Large Scale Central

6061 Aluminum Wheels

Electronics Live Steam
#1

Hi folks,

I’m building a Kozo-instructed Climax locomotive in 1:20.3 (“Ed Hume” style, Standard gauge F scale dimensions on 3ft gauge trucks.)

The book calls for spoked 36in wheels, which translates to 1.75in dia in F scale. Kozo builds the wheels from stainless steel components silver soldered together. Ed Hume CNC cuts the wheels…I plan to mill the spokes with my rotary table-equipped mill.

I started making the wheels from gray cast iron, because of its machinability and cost. Unfortunately, I’m not enjoying having all the little iron fillings around from the band saw. I’m planning to continue on with non-ferrous metals for the rest of the project to keep the shop clean. Thankfully the bandsaw is in the garage!

The obvious alternative metal choice would be brass, but I’m having a hard time stomaching the $44.00 it will cost to by a chunk of round stock. Likely there will be a learning curve too! So now, I’m thinking, why not try 6061 Aluminum? It’s cheap, easy to machine, and should wear well on my brass and AL track. Why don’t we ever see AL wheels in G scale? Perhaps there is too much drag? For an oily live steam engine, maybe this would help with traction?

I’d love to hear some thoughts!

#2

wear and weight. Metal lowers th C.G. plus expansion rate. what are the axel safts made of?

#3

I was planning to use insulators on the axles to prevent the galvanic process. The axles will be brass. Good point about the thermal expansion, hopefully I can find an insulator material (or glue/loctite) that will allow for expansion and contraction. I kniw phenolic is used on steam engines for its heat properties, but I was wondering if delrin might work too?

#4

I have used brass for wheels with good results. fitting to axles hasnt been much propblem. it too is soft and can loosen up or get distorted when pressing on the wheels. but this is unusual. I havent tried aluminum but I would think it behaves about like the brass. I do think that you will see wear on in if you use the engine a lot.

the big thing i would worry about is the axles. if you use brass they will not last long. they will wear. I have used K&S Stainless for axles which one would think would work fine but even that wore badly.

I have replaced my axles with drill rod which is a high carbon tool steel.