Cages
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Oregon-Take me wheeling..
Cages
ok boys, what you all use to make/create/bend/weld/etc. your cages/truggies/buggies with?
i found a cheap bender from harbor freight. i love that place..
....
now, what did you use for materials? for a welder? notcher? what did you pay per foot for material? what size tubing did you use?
i have my cage designed, but i need to know to do.
help me out. post up your pics, ill post up my design.
what you think?
Idio
i found a cheap bender from harbor freight. i love that place..
....now, what did you use for materials? for a welder? notcher? what did you pay per foot for material? what size tubing did you use?
i have my cage designed, but i need to know to do.
help me out. post up your pics, ill post up my design.
what you think?
Idio
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
i know a Pro 105 hydro bender is a damn good deal for the money and the quality. and for cages I would highly suggest using a TIG welder but it all starts to get real expensive.
i haven't gotten real into depth with this yet but that is what I have heard from experienced builders.
i dunno if you have seen this but you will prolly find all your answers HERE
-jason-
i haven't gotten real into depth with this yet but that is what I have heard from experienced builders.
i dunno if you have seen this but you will prolly find all your answers HERE
-jason-
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Sure, a tig would be great but no need to go to that expense. A mig would be fine. Take Fishy's advice and spend more money on a bender if you can. It pays off with less headaches. Use DOM and no need to go ultra-crazy on your cage, as is depicted in your drawing. I know allot of the guys on Pirate go crazy with their cages as it seems to be the rage now, but it really isn't neccesary. Simple works.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh
here's some things to consider with a bender:
1.what would it cost to buy the bender and notcher
2.how long would it take you to bend it all
3.how much material are you going to be wasting testing the bender out to be sure your bends are correct
4. how many tube projects are you actually going to build
I considered these and then went to a chassis shop and talked to a guy there. If i were to buy the tubing for my cage, give them the specs to bend it to, and let the pros bend it and notch it, it actually wound up being alot cheaper than going through the hassle of buying and learning a bender. I then get all the pieces and weld them up in the truck.
Just something to think about.
Justin
1.what would it cost to buy the bender and notcher
2.how long would it take you to bend it all
3.how much material are you going to be wasting testing the bender out to be sure your bends are correct
4. how many tube projects are you actually going to build
I considered these and then went to a chassis shop and talked to a guy there. If i were to buy the tubing for my cage, give them the specs to bend it to, and let the pros bend it and notch it, it actually wound up being alot cheaper than going through the hassle of buying and learning a bender. I then get all the pieces and weld them up in the truck.
Just something to think about.
Justin
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
But Idio, there are no bends on the cage you designed . . . it's all sticks and angles . . . chopsaw and wirefeed. 
I agree, it's a cool looking design but think it's a little overkill unless you're entering a rollover contest. Seriously though, a bender would make things easy but probably won't be necessary for what you're doing.
I agree, it's a cool looking design but think it's a little overkill unless you're entering a rollover contest. Seriously though, a bender would make things easy but probably won't be necessary for what you're doing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Hey, I know a shop if you want to. 
. Speaking of which, this is way off subject but since Pro brought it up: I just got my new bumper (used). It's got a winch roller and all that in it but it's a scuffed up white right now which will look like crap on my truck. Don't think I'd like the look of black either so unless I can figure out a good color to powder coat it I'll be off to have it dipped . . . perhaps some before and after pics are in order. 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEBWN%3AIT
. Speaking of which, this is way off subject but since Pro brought it up: I just got my new bumper (used). It's got a winch roller and all that in it but it's a scuffed up white right now which will look like crap on my truck. Don't think I'd like the look of black either so unless I can figure out a good color to powder coat it I'll be off to have it dipped . . . perhaps some before and after pics are in order. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEBWN%3AIT
Last edited by ivanribic; Apr 19, 2004 at 11:12 PM.
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Post Fiend
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From: Oregon
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
Naaa, I think he was planning on wrapping his cage with those neon rope lights 
I have to confess, I've given serious thought to painting Superbeast lime cuda green.
I'll probably stick with the olive drab or flat black though.
I have to confess, I've given serious thought to painting Superbeast lime cuda green.
I'll probably stick with the olive drab or flat black though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Olive drab would look cool as hell on that truck . . . good old military surplus and then when you scrape it up you can just spray some more on there. Too many people are already running around with flat black, always looks to me like they never got past the primer stage.
Can we chrome your roll bar?
Can we chrome your roll bar?
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Originally Posted by ivanribic
Can we chrome your roll bar?
Yea, I've been bouncing between olive drab with white stars on the doors and military markings (with little siliouttes of jeeps and ricers on the fenders to indicate "kills").
OR
Just flat black with a white Punisher skull on either door. I've had many, many vehicles over the years that I kept flat black and kinda have a thing for it. Still not sure which way to go...
edit: If I could ever figure out how to post a poll I'd throw one up
Last edited by proeliator; Apr 19, 2004 at 11:39 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Mostly because guys get carried away. I've seen way too many cages that had a ridiculous amount of tubing. Better to overbuild than under but enoughs enough.
Cool avatar '95. That was actually my original avater at FTE, but when Ken shrunk the avatar size a couple years back I was never able to figure out how to crop it to make it work, so had to change it for the current one. Anyways, made me nostalgic...I loved that avatar, good choice
Cool avatar '95. That was actually my original avater at FTE, but when Ken shrunk the avatar size a couple years back I was never able to figure out how to crop it to make it work, so had to change it for the current one. Anyways, made me nostalgic...I loved that avatar, good choice
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh
All this chrome talk is making me sick 
After i rebuild my 205 my next step is actually going to be dechroming
Bumper'll be gone, wheel arch trim, even have a set of chrome 15x8's that are getting sandblasted and painted white. even considering painting the grill. As you can tell i really miss my '67 
AS for the specific cage design, it is a bit overkill. a hoop out front and one right behind your seat is really all you need. then run a couple roof links with a diagonal and a door bar and call it good. Just be sure to use big enough tubing.
Justin
After i rebuild my 205 my next step is actually going to be dechroming
Bumper'll be gone, wheel arch trim, even have a set of chrome 15x8's that are getting sandblasted and painted white. even considering painting the grill. As you can tell i really miss my '67 AS for the specific cage design, it is a bit overkill. a hoop out front and one right behind your seat is really all you need. then run a couple roof links with a diagonal and a door bar and call it good. Just be sure to use big enough tubing.
Justin