Another Engine Guard Project

[Colonel Nikolai]

I've been playing around with a pipe bender lately, thinking about building a set of engine guards for my 96 steamer. Any pointers?

[nightrunner]

Cool.  Do you have a design in mind?   Copying one of the existing ones or designing your own?

[Nick Calne]

I suppose the key to success will be the exact material you choose to make it from.  I wonder whether steel that is thick enough to offer proper protection will be too stiff to bend easily?  Too heavy?  Aluminium alloy?  Then there is welding it all up. Heat treatment.  Finishing?  Powder coat or paint?

I think I would investigate a triangulated aluminium structure using something like Easton bike tubing.  Then anodise it a contrasting colour from your black steamer, a bit like the red wheel rims on Mudhen's bike.  Probably not as easy as a steel one, but different.

[Colonel Nikolai]

I like the idea of triangulated aluminum! The only problem is I'm not too confident of my aluminum welding skills. I think I'm going to try tubular steel. If I can come up with something I really like, I'll have a go at it in aluminum -- or maybe titanium as that's easier to weld.