Roll Bar

[Syncro325is]

Steel is a thing of the past. PVC is where its at.

[Fusion]

This Japanese guy is technologically way ahead, once again.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/32376804/Method-Of-Making-A-Paper-Tube---Patent-4504261/

[Ral]

c'mon man, we can't do that shit. Leave it to the Japanese, or wait until the Chinese do half the quality for a third the price. In the meantime, I'm going with PVC. It's American.

[Raxe]

Out of all of the cages I've built, wood is personally my favorite. It really adds that natural, rugged outdoorsy feel to the car. I like oak myself, that's what's in my bedroom. How about you, 619E30? You an oak man?

[Thehemiman]

Out of all of the cages I've built, wood is personally my favorite. It really adds that natural, rugged outdoorsy feel to the car. I like oak myself, that's what's in my bedroom. How about you, 619E30? You an oak man?

I've been thinking of this option myself and was wondering if you left the wood in a natural state, or applied a few coats of polyurethane? I've also thought about perhaps powder-coating it.

[Fusion]

No way. Paper is the way to go. Look at all the thickness options and colors.
Yes there is a con - must avoid sinking the car and/or friends spilling beer on the rollbar.
But otherwise inexpensive, glueable (no danger burning you pubic hairs), lightweight and - get this, Al Gore - recyclable!
And the Japanese have been using hard paper roll bars since the early 80's. I have pics to prove it.
Oh and you can play with the glue to make it look like welds, paint over it and claim it as steel.

[accident]

in

[mamzak]

Seriously PVC is legit if you get the right stuff. You don't want a roll cage to be super stiff anyways, it needs to have a litle give or you will feel every pebble as your car is barrel rolling down the track in the event of a crash. The PVC absorbs a little bit of this and gives a comfortable tumble from what I've heard. Also...A couple of my friends that have a PVC roll cage filled each tube with hot glue. It was really time consuming and shit but that stuff increases the structural rigidity of the PVC and alows it to flex properly without snapping. I dunno.

My $0.02 is to go with PVC as these guys have suggested and use a plastic welder. Metal is:
a) super heavy
b) super stiff
c) expensive

Practically all the things you DONT want in a roll cage.


Keep it PVC and keep it real! Also be sure to post pics of your install, and do a write-up on it. I have a feeling alot more people are going to be switching to PVC in the future for the added benefits.


Here's a pic of a good example done right: (This one DOES have the hot glue inside)

[mamzak]

Steel is a thing of the past. PVC is where its at.

QFT.

[bataangpinoy]

that does it. im making a pvc cage this weekend, end story.

what if you used an expanding urethane to fill it?

[e30turboboy]

Seriously PVC is legit if you get the right stuff. You don't want a roll cage to be super stiff anyways, it needs to have a litle give or you will feel every pebble as your car is barrel rolling down the track in the event of a crash. The PVC absorbs a little bit of this and gives a comfortable tumble from what I've heard. Also...A couple of my friends that have a PVC roll cage filled each tube with hot glue. It was really time consuming and shit but that stuff increases the structural rigidity of the PVC and alows it to flex properly without snapping. I dunno.

My $0.02 is to go with PVC as these guys have suggested and use a plastic welder. Metal is:
a) super heavy
b) super stiff
c) expensive

Practically all the things you DONT want in a roll cage.


Keep it PVC and keep it real! Also be sure to post pics of your install, and do a write-up on it. I have a feeling alot more people are going to be switching to PVC in the future for the added benefits.


Here's a pic of a good example done right: (This one DOES have the hot glue inside)

[mamzak]

I can't believe your laughing at such space aged shit!
PVC is the cutting edge maaaangggg!

[Syncro325is]

that does it. im making a pvc cage this weekend, end story.

what if you used an expanding urethane to fill it?

Thats what i'm saying mang, expanding spray foam!

[deutschman]

i hope you have not started welding the pvc yet. i know i am late on this, but i hope i ketch you in time. dont forget to gas back-purge the pvc tubing when you weld it! other wise the back of your welds will be shit!!!

[mamzak]

Thats what i'm saying mang, expanding spray foam!

hmm. I disagree. I think Hot Glue might be a little more expensive and time consuming...but definitely worth it. You for SURE do not want to cheap out on your PVC roll cage. A roll cage is NOT the place to cheap out.

Hot glue will add alot more structural rigidity than spray foam, and will provide a bit of give in the bars. Exactly what you want.