherHallett]

Also, a quality fixture can result in VERY repeatable tolerances for making a lot of things that are practically identical, such as these spokes.

[@TrevorDennis100]

Ron, the first two years of my toolmaking apprenticeship was at the Ford Apprentice Training Center at Harrold Hill, Essex, UK. A storry did the rounds one day about the chief instructor was doing his rounds when he came across an apprentice holding a hammer half way along the handle. We'd been taught to always use the full length of the handle, so the chief instructor took the hammer and cut the excess handle off with a hacksaw, and returned it to the apprentice. I was reminded of that story seeing you hammer the spoke flare. I think I now own at least a dozen assorted hammers, and I am sure there are times when I don't use the full length of the handle.

[@RonCovell]

Well, when you need maximum power, there is no question that gripping the handle near the base is the best strategy. But sometimes, a lighter hit is preferred, and that's when I 'choke up' on the handle. In my mind, it's not a 'one size fits all' thing.

[@janettehill8544]

I love the way you teach. Not so slow as to bore the viewer and not so fast as to easily miss some detail. Of course given we are watching a video, it's possible to rewind and catch detail that was missed. However your rhythm seems to be just right. At least for me. It's a pleasure to look over your shoulder so to speak. I always find something new I hadn't thought of before.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much, Ja'nette - I'm glad my style is a good fit for you. We are in a very fast-paced age, and my style is a bit slow for some people - but it's very nice to know that it works for you, and many others.

[@TestPilotWally]

I love your videos! Especially how much you show the fixtures, jigs, and clamping mechanisms that go into many of your hand-made parts. It really emphasizes how much effort has to go into custom fabricating the tooling before even starting on the part- if you want it to come out right!

[@RonCovell]

Yes, I'm 'big' on fixtures. Even though they take time to make, they often allow you to do things that just wouldn't be possible otherwise.

[@outsidescrewball]

ENJOYED…..simple craftsmanship tutorial from an expert….lots of subtle tips/lessons

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@manuellongo4365]

Always a pleasure to see a master at work.

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

Someone asked me to restore a penny farthing recently: Your videos have given me confidence in rebuilding the front wheel (i have the hub but nothing else). Thankyou.

[@RonCovell]

That is awesome! Sounds like these videos came at the perfect time for you.

[@Bigskyguy56]

Ron, Thank you for sharing your expertise & knowledge with us. I too, appreciate , that you show your set backs as well as the finished products. Rick

[@RonCovell]

Glad you have learned from my missteps!

[@chuckthebull]

I like that you show mistakes and then solutions, we learn by mistakes, it helps us think in ways that solve problems. (after I throw my screwdriver at the wall)..;)

[@RonCovell]

Yes, we all make mistakes, and then have to re-calibrate.

[@targusmack2302]

After watching awhile and learning so much I finally have a good tidbit of knowledge to share. The jig you used to make the heads is basically the same as what I use to make rivets. The key length to forming a good rivet head is one and half times the wire diameter.

[@RonCovell]

That's a good tip. I think the formula would be a little different for a 'head' that has a taper, which fits into the countersunk recess in my fixture.

[@jamest.5001]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, I truly appreciate all the efforts to share your craft, some ppl do not want to share their knowledge, I have gotten to the age where I feel the need to pass my knowledge, as well as learn, there is a lot I do not know, I love knowing how things are made, how they work, and making things has always been my thing! Thanks again! 👍😀

[@RonCovell]

You are so welcome!

[@metalworkingdude]

I really appreciate that you showed building the first fixture, then troubleshooting why it didn’t work to expectations and then making a new one. And…I suddenly have an inexplicable desire to make a giant wheel and spokes!

[@RonCovell]

Joe - you could make a quadricycle - loosely based on Henry Ford's early prototype, but with giant wheels!

[@ltlbuddha]

Very cool! You are a good spokesman for metal working... I'll get me coat

[@RonCovell]

SPOKESMAN? - HAH - I get it!

[@LimestoneCoastCustoms]

Howdy again Ron. So glad you are showing we are not perfect, making dies, bucks etc, doing test pieces by trial & error is not only just the way to go for consistency & also accuracy. 😉

[@RonCovell]

Yes, that's how work gets done in the real world!

[@Themetalcowboy68]

It's mint how you show the actual testing and modification process!!!!

[@RonCovell]

Yes, that's an important part of many tasks.

[@MattOckendon]

Beautiful work Ron. I build custom wheels for various contraptions and until now just bought the cheapest spokes that I could find (that happened to be longer) and then cut them - the garage is covered in 2mm offcuts! I’m absolutely making RC style spokes from here in. You can buy the rolling heads for those machines for around $30 make a little arbour for it from mild steel and run it in a cordless drill - works great once you get the pre-load in the rolling head dialled in.

[@RonCovell]

Wow - that's great to know! I have always sent my spokes out to be threaded, since I thought thread rolling machines were super-exensive.

[@derrick_builds]

Wow, that amount of work to get the detail you are after is amazing. Keep up the good work.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you very much! More videos on the way.

[@coalblack]

Watching a master is a wonderful thing! Good stuff Ron👍

[@RonCovell]

Thanks 👍

[@mickellis8747]

That's brilliant Ron, even though I've been around dirt bike and bicicles all my life and respoked many many wheels I never really thought about the process involved in maufacturing the spokes. It's pretty straigt forward really. Thanks again.

[@RonCovell]

Of course you would buy spokes if they were available, but I needed some unusually long ones!

[@smiley800]

I've been having fun watching your channel. I had a friend a few decades back who had his own machine shop in his basement. I always got a kick out of watching him work and seeing how he would create parts for his customers. A pile of metal and bits on one side of the room and finished products on the other. It was fascinating. Thanks for bringing back some of my memories.

[@RonCovell]

How great - I'm glad you are enjoying my videos!

[@vbertrand]

I’m not a guy who comments much on KZbin. You, sir, deserve a lot of praise and respect for sharing your meticulous work. You seem so happy with life and so much at home with metal working, it’s a joy to be part of your circle, thru this channel. Thank you, Mr. Covell. Thank you!

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thank you!

[@davidsweetman2221]

Thank you for showing your mistakes. It's wonderful to see how your creative process works. A methodical and measured approach. Keep the videos coming!

[@RonCovell]

You are so welcome, and there are more videos on the way!

[@benpress8884]

A fine example of the toolmaker's art. Well done, Ron.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much!

[@codys_fab]

Learn to fixture like Ron and it all downhill from there! Another great video! Thanks Ron!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching!

[@Stuart_Cox1969]

Nice one, first a Tony video then a Ron video, that's what makes my day.

[@RonCovell]

Yes, it's a good weekend. I'm just about to watch the new Blondihacks video, too!

[@Mavrik9000]

Fascinating. I'm not making metal parts, but now I know how it's done.

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad you enjoy watching!

[@4130smith]

Brilliant, you are a natural teacher sir. Thank you for sharing.

[@RonCovell]

Many thanks!

[@wint3rsmith42]

Great video. show the failures so others can learn, like a teacher I had while restoring classics back in the 80s, same guy showed me classic car magazines with some of your work in, just 34 short years ago.

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad to hear that. Man, that time went by in a flash!

[@leop9021]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful gift Ron

[@RonCovell]

My pleasure!

[@thedistractedmaker]

Thanks for sharing Ron! Glad to have another method to straighten wire. Rolling between boards is a pain and using a vice and drill seems to work harden the wire. I'm gonna give the car method a try!

[@RonCovell]

Glad to help!

[@popefang]

Just love watching your process, your thoughts, ideas, actions and adaptations.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much!

[@SkylersRants]

I like that you included your first, failed attempt. You’re a great teacher.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much!

[@klausrachuy6411]

Love it. Made me think about the first bicycles of great grandparents and the value they had.

[@RonCovell]

Yep - that's how they used to do it!

[@Joe.Doucette]

Nicely done, Ron. I know you often do, but it was especially good to see you work through issues. Thanks for posting, Joe

[@RonCovell]

Thanks, Joe - I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@brandontscheschlog]

How does Ron not have more followers? Amazing content for a brilliant man!

[@RonCovell]

Metal fabrication is not for everyone, and I'm glad that 185,000 people have chosen to subscribe so far!

[@aerogfs]

Ron, Tony and Aaron.. that's a nice weekend!

[@RonCovell]

Yes, and don't forget Quinn at Blondihacks!

[@DaxxTerryGreen]

This is my second video or yours friend. The first was the 55" diameter wheel that these spokes go into. Well done. From Asheville, Daxx

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much!

[@ddistrbd1]

Glad you did not edit the first attempt in making the fixture, it is more realistic this way, I really enjoyed watching the process of getting the result you were after.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ptonpc]

Great to see you again. I'm impressed by the car, I would never have thought of that.

[@RonCovell]

Hey, thanks!

[@cest7343]

Extra content: How to gradually increases the value of the fixture until you hit the top of the "bell curve" of low cost versus effective enough. Yet again my hat is off to the Master, You bet I am subscribed for more!

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked the video - more to come, for sure!

[@mikesvidjust4u]

Great video Ron, I always learn a few things watching you.

[@RonCovell]

I appreciate that!

[@CarlinComm]

Thanks for sharing your skills with us! I really enjoyed following along with the process of just experimenting to see what works.

[@RonCovell]

You are so welcome!

[@-Deena.]

You got your homepage back! 🧡

[@RonCovell]

Yes, Deena. A knowledgeable viewer showed me the steps!

[@SuperDd40]

You are now my favourite spokes person. ;)

[@RonCovell]

HAH - good one!

[@MonitoSmith]

Muchas gracias por compartir su trabajo señor Covell...

[@RonCovell]

Estoy tan contento de que te guste!

[@ODGColornChrome]

Awesome work Ron! Your fixture making is top notch!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks a bunch!

[@jesscneal]

Cool process Ron. Always love to see your jigs/forms and your thought process. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 👍👍

[@RonCovell]

You are very welcome!

[@keithharmon2056]

Thanks Ron , always enjoy your videos. That is a huge wheel.

[@RonCovell]

A couple of people have asked me to make a bigger one!

[@keithharmon2056]

@@RonCovell that will be interesting. Can't wait to see it. Thanks

[@plunder1956]

I've worked with Stainless (mostly 316 & 305) turning & milling components. Most grades are actually fairly soft. However Aluminium is usually even softer & less far tolerant heat, so I'm not surprised that became an issue for you. You're quite correct about forming the threads. Using a die to cut them would probably lead to stress fractures. A rolled thread will be stronger & more robust in tension. Have you considered using thicker spokes (such are used in Tandams & some other applications. These bigger wheels may benefit from using them.

[@RonCovell]

Most high-wheeler replicas use larger diameter spokes, and that would be a good idea for a vehicle that gets a lot of use. Mine is for only very occasional use, but I appreciate your suggestions!

[@brocktechnology]

That straitening technique also work hardens the wire, I suspect it wouldn't be strong enough without that. great stuff

[@RonCovell]

Yes, the wire is pretty soft when I get it, and the stretching does make it stiffer!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nicely done Ron, well made spoke.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you, Randy. You certainly know your way around a shop, and I appreciate your comments!

[@seeburg]

As always, an absolute pleasure to watch, mistakes and all.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much!

[@stephenwhite5057]

Nice work Ron and a great pleasure to watch. Please keep posting.

[@RonCovell]

More to come!

[@xpndblhero5170]

I live anything bicycle related and this is right up my alley.... I've always wanted to make a bike from scratch and literally make everything but I know my welding experience is lacking so I'd need some practice before I go trying to make one, but this is very useful information. Thank you and keep up the great work... 😁

[@RonCovell]

The first bicycle frame I built was a lugged design, and I silver soldered it together. The learning curve is much easier with silver soldering than for welding!

[@xpndblhero5170]

@@RonCovell - I've watched a lot of silver work on Paul Brodies channel and I've always wanted to try but I don't have a garage or shop to work in so I'd most likely be in my basement or outside so a welder seemed like a better option...

[@RonCovell]

Welding is a good option, but I don't see why you couldn't silver solder in your basement or outside. An oxy-acetylene outfit should be less expensive than most welders, also - and it's great to have one for heating stock for bending.

[@xpndblhero5170]

@@RonCovell - That's actually a good point... It would be a good place to start, I might have to look into that as an option instead of diving into MIG without any real practice. Thanks again.... 😁

[@RonCovell]

I don't know what kind of bicycle you want to build, but for a lightweight frameset, MIG welding is not a good solution. These days many bikes (like cruisers, and e-bikes) are made from heavy-wall material, and MIG welding could work for those, but for the traditional bicycles where weight is an issue, thin wall tubing is the norm, and MIG just isn't the best process.

[@NickToland]

Amazing! I always learn something new watching your content!

[@RonCovell]

Awesome, thank you!

[@toddcott9510]

Ron, I tried to follow all your instructions. But not having a car to stretch the wire was a problem. In the end, I tethered it to my wife. And told her there was a sale on in town. I think I need a stronger wire. Thanks for all you give.

[@RonCovell]

You found a creative solution.

[@keithjurena9319]

The spoke threading and sometimes cutting machines are incredible tools. Some take only a second to accurately trim, then thread a spoke. One tool I couldn't justify purchase, relying on custom order of spoke lengths.

[@RonCovell]

Yes, the tool I showed a picture of is a couple hundred dollars, but some cost thousands!

[@donbell8187]

Nice to see someone continuing the lost art of tool and die making.

[@RonCovell]

Yes, we can't let those skills die out!

[@donbell8187]

@@RonCovell Ha, ha! You are such a tool!

[@grantelrod3179]

I always learn something from you Ron! Thanks

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching!

[@linusangbjar6679]

Thanks for sharing this Ron! Exactly what I asked for.

[@RonCovell]

Great!

[@kcdakrt]

Really liked the car trick ron

[@RonCovell]

Yeah - not many people think of that.

[@trottermalone379]

Thought for sure that you tapped Phil Wood on the shoulder for the spokes. Special thanks for sharing the entirety of the learning curve associated with the tool development!

[@RonCovell]

I worked with a local bicycle shop on this project - Watsonville Cyclery - and they have a Phil Woods thread rolling machine. It's a masterpiece of engineering!

[@WildmanTech]

Good work Ron.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly!

[@deeiks12]

Interesting technique, as always Ron! I think an arbor press would be a good fit here instead of hammering, maybe it would we doable without even heatng the wire?

[@RonCovell]

Possibly!

[@scalhotrod]

This will come in handy when I'll need to rebuild the wheels for my Coker Monster Cruiser!

[@RonCovell]

Cool machine!

[@jakeatkins4891]

Ron you sir are a legend !

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching, and for commenting!

[@davelewis2174]

I like the car Trick , I've used 2 Trees and a come along to straighten 3/16 Stainless Tubing.

[@RonCovell]

I'm sure your cable ratchet technique worked well!

[@hamdiklcarslan4435]

great job as always mr covell

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly

[@ron827]

Super job! It appeared the aluminum fixture sucked the heat away quicker than the steel fixture did.

[@RonCovell]

I know it looks that way. I don't have a good way to gauge it, but I would think the two metals would be about equal.

[@RobMods]

Beautiful work. I love the addition of the first unsuccessful jig. Question: since the head was red hot and cooled very quickly, would it be worth tempering them? Thanks for your content.

[@RonCovell]

The material I used - mild steel wire (presumably 1018 or 1020 steel) doesn't have enough carbon content to be heat treated, but the hammering certainly will work-harden the material.

[@RobMods]

@@RonCovell Thanks for your info. I appreciate it.

[@crabulus]

I was wondering about this as well. I believe most off the shelf bicycle spokes these days have cold-formed heads, but they're made of stainless, not mild steel.

[@TheDistur]

Very interesting Ron! Thanks for the video!

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JD-gn6du]

Great video Ron.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@onepairofhands]

cool presentation Sir

[@RonCovell]

Many many thanks!

[@crisislord00]

When will you do a shop tour?!

[@RonCovell]

Well, it's on my (very long) to-do list!

[@davidcaverly9659]

Great tip on stretching wire to straighten! Also, watching that process, and thinking about doing it 72 times, had me wonder if there was any cam locking system or clamp that could have helped expedite the process over those two screws. Tedium terrifies me. 🤣

[@RonCovell]

Yes, there are many types of locking clamps that could expedite the process Here's one example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZvFoH-Lbduaq8k

[@akschu1]

Great video as always Ron.

[@RonCovell]

I appreciate that!

[@DevilDog36th]

Great video Ron! An even more expensive but maybe more versatile method of threading the spokes might be uding a geometric die head in a lathe. They do very well with threading small diameter long parts

[@RonCovell]

Geometric die heads are certainly a fast way to make threads, but even so, a rolled thread is inherently stronger than a cut thread. The threads on just about every bolt or screw you've ever seen were made by rolling.

[@DevilDog36th]

@@RonCovell true!

[@andrebartels1690]

Great video. I like a lot that you name each and every little step that you take. This way I feel like I could make something nice as well, and at the same time I get a glimpse how much work went into the whole piece. Just a little idea: since drill bits tend to make holes that are just a little bigger than the bit's diameter, maybe it could have helped to put a little piece of newspaper between the two blocks of your fixture while drilling. This would have made the hole just a tiny bit smaller and given you a little extra grip on the spoke while working on it. Or maybe it would have provided a pretty triangular hole, what do you think?

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked the video! Using the thickness of paper to 'tighten up' a sloppy fit is a reasonable solution for some operations. If I need a hole to be precise, I usually drill it undersize, then use the correct size as a second operation. Reamers are much more precise than drills, of course, so we have a number of options here, and I always like hearing creative solutions to the problems we all face.

[@your_utube]

Thanks Ron, great video!

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tonyalto1014]

Excellent info. Now I have to try this!

[@RonCovell]

Go for it!

[@monkeybarmonkeyman]

Very nice! I'm sitting here thinking "man, that's a lot of twisting on those fasteners..." considering you have a good quantity of spokes to make. So my mind start turning... perhaps a much coarser pitch on the threads so a quarter or half turn tightens/loosens... and some type of weak spring between them to make taking it apart for the next spoke... Nothing says amateur like over-engineering a simple device, right? Thanks again so much, I do find your videos really satisfy my inner machine shop guy.

[@RonCovell]

Well, I'm glad you're thinking!

[@paulfisher1160]

Thanks for making this. Awesome video

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@paulfisher1160]

@@RonCovell Been thinking about it. Your first attempt at a jig. Did you not just drill the bend radius hole in the wrong place. Should the radius of the drill hole size not co-inside with the desired internal bend of the wire. Therefore not resulting in that weird collapse and double bend you got when you tried riveting it over. that said, the second attempt work just as well

[@RonCovell]

I think the solution you suggest here could work, also. Thanks for your thoughts.

[@jessefoulk]

Nicely edited video

[@RonCovell]

Thanks, I appreciate that! I put considerably more time into editing than shooting.

[@hieronymus..bosch8532]

I really appreciate your honesty showing that everyone makes miscalculation & has to rethink projects when the results aren't what is expected

[@RonCovell]

Yes, we're all human - and humans will continually make errors!

[@bigbird2451]

And hopefully your local bike shop has a sweet Phill Wood thread roller. Mechanical poetry.

[@RonCovell]

Actually, Watsonville Cyclery DOES have a Phil Woods thread rolling machine - one of the earliest ones he produced. I have seen it in action, and it's an engineering marvel!

[@bigbird2451]

@@RonCovell It must be a two person job with spokes that long!

[@roythersby6789]

Hi Ron, thanks for the your version of making a spoke head, although you have made the spoke with a angled head the head is always put on to a straight spoke and the bend is put on after to whatever pattern you require, how ever you had made a spoke holder and a good stop at the same time, as when you make a head on a straight spoke the problem arises when you try to hold the spoke wire to apply the head, i was bemused to watch you pull the spoke wire straight, and although you did not show what part of the car you connected the wire to, may i suggest you use the towing eye adaptor, this screws direct into the chassis end and not any body work, as the body work will stand a small amount of distortion before it collapses. the comment on rolling threads the option of cutting threads was stopped by the Lemet wire works in Birmingham England in the 1970, as the quality of the dies and publicly owned cutters were very poorly maintained, and breakages started from badly cut threads, hence rolling became the norm, until metric came along. Metric threads work and are used everyday now by most countries and rolling head are easier to obtain. the old threading SWG or standard wire guage is an UNF 10 32 size is used on 8g 7g and 6g spokes and the lighter ones 9 and 10 swg is 0,144 x 40 un, now the latter is one of the hardest sizes to locate. it was entertaining watching you work. All the best Roy Thersby Wheel builder for 65 years

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much for the wealth of knowledge. Obviously, I'm a 'newbie' at making spokes, and you are a lifetime professional. I couldn't find a place to attach a towing eye on my van, so I used the attachment point of the front suspension under the hood.

[@josephbarnes7217]

First! Your videos are inspiring. I want to use this to make a Pennyfarthing bike

[@RonCovell]

You can do it!

[@mperry9025]

Thanks Ron

[@RonCovell]

Thank YOU for watching!

[@thercbarn5001]

Very nice. Maybe add forging to your bag of tricks?

[@RonCovell]

I've taken a couple of blacksmithing classes, and I'm very intrigued with the forging process!

[@thercbarn5001]

@@RonCovell Yes I enjoy what little I can do also. Ive made a spoon and a tong. It was a lot of fun at a local blacksmith shop.

[@Momo_Kawashima]

Looking at this massive wheel (and my grandpa's old horse drawn carriages) I had an idea: An electric driven horseless carriage fitted with those giant wheels. It's gonna be ridiculously expensive and probably not street legal, but someone gotta do it

[@RonCovell]

I like your idea, and I'm nearly certain there is a legal way to do it!

[@theprojectproject01]

Just keep the max speed under 25mph (demonstrated thru rpm/gearing/diameter) and it's just a funny-shaped golf cart or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle.

[@r1273m]

That was really interesting. When you made the big wheel recently I wondered if you had bought the spokes, hand threading of 72 spokes would have been quite an undertaking.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@RoadsterLoverMedia]

Love the video. I'll be watching spoke threading next. Don't forget... You know a bicycle expert would could assist in making a @Ron Covell version. Surely you could find an easy way to make a threader. I'll be watching for the Covell threading tool video. :)

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad you liked the video! Just for clarification, I do not plan to make a video on threading spokes, but I put a link in my video that shows how they work: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4a8aapvrcmCm6s I'm sure that if I put my mind to it, I could make a spoke threading machine - but I see no reason to 're-invent the wheel', since there are many versions already available at various price points.

[@RoadsterLoverMedia]

@@RonCovell Great series on reinventing the wheel in any case 🤣 Thanks for the reply. Link was helpful.

[@jamesa7506]

Pretty sharp, sir 👌 👍

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly!

[@nolantaylor1760]

Thank you for your content. Very interesting indeed. Would it not be advantageous to use a "die punch" to round the head of the spoke rather than peening it?

[@RonCovell]

I guess you're talking about tooling for a punch press? I don't have one, so I don't think along those lines. That's probably how production spokes are made.

[@nolantaylor1760]

@@RonCovell No I was talking about a little hand-held punch. We used to make them in our apprentice days by heating the tool red orange and hitting it down on a steel ball from a bearing race. This forms a hemisphere in the punch, which will then transfer the shape and polish onto the spoke head. It was just a thought.

[@RonCovell]

OH! That's a very clever idea, and I probably would never have thought of it. I may try that sometime!

[@suncitybooksgeraldton335]

The aluminum blocks puzzled me swapping out the vice jaws for the later steel tool for quick clamping v 2 allen screws with 72 spokes to make and no more complex to make. The hole for the radius was to low but the better clamping with the closer fitting was far better. I did my apprenticeship as a fitter and turner and spent 6 months in the tool making section and left 6 month after my apprenticeship was over.

[@RonCovell]

Certainly, vise jaws could be made that would clamp the wire, but I wanted to show how you could make a clamping fixture with simple tools - not everyone has a milling machine, or even a drill press, for that matter. I can tell that you 'know your stuff'!