Cruisers and Co
Supporting Vendor
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2023
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 429
- Location
- Westminster, Colorado
- Website
- www.cruisersandcompany.com
Door is always open!
Rear Window gear coming soon
- Thread starter CruiserTrash
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #22
I think I’m liking this new material. Great strength characteristics. Did a bit of destructive testing but need to do more. With confidence growing, I decided to test some colors this afternoon.
The top one is a bit darker in person than represented in the photo. Almost a dead ringer for Judson or a faded Nebula. It’s also straight green pigment (of this particular brand), which is much easier to replicate than the blends I had to do to get the dark teal and purple.
So I’ll likely have some oddball colors at first, but then will go fully to Judson green. Two-tone Judson (or Nebula) & white is such a classic pig color too. Like the one I let get away…
The top one is a bit darker in person than represented in the photo. Almost a dead ringer for Judson or a faded Nebula. It’s also straight green pigment (of this particular brand), which is much easier to replicate than the blends I had to do to get the dark teal and purple.
So I’ll likely have some oddball colors at first, but then will go fully to Judson green. Two-tone Judson (or Nebula) & white is such a classic pig color too. Like the one I let get away…
- Thread starter
- #23
Oh, and by the way…
I’m still looking for the other gear variant! Anybody got one I can borrow?
I’m still looking for the other gear variant! Anybody got one I can borrow?
I recently purchased this from @riderjgs and happy to send down to you if you need. Is this the one you still need?
- Thread starter
- #25
Beautiful kit there! By all means I would love to get my hands on that gear. I would mold it and send it right back. Any chance you can pull it out of the package and take a photo in the meantime?
- Thread starter
- #27
The center hole on that one looks the same. This is for sure the other variant? The difference is the keyed steel insert in the center?
Also, you’re like 9 steps ahead of me … how the heck did ya get my sticker?? Haha!
If you spend enough money, apparently you will give me one lol!
I will defer if this is the other variant or not to the knighthood brain trust - I am a mere peasant…
I believe it's the early gear, I don't know what year they changed from the key to the D shaft.
Shapeways just announced they are coming back online and I know several people offered both gears with Shapeways.
I don't know that it would be worth your trouble to get an early gear, make molds, do all of the testing to sell a couple of gears especially if the makers upload them to the new Shapeways...
- Thread starter
- #32
I hear that. The 3D print file is still floating around, so I’m aware that I’m already competing directly with that anyway. It’s still a viable option and folks can certainly buy those or print them at home, my feelings won’t be hurt. I’m essentially solving for three things: robustness, fast availability, and reproducibility.
What I’m working towards is a part that’s MUCH more robust. I’ve had 3-4 different 3D printed parts fail on my daily driver 60 at this point. It seems like no matter what filament or printing style is used, the end result is often of dubious quality. Great prototyping tool for sure, but it’s best use may not be for production parts. Short of a multimillion dollar thermoset plastic manufacturing facility, the urethane resins do VERY well in stressful situations however. And to be clear, the particular material I think I’m going to use is thermally cured, so it’s not too different. I have several products that are in many, many engine bays - including my own - receiving daily abuse with near zero failure rates.
Once set up and running, I can batch process these. That means they’re reproduced identically every time and in quantity. I will then have them on a shelf. I get an order and I drop it in the mail the next day.
Final note: I’m working out the material choice with the later(?) gear already. I won’t have to repeat that for the early one. Just get a decent gear (or model/print), mold it, and go.
- Thread starter
- #33
Also, as 55s are a pretty niche vehicle with this window gear being a niche item within that. I don't think I'll be sending millions of these out all over the world! This is a hobby business for me - I have a day job - where I like making niche solutions. Some of my stuff sits on a shelf for a while before I sell one (see my Saginaw steering pump cap adapters), but they're there when people need them.
None of that is meant to sound harsh, I appreciate the feedback! I'm just laying out my thought process.
None of that is meant to sound harsh, I appreciate the feedback! I'm just laying out my thought process.
I want that sticker
- Thread starter
- #35
I’ll send ya one with a window gear soon
I need a gear when ready. Thanks!
Jason
Jason
Wow is that actually a NOS early gear you have?
@CruiserTrash i will buy a few when they are ready
Yes, thanks to @riderjgs
- Thread starter
- #40
Ok, turns out every single person I sent a test gear to has not tried it out yet. It’s going on 2-3 weeks for most of the ones I mailed out … anyway.
Who in/near Denver has a pig that I can put one of these in, preferably this week? I’d like to get things rolling (literally+metaphorically).
Who in/near Denver has a pig that I can put one of these in, preferably this week? I’d like to get things rolling (literally+metaphorically).
