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Gliderman8

Gliderman8

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Had a couple of small clamps that hold the reflector on my bicycle wheel break. My bike is over 40 years old and the small plastic clamp is brittle and it broke about a month ago.
Took the only good one I had and made a clay mold then filled it with epoxy.
The white one is the original and the grey one is the copy. Going to make two more.
C1C69AE6-FF66-4DF0-A4A5-25A24192EB48.jpeg

280FB384-2C16-4C84-949D-A0BABEBEBFA9.jpeg
 
You'll have to let us know how the epoxy works out. I think that I'd be tempted to either sand cast it in aluminum or take a piece of aluminum stock and cut and file it into shape.
 
And I can volunteer aluminum for casting... :jester:
 
waltesefalcon said:
You'll have to let us know how the epoxy works out. I think that I'd be tempted to either sand cast it in aluminum or take a piece of aluminum stock and cut and file it into shape.
Click to expand...
It’s a low stress part or I would be looking to use stronger material. It’s a clamp for the wheel reflector.
 
And a somewhat larger one, kinda close to you, Elliot: From the Altoona yard, 1891~1946.

4825sm.JPG
 
Got the reflector installed with no problems. Doc….
No need for aluminum so you can cut back on emptying the cans.

7CC3BBD9-7F6A-4FE9-80EF-5BA482547CD1.jpeg
 
Shhez
A nut and a washer would work

And if there was ever a part screaming for those desktop part makers
 
DNK said:
Shhez
A nut and a washer would work

And if there was ever a part screaming for those desktop part makers
Click to expand...
No, a nut would not work at all. Part that clamps to spoke has a “channel” in it to allow the spoke to pass through.
 
The nut just acts as a holder for the washer which clamps on the spoke (Fender washer)
 
A Rube Goldberg solution :cheers:
 
DNK said:
A nut and a washer would work
Click to expand...
Yeah, but where is the fun and craftsmanship in that?? :D

Well done - I remember my first, very futile, endeavors into epoxy casting as part of a freshman engineering class. I learned the value of mold release (we found cooking oil works well... we were limited by typical supplies of our dormitory!)
 
Popeye said:
Yeah, but where is the fun and craftsmanship in that?? :D

Well done - I remember my first, very futile, endeavors into epoxy casting as part of a freshman engineering class. I learned the value of mold release (we found cooking oil works well... we were limited by typical supplies of our dormitory!)
Click to expand...
Exactly…. I liberally spray the original with PAM before making the mold. It came right out. I also sprayed the mold and the epoxy casting also came out with ease.
The only problem I encountered was air bubbles as can be seen in the first piece I casted. It can be seen in the photo I posted. On the subsequent castings I used a toothpick to evacuate any trapped air pockets.
 
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