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recycled car parts for wheel

updated mon 27 dec 04

 

Lizandra Vidal on tue 21 dec 04


Hello everyone,
I have just returned from West Africa where I spent a lot of time with potters. The hand-turned wheels they were using in Ghana were made out of old car axles and brake discs welded together and then built into a wooden structure. I had plans to have someone show me the exact parts from a car and watch the welding but it never happened. Anyone know anything about this and/or have ideas for where I could get instructions?

Not only is this a pretty cheap way to get a wheel, I really enjoyed throwing with someone else turning the wheel for me. The pieces become a team product, the synergy of two people instead of me and electricity. When we threw together, me and the other apprentices, we gave each other guidance and suggestions. Furthermore, when we turned for the master potter we watched very carefully (usually) and learned a lot of technique.

I hope I can put one together here and any guidance and advice would be welcomed.

Peace.
Lizandra


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pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sun 26 dec 04


Hi Lizandra,



The thing is, unless you are already somewhat versed in
make-do, or in making things generally, or making things out
of incidental other things such as ecclectic Car parts,
enough so to need no plans or advises, it will be a good
deal of time and working kind of blind, and likely needing
others time and talents to get it made, which may not really
be cheaper afterall than buying a Wheel of some kind, as is
ready to go.

Anyway, if you like, allow me some more particulars and I
will be glad to see what I could guide you about.

How tall is this Wheel to be?

Is it to be portable or remain allways in one place?

Do you have someone with Mechanical skills and Tooling, and
or Woodworking skills and Tooling, or both, who can help you
with identifying, electing, modifying and fabricating the
necessary components? Likely little or even no Welding
should be needed for something like this if it is concieved
forthrightly.

Do you have, or do you have friends who have, access to
junk-cars or parts-cars whose parts are free or very cheap?


Lemme know...

And we can go from there...


Phil
el ve

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lizandra Vidal"

> Hello everyone,
> I have just returned from West Africa where I spent a lot
of time with potters. The hand-turned wheels they were
using in Ghana were made out of old car axles and brake
discs welded together and then built into a wooden
structure. I had plans to have someone show me the exact
parts from a car and watch the welding but it never
happened. Anyone know anything about this and/or have ideas
for where I could get instructions?
>
> Not only is this a pretty cheap way to get a wheel, I
really enjoyed throwing with someone else turning the wheel
for me. The pieces become a team product, the synergy of two
people instead of me and electricity. When we threw
together, me and the other apprentices, we gave each other
guidance and suggestions. Furthermore, when we turned for
the master potter we watched very carefully (usually) and
learned a lot of technique.
>
> I hope I can put one together here and any guidance and
advice would be welcomed.
>
> Peace.
> Lizandra