On 2/4/07, Bud Osbourne <abcoz@hky.com> wrote:
<snip>
> Another potential problem, when blasting wire wheels, is that the spokes
> can become over-heated very easily, I'm told. If this happens, they may
> look nice, but they won't ever stay "true", again. Now, I've never
> experienced this, but, I've never attempted to sand-blast wire wheels,
> either. I figure that, if they're that nasty, they probably should be
> replaced, anyway, or at least sent out to be professionally rebuilt
> (which will probably mean the spokes get replaced, anyway, right?).
<snip>
Bud,
You are correct here to a point. This is certainly true for antique
motorcycle wheels which were mainly painted in the olden days and have
to be stripped down and rebuilt in restoration process (new spokes).
When I had my wires for the Midget media blasted, I had them use
relatively low pressure and glass bead instead of sand. Walnut shell
media is even better for this application. I'm not sure how critical
this is for short spoke lengths as encountered in LBCs.
Longer spokes (like for motorcycle wheels) certainly have the problem
you describe as I have seen it first hand. I have not noticed any real
problems with my Midget wires insofar as keeping the spokes tuned
since I had them blasted.
I can and occasionally do build and true motorcycle wheels. I do NOT
want to try to tackle Spridget wires as the equipment for proper
truing and setting the hub off set when lacing up with new spokes
would be hard to come up with. With motorcycles, the wheel bearings
are contained within the wheel itself. With car wires, you would need
some sort of true and balanced spindle to put the wheel on while
adjusting for hop, swerve, and off set. Otherwise, you take them to a
specialist and there aren't many left in the country to my knowledge.
I'm thinking $$$ here... ;-)
Cheers!!
Jim - 68 Midget in Dodge City
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