Widening Steel Rims - 4x4 Build Ep.3

Widening steel rims / steelies on a homemade cutting & welding jig. This jig let's me cut the steel rim, grind it clean for welding and finally weld it properly while the rim is in the jig.
This is part of a series of a four wheel drive utility vehicle build to lessen the work load on my trusty 2002 Honda Foreman Rubicon TRX500FA. This partially answers the question "Why?" but for those who want to ask "why don't you just buy a side-by-side instead of building one?" I just want to say - I'm not made of money. Side-by-sides are ridiculously expensive, even the car I drive around daily is worth less (not worthless though!), hell, it is even worth less than my 2002 Honda ATV.
"How much HP will it have?" - the 1.4 litre FWD petrol engine I'm planning on using has 55 kw and this will not change, but the torque will be tripled via the BMW differentials I'm using to transfer power to front and rear axles.
"It will be too heavy!" - this project just like the firewood processor project does not have to float. And a heavier vehicle will handle better anyway when hauling heavy loads.
Stay tuned for future episodes! Thanks for watching!
My other videos: / donndiy
#donndiy #homemade #4x4
Soundtrack:
Pomade - Silent Partner (KZbin Audio Library)
Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter

[@DonnDIY]

Want more fabrication videos? There are plenty on kzbin.infovideos

[@ronaldosantos2334]

Lnj

[@malacungpapuyu1987]

@@ronaldosantos2334 n

[@user-qc5ed8ei8k]

@@ronaldosantos2334 ช

[@christiaanbrown4278]

@Jan Schlossar it's for an off-road vehicle, it doesn't have to be spot-on perfect. these wheels aren't going to be balanced or anything like that. when guys started making their own bead-lock rims no one was worried about the wheels being perfect or balancing the tires. the aren't going to be spinning as fast as highway tires are.

[@juanmelendez6853]

@@malacungpapuyu1987 hi

[@Military-Museum-LP]

You get an idea. You dont have the right tool. You don’t buy the tool. You make it!! Incredible

[@Cam308TC]

Did everyone miss the huge lathe in the background? Content was awesome but not necessary

[@Richies_Garage]

Subbed bc you just did. You didnt take 50 minutes to explain what your doing got straight to the point more youtubers need to follow your steps.

[@user-xu5uv8sq6g]

Всё таки не выдержал и напишу комментарий. Удивительное в наше время сочетание. Умная, светлая голова и умелые, правильные руки. Поздравляю, Вас, молодой человек! Браво! Так держать!

[@einfelder8262]

We used to get our 4.5"steel wheels widened with 2.5"bands in the late 60's. Wide wheels were considered an insurance risk back then, haha, now everything is wide. We had a bloke in Launceston who did the work for small money - the results were perfect with stick welding, we ran tubeless tyres never an issue. They looked fantastic too - the band was visible but no visible sign of welding. The guy was superb at his work. We also had a guy who reset our coils to lower the cars - he would ask what the car was and how much we wanted to lower it, and he would re-do the springs without ever using a rule to measure them. Result was always spot on. Those were the days - carefree youth :)

[@btj1844]

I'm always intrigued at the way you fab and engineer your way past every obstacle you come upon. Your problem solving skills are fantastic. Another amazing video, thanks!

[@davepelfrey3958]

BTJ, excellent comment. He is a genius. I Love watching his work.

[@bobf12]

@@davepelfrey3958 I agree. It just makes my day when his video comes up. He is fantastic to watch.....And he makes it look so simple.

[@davepelfrey3958]

@@bobf12 , that is a fact.

[@Hellsong89]

Sorry to burst the bubble, but this has been done for decades and jig he built would be suited to some car mechanics place at 80¨s-90's to widen the rims for local teens for road use. Usually its done in non commercial setting with car jacked up from one side, attach the rim, clean up the area with a rag for most of the crap, angle grind while car is on 1-2 gear depending on ratio and rim diameter for desired speed since rim diameter=distance per revolution, engine rpm devided by gear ratio times two i believe since all power is going to one side of the differential. Cut the rim, round the flat bar or sheet of steel, weld it in place while car is lifted up on front and buddy can adjust the speed from other side via differential, clean the worst of the welds a bit if you can bothered, trow into balancing machine. If its way unbalanced just grind little from one side to counter balance, paint it, check the balance if bothered, mount the tire and see what ever it hold the air. If not trow more paint at it, unless there is hole so big you can see to other side, witch point go check your eye sight at doctor, grind the paint off from that spot, trow little "Kemppi glue" at the problem, if there is any paint left it will burn out, smooth it out and repeat the balancing and painting portion. Weld is there to hold it on one peace and paint fills any air holes there might be. His method would work for actual car rims in road use, while described teen method would be more suited to UTV, since its does not matter much if rim snaps in half in crawling speeds, but on the highway its different matter. Way he did it was over engineered, but then again who knows, maybe he will be making more of these widened rims so it makes sense to have proper jig for mass production.

[@blaablaahi]

Hellsong89 cool.

[@vwreid]

For me (someone who knows Nothing about welding or DIY) - this has certainly been a wonderful and educational how-to build. The Jig's were amazing - kept me wondering 'what is he doing' - until the light came on with the finished jigs especially the welding jig. In my opinion - A great tool for any eager welding student! Well Done!!!!

[@vladomie]

Finally! A KZbinr who knows the proper way to prepare a weld for max penetration.

[@supersami7748]

In the mid 1960’s into the mid 1970’s there was a business in Garden Grove California called “The Big Wheel”. They advertised in the 2 or 3 magazines at the time and they started off doing this for the craze in the 1960’s of shortening a VW pan and making a dune buggy. By 1970 there were a ton of us CJ Jeep people that were also running their rims. You traded in your stock wheels and for 8.95 per you bought an 8” rim, 10.95 got you a 10” rim. Their process was almost identical to this video. At the height of their business I believe they had around a dozen employees. It was advent of dependable tubeless tires that finally did the business in, there were also laws passed (although I and everyone I knew never heard of a problem with the rims) that finally put the company out of business. Great ingenuity exhibited in this video, first time I’ve seen this channel as it popped up on my recommended list. New subscriber!

[@roarlyng]

I really admire your work ethic and will to push on through seemingly "impossible" obstacles. Well done :)

[@HolgerBarske]

Your skillset never ceases to amaze me. Great job!

[@lesterlyn1685]

Excellence, one could make some earnings from this idea, cause steel rims is better than alloys!! I love this video!!

[@MakinEndsMeet69]

I'm telling you people is there anything that this man can't build??? Oh and build it correctly, I'm telling you I think he should seriously think about getting involved in the space program they could probably use a fabricator with the sheer Genius of Don DIY.

[@mimiporsche]

Very good "the art of getting by"😃😃😃👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ScubaDubaJosh]

I had a similar problem putting atv tires on a lawnmower but I just bought atv rims that fit the tire and adapted the stud pattern. I love that you went the extra mile to make use of what you had laying around. Briliant solution!

[@jakobv8]

I thought this was a new video somehow and watched it again. Was not disappointed, that was a brilliant project

[@user-uz2vq6hj2g]

Восхищаюсь тобой, дружище ! Светлая голова, золотые руки. Все надежно и красиво. 👍👍👍👏👏

[@bartonrobinson4266]

Creativity--"A+"-- Functionality--"A+"-- Results--"A+"-- That means it's a Winner. Straight up superb outcome from the scrap pile. Again another example of thinking out of the box Donn !!

[@ronniewilliz153]

Why is there a line through the a+ lol

[@tedbownas2748]

At the speeds that UTV will travel, if you run into trouble with the widened rims holding air, you could smooth those welds down a bit and put tubes in the tires with no issues at all. That was an ingenious bit of work; well done. 👍

[@Cameron_D]

It's fun to make something in order to make something else, but it's also a pain in the butt. I'm yet again impressed.

[@gabrielsaldana8913]

You remind me of my Dad a certified welder fabricator and machinist, he was an artist with the torch. That's a God given gift my friend keep building stuff and posting videos I love your work!

[@user-kx3nw8ps1t]

Молодец. Делаеш с душой. Добротно и надёжно. 👍👍👍😊

[@alexis-imlivewithcam7658]

💛🌹😘👌

[@mrGorin]

Молодец! Всё аккуратно и красиво. Приятно смотреть! 👏👏👏💪💪💪👍👍👍

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Hello Donn, really looking forward to this build👍👍, already has some fantastic fabricating and you’re just getting started!! Thanks for sharing with us.

[@leharomantik4195]

Шикарный комбайн для разварок ... Снимаю шляпу , перед твоим творчеством!

[@sportscars2379]

Greeting from Latvia! Very good content. I found many idea in your videos! Thank you! 👍👍👍

[@weldweld5629]

Nice job, I've done something similar to this before and one thing that really helped was a fresh grind on the lug nut to make better electrical connection because the ground on m.i.g. is more important than any other type of welding since the machine is jump pumping out same wire speed constantly unlike stick and so on. 👍

[@jimviktorlangstrom7662]

I wish i had your skills and talent. I am always amased over your productions. Thank you wery much from northern sweden.

[@williammoss1310]

This gave me a level of satisfaction that I can not express!!! 👍 😁

[@DonnDIY]

I'm glad to hear that.😀

[@milomirradovac178]

Trust me, I was hoping for this kind of wheel processing on the project even before the video came out. I remembered that Darek (made in Poland) made a rotating welding table and that such a tool would help you a lot. Well done and greetings from Serbia.💪😊

[@gafrers]

The level of problems solving and creativity is as high as usual. Great job

[@AGVdemand]

👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹

[@koenjanssen81]

It's so cool and really inspitlring to see you just build a tool or jig for certain jobs. In this way, nearly noting is impossible. Again, thanks for sharing this with us. Looking forward to the next one!!

[@TERRORoftheLORD]

This is the best display of your fabrication skills so far. Great job!

[@user-pb3mr1tg1h]

Побольше роликов такой, очень приятно смотреть Твою работу.👍

[@dennisbinyon9023]

that’s a lovely low tech answer, well thought out sir cheers from australia 🇦🇺

[@DonnDIY]

I love low tech stuff. Angle grinder and a welder is everything you need in workshop really. 😀

[@MrDhandley]

👍🇦🇺Melbourne

[@garymucher9590]

Now to the blaster cabinet, and then powder coat, and you have a winner for sure. Thumbs Up!

[@blackbuttecruizr]

Super creative, and even a little green... Modifying the wheels you already have, instead of buying new ones.

[@aserta]

You should keep this machine, and if you manage to stumble upon one of those balancing tire machines that's being thrown away or parted (or at the scrap), get the axle shaft with the cones, so you can make a universal variant of this. Maybe not now, but maybe later you'll wanna make another machine with wider tires. Just a thought.

[@Northwestprepper411]

Very nice job as always. Waiting on the next video now.

[@VinnyMartello]

Finally, a DIY video that isn’t garbage.

[@citypainter1]

That was awesome you are a highly intelligent individual. What you fabricate in your shop is just amazing. Keep producing these great videos. Please

[@CarlosGonzalez-kt5be]

GOOD JOB BROO !! You the beast , SALUDOS FROM : NEW YORK.. "THE BRONX"..

[@tropicof]

The only thing missing from the videos lately is how he used to say, "Pretty gooood". Love the builds, keep them coming!!

[@mikeopenshaw9128]

So much more than a "how to video" - such creativeness with the jigs etc. - highly watchable - thank you for sharing!

[@Jwy-lv5nb]

Bout 40yrs of fab,n mainly for off road myself. Mostly cages, axles, etc... Ya know stuff that could kill ya if it fails and brother you did a Fine job in my book !! Much respect on jig ! I'd say they'll hold anything you put m threw !!! Nice Job. And you got ya a new sub 👍🏻✌🏻

[@randytravis3998]

keep up the great work your doing .. some day you need to build a sand blasting cabinet .. i am going to change mine , so i can shove long pipe threw it and clean a section at a time , then close the flaps when doing other things ,, need to hook a shop vac so i can see what i am doing gets a bit dusty . also need to ground the unit i have been sapped it will create a charge while sand blasting ,, keep up the great videos ,,

[@Podpolchik]

Лютая установка для разварок за 3 коппейки.👍

[@dougbrown9861]

I had a dirt track frame manufacturer in Augusta, GA put a 2” band in a set of factory wheels for an 81 Ford Courier that I restored back in the late 80’s. I put a set of chrome rings and the factory hub caps on the wheels and mounted a set of 60 series tires all around. Had a lot of people ask me how I was able to mount wide tires on that little truck with the “factory” wheels. Surprisingly the truck rode really good.

[@jondavidmcnabb]

Donn, thank you for showing both the success and failures. Projects are a journey and the fun is watching all of it! That Transsteel is doing an excellent job for you.

[@SouthMainAuto]

Necessity is the mother of invention! Great job!!

[@user-zl1tf3lq8u]

Просто кайфую от твоих Талантов!!!

[@nicemanFranky]

Oooohhhh, your construction has changed. At the beginning with a front-wheel drive hub at the end a rear axle bearing with drum brake...😁😉👍

[@CelsatBrenergia]

O Inventor da Politriz merece todos os Crédito do Mundo

[@00BillieTurf00]

Dude, no way, that was awesome!

[@maikeljegerings5870]

This is a perfect how-to video.

[@fireball1322]

Where I come from this method of modifications would be referred to as "Southern Ingenuity". Great work. Ingenious homemade tools too! Congrats on a job well done!

[@Adam-ox6zy]

Nice stuff. Gives one a bit of an insight into how insane the skills are of those welders that weld submarines together!

[@cyberblade6669]

Will one of his sponsors send him a blast cabinet and a powder coating setup

[@b1g1lz]

What!? And deprive us seeing him build one?

[@cg6522]

Useless. He knows a guy when it's needed for big parts.

[@TheHank1954]

I have a self made blast cabinet and a 3 Zyl. kompressor with a 1000 liter Tank, but it is in Germany

[@aserta]

They better!!! :D

[@thelk1851]

🖐️🖐️🖐️🤝🤝🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@paulmartin3340]

Pretty good once again. I thought you would have made an auto feed out of a windshield wiper motor?? My friend widened his rims and painted them with under body paint... never leaked air! Keep it coming bloke. Love the content as always. Cheers from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺🦘🐨🐨🦘🇦🇺

[@dragofrost712]

You could use a wiper motor abd an arduino to build an auto feed. Also modify the jig with a arm to keep the grinder stationary to clean the welds. Your skills are the bombs. Brilliant thinking. Can't imagine if you had better fabrication tools. Thanks for the great video....

[@janyfariajunior]

Seguindo o projeto aqui do Brasil. Parabéns pelo excelente trabalho.

[@user-ig4hr6zx7m]

Учитываешь каждую мелочь , все супер ! Жду продолжения 👍

[@user-ou4lg2tz7v]

Привет,ты меня радуешь своими роликами)

[@m.s.7626]

Magic mechanic! AWESOME!

nới rộng mâm xe rất hay Extending the wheel is very good

[@rubencardoso635]

Thank you so much for sharing your video. I have to cut a 14" pipe in 24 segments of 1-1/2" and you gave a great idea on how to make it. I am going to modify your design, but surely it was helpful to watch your work.

[@jcb805]

Зачётная работа. КЛАСС !

[@huopavaan]

Great video !!!!

[@user-zf1jq3ly9x]

Не перестаёш удивлять. Отличная работа.👍👍👍👍👍

[@galaxynote5669]

Awesome job!!!! Widening rims in this manner was one of my first jobs at 14 years old. (Over 50 years ago) I worked for a friend's dad in his machine shop. We had a set of rollers that were powered by an electric motor that we sat the rim on to slowly turn it while I welded it.

[@DonnDIY]

Two rollers is the most universal solution - fits all diameter rims.

[@FrustratedBaboon]

When you don't feel like going to the store to buy something, you just make it.

[@Adventures_with_Josh]

More like why buy it when you can make it.

[@szabolcstabori1096]

Dfsujkdhhf az hse

[@tonysolar284]

Why make it? When you can think about it and never get around to it.

[@fatbelly2438]

i still close my eyes when someone welds on a video...old welders habit lol

[@ARBAN30]

RESPECT THE PASSION AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLZ.

[@inflamerss]

Поверь, друг, на заводах не уделяют столько внимания швам, как ты) Перфекционист в хорошем смысле этого слова, я сам такой же. Первый шов высоковат, я бы добавил чуть больше напряжения, шов вышел бы более плоским и ровным. Отличная работа. У меня на работе шеф сомневался, не хотел делать поворотный стол для сварки центральных втулок для барабанов (кабельные барабаны, для медного провода), мы их собираем. Я много их варю, в зависимости от размера 400-80 штук за смену. Я предлагал брать обычный мотор на 12 вольт от двигателя стеклоочистителей вместе с редуктором. Он все время сомневался. В итоге я сам сделал рабочую модель, на которой работал почти полгода. Медное кольцо токосъемника я просто приварил полуавтоматом прямо к валу поворотной площадки) В качестве щеток были поставлены две медные полоски из той же медной полосы, что и кольцо. Естественно, соединение между кольцом и валом было ненадежным, тем не менее система работает до сих пор. В итоге шеф сделал мне серьезный стол, с алюминиевым столом, токосъемником заводского изготовления и медно-графитовыми щетками, двигателем-редуктором в оптимальном для меня диапазоне и частотным преобразователем во главе всей системы. Удачи, брат.

[@Paulman50]

If you could post that cutoff saw to me, that would be great. We can work out what competition I've wone later on 😁.

[@walkman_sm]

А я думал только у нас дрифтуны разварки делают🤣

[@Stevo736]

Great watching you work you have greap equipment there and that chop saw is the best.

[@robertmanley7556]

This is why I love your video's you have something that needs done you figure out a way to do it and you get it done !! This was AWESOME !! My kind of stuff that rim looked GREAT when you were done !! Very very cool !! Love your video's can't wait to see what's next !!👍👍🔧🔨🔩

[@anonymous-tn6ij]

And now you can balance the wheel by knocking rust off wherever it’s heavy LOL

[@atamangalkin]

Immer wieder like

[@jasondaniels6958]

excellent video my friend. You created your own solution. That 's awesome and an inspiration.

[@gregkieser1157]

Very clever Donn.......nice work.

[@whodat90]

Simple power feed would be to have a band around the rim going down to a small diameter rod chucked in a drill. Variable speed, and requires almost no precision to implement.

[@kurtwerner4258]

Might as well go full NC on it! Pretty much there.

[@eduardosampoia5480]

@@kurtwerner4258 Not quite.

[@Hellsong89]

Or just bolt the rim into car, lift one corner up and let engine run on idle. For precision use strap to tie steering wheel in place. That is how its been done for decades.

[@whodat90]

I have my doubts that that would work well. For that size welder and wire, he’s looking at about 3-8” of weld per minute. Assuming it’s a 14” rim, that’s around 5-14 minutes of weld per rim. I don’t know that the engine could turn the wheel that slow. I’ve been wrong plenty of times before though.

[@christiaanbrown4278]

@@whodat90 I believe you are correct, I've never seen a freewheeling car tire at idle turn that slow. the brake would have to be on all the time to get the wheel speed correct and there could still be surges related to the brake pads and/or the drum or rotor. Using an electric motor geared down with either a rubber wheel in contact with the rim or the shaft with a pulley and a belt would be the most effective and consistent way to turn the wheel for this kind of welding. the pros use a foot pedal to control motor speed as they weld.

[@sethbrown5592]

Seems like a much simpler solution is develop a sturdy offhand and weld it free hand, widening a rim not making a pocket watch

[@fatbelly2438]

i welded cylinders for yrs all freehand.. i got so used to it i would zone out and come back in at the end of the weld.... 33 yrs welding...

[@DeepestBasher14]

@@fatbelly2438 I do that on a daily basis but not cylinders 🤣

[@billthomas274]

Now you are talking. I learn so. much watching you “farm fabricate”.. FYI.. I’m an old farmer. I really enjoy your efforts 👍👍👍

[@skipbolinger1370]

Your crazy good Donn I really enjoy your videos you've taught me tons of stuff thanx much!!!

[@InstrucTube]

I can honestly say that I've never thought about re-fabbing rims. That's kinda ingenious the way you did that. Very nice, I'm super interested to see what you're up to with this build.

[@AsitShouldBe]

you are awesome like ever. but is maybe time for a TIG?😉 i would try with a bit more current or less wire speed to enlarge the welding track anyway.

[@DktheWelder]

Be pretty slow welding up 4 rims with the tig wouldn’t it? I ended welding up my rim with the stick welder even though I have a tig because I couldn’t be bothered cleaning it up probably

[@aserta]

TIGs are for fancy work, they're not that good for on the cuff quick stuff like this. I've often found that they actually impede the process.

[@DktheWelder]

aserta your dead right! I pretty much only use mine for stainless and alloy

[@lennutrajektoor]

Sa oled täiega elav legend!

[@user-fp9me8zu8v]

Молодец, упорный парень!

[@railfan439]

Sand blasting, priming, painting. Then the valve stem, mount the tire and done. Thanks for the video. Jon

[@rockcrusher4636]

That's great but why didn't you just do them in the lathe. Cheers.

[@DonnDIY]

I also needed something where I can attach the rim to while cleaning and welding it. Thus this jig.

[@Nikolaevich58]

Привет ! 🔨 молоток !!!

[@LouAdzima]

You are amazing Donn. I love your persistence!

[@Chris-yy7qc]

Good job! Up to now I wouldve never trusted a widened rim. But I changed my mind because I would trust this one!

[@Ivanyth]

Потом в пескоструй и на окрас)

[@mawe42]

Get some thick paint on the inside of the weld beads, it will seal up any small pin holes.

[@mechanicalmonster2115]

Awesome work Donn! Really looking forward to your next vid!

[@stevenpleasant5834]

Hi I like how you did this wheel wish I had some made for my build real nice look forward to your build.

[@jeremygaddis112]

Wouldn't it be easier just to get a wider rims and weld center in like the derby guys do

[@patrickcidreira5338]

Work harder not smarter!.... wait...

[@AnanasStudio]

Are you ready for safty trolls storm? For god sake, there "wide steel" is common in bmw and audi. ;)

[@cmotdibbler4454]

It isn't going to be used at high speed, it's for an off road UTV. you were going to use it on the road I would say don't use a banded wheel but offroad at low speeds it'll be good.

[@PeterWMeek]

@@cmotdibbler4454 - I was thinking, Maybe I wouldn't want to try those at 150 kph, but they should suffice for an ORV. The penalty for failure is to walk home and fix it; that seems OK.

[@PeterWMeek]

@@MAGAMAN - The intended use is for a utility off-road tow vehicle. I don't think he intends to do any racing. (He has other vehicles, designed and intended for that purpose.) I agree, it is _possible_ to have a fatal accident at 10 kph, but it isn't likely, even with a total, instantaneous wheel failure.

[@gregbrightwell662]

Spoken like a bunch of people that cant weld! I will have no problem running wheels I have widened. But...I am certified welder

[@AMetalWorks]

@@MAGAMAN i got news for you. Every company I have ever seen that widens steel wheels does this the same way. Also these would be plenty strong for on road purposes. If companies do this sort of work they more than likely state that they are for offroad use only just like all the weld on bead lock companies do. It protects them from lawsuits. However I can absolutely verify they they are strong enough for road use. At best the wheel will bend. You show me any aftermarket steel wheel and I'll show you an unbalanced steel wheel. When I was a kid I worked for a tire shop. Damn near all the aftermarket steel wheels were out of balance to some degree.

[@Mtlmshr]

From a welder and car builder with over 40 experience I want to tell you what a great job you did with your fixture and prep work! The only thing that I noticed in the welding is the amount of wire stick out was a bit much. Obviously I don’t know your settings however I like to weld hot and one way of doing that is less stick out from the contact tip. Otherwise GREAT JOB!