The trike I'm planning has no seat... well it does - it's called the floor!
Normally I would ally-panel the floor, but I'm a little concerned that dragging my poop-chute 10cm from the tarmac on an ally-deck might well be
a mistake if I fail to dodge a rock, or am forced to take evasive action onto the verges / kerbs.
But, I'm a realist - it's going to hurt no matter what!
So I guess what I'm asking is - will it hurt lots less if I go for steel? What thickness seems reasonable?
one sec im still giggling at your description...
A well placed carbon kevlar panel would help immmensely...
perhaps a GRP seat would assist,...
6mm steel, with a 10mm bolt to ensure correct location 
quote:
Originally posted by HowardB
perhaps a GRP seat would assist,...
Now I've stopped giggling
Serious answer coming up
I think whatever metal or thickness you use will conduct inpacts in a bad/uncomfatable way so
Polystyrene...have you got room for about a 1" (25mm) thick piece
1 It's cheepo stuff
2 Comfatable to sit on
3 Warms up to body temp really quickly
4 very good impact absorber (please don't ask as it's a long story involves a suite of polystyrene armour and my children beating the living
hell otta me)
Cheers Rusty... I was indeed going to put a thin-padding down to soothe my butt-cheeks. Hadn't thought of polystyrene!
about 4 or 6 years ago I did a spreadsheet that showed the weight vs strenghts of ali and steel.
As I recall 3mm ali has the same penetration protection as 1.2mm steel, but 1.2mm steel is slightly lighter (or about the same weight).
Depending on how much area you're talking about, how about 1.2mm steel floor with a few mm sacrifical skid plate? When you weld in the floor -
make sure you do it fully around the outside and inside of the chassis tube to stop water from ingressing. (start with outside and stand on the floor
when you do the inside, hopefully then it will permanently be 'bonged' down and not bong each time you stand in it).
why not look into the way they do race seat? basically a plastic bag filled with expanding foam that you sit it til it sets,
Then you have the perfect shape, thin on the ground and it will be the right dimensions to just slot it to the trike
quote:
Originally posted by RustyNuts4 very good impact absorber (please don't ask as it's a long story involves a suite of polystyrene armour and my children beating the living hell otta me)
I'm also going to be sitting on the floor, and I'm toying with the idea of making it with two sheets of ally with a piece of marine ply
between.
Maybe 2 mm lower floor, 8 or 10 mm ply and then top sheet of 1.2/1.6 - folded into the seat shape.
Cheers
Fred W B
Don't fancy picking a marine-ply splinter out of my puckered-starfish!
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Don't fancy picking a marine-ply splinter out of my puckered-starfish!
Chassis is off to Windle next week Mike... will keep you posted with progress!
Good choice Scootz.
Single sider or twin spar swingarm?
Personally I would have put a bit of plywood behind the alloy skin. Very good at absorbing huge impacts. And I would rather be pulling wood splinters out my my ring than metal. Although, not much to choose between the 2.
Wear some cycling shorts under your trousers or get a thin bean bag and velcro it down.
quote:
Originally posted by MikeCapon
Good choice Scootz.
Single sider or twin spar swingarm?