Wheel spoke angle ?

While waiting for my metal order to arrive I decided to build the RG&G carriage first. The plans call for a 6 degree angle for the spokes in the hub and rim, is this really necessary?  The pictures on the DVD don\'t show an angle on the spokes. I don\'t have a problem drilling them just curious.

Bob

As I understand the angle in the spokes on wooden wheels is added to give the wheel some spring for shock and also to allow the wheel to adjust to changes in humidity. As the wood swells it will push the center out rather than stress the outer band and hoop. This helps prevent the wheel from loosening up when the wood drys and shrinks.

I don\'t think that the angle has to be there, would be easier to build without the angle (have given this some serious thought) but looks more traditional withthe coned wheels.

Just the urban myths I grew up with, could fall into the same class as Bigfoot and UFO\'s.

nitewatchman

http://www.woodweb.com/galleries/projec ... /2289.html
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread. ... un-Project

nitewatchman,
Thanks for the links. I haven\'t decided yet if I will angle the spokes. I am making mine out of walnut also as I had some 8/4 available. I found an error in the description for the carriage detail on Desc 5200 sheet 1 0f 4: the wheel hub is listed as 1 3/4 x 1 3/4  when it should be 3 3/4 x 1/3/4. But it would become quite obvious if you make the spokes first!
Bob

I was actually planning on doing the same and using some walnut that I have had laying around for twenty years or so.

I was thinking of profiling the spokes on a mill with a fourth axis, kinda put the blank in the mill and come back later type of operation. I haven\'t decided if I want to dish the wheels or not. The biggest thing in the way is the $300-$400 or so dollars worth of brass  required to machine the hubs.

nitewatchman

Your right about the price of brass, I just ordered $348 worth for the hubs. I thought about making them out of steel but 3 3/4 inch steel is also very expensive. I have a lot of 8/4 purple heart wood left over from making carousal horses so I may make another set of wheels from it.

I cheated on my wheels and purchased them ready made. All I did was dissolve some old tar in some gasoline and then stained them with that followed by several coats of linseed oil.Bruski

[quote name=\"bruski\"]I cheated on my wheels and purchased them ready made. All I did was dissolve some old tar in some gasoline and then stained them with that followed by several coats of linseed oil.Bruski[/quote]

May I ask where you got them?

www.hansenwheel.com
   Premium Decorator 24 inch wagon wheels
bruski

$158 a wheel, I can\'t make them for that!! They have some nice stuff.