Get
your materials together
This is a layout of the parts you will need to purchase and make to
build the SHXRaven
This is what you will need for this project:
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1 - 8' hardwood 2"x4"
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1 - 2'x3'x3/4" 13 ply furniture grade finished plywood
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1 - 3'x1"x4" Brazilian "ipe" hardwood (Very
important! Do not use ordinary 1"x4")
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4 - 1 1/2" wood screws
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3 dozen - 2" wood screws
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3 dozen - 2 1/2" wood screws
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2 dozen - 3" wood screws
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12 - 3" bolts, washers and lock nuts for attaching trucks
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2 - 6" stool legs with mounting plates
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3 - Randall 2 longboard trucks
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6 - 83mm or 85mm wheels
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12- ABEC5 bearings, spacers, washers, etc.
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3 1/2" long bolt and lock nut
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Large washer
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Rubber blocks for bumpers
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Foam padding
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2'x2' square fake leather
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Free weights (purchase after construction and weight distribution check
in step 15)
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Other things I forgot
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Get
the parts ready
Click for larger diagram |
Cut the 2"x4" into two sections, a boom and a tail. For each piece,
measure and cut as follows:
Boom section: Measure from bottom of feet to bottom of butt plus 9".
Headrest section: Measure from middle of neck to top of head plus 9".
Rail section: (must be made from Brazilian
hardwood) Measure from bottom of butt to middle of neck plus 9".
Pan: Measure from bottom of butt to
middle of neck plus 10.5".
Cut pan, gussets, spacers, footrest
parts and weight block from 3/4" 12 ply furniture grade finished plywood. |
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Seat
and headrest pads
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Cut some foam padding into a block that is 4" wide, 1" thick and 12"
long. Cut another piece that is 4" wide, 1" thick and 6" long. Cut out
squares of fake leather big enough to wrap around the pieces of foam. Spray
the fabric side of the leather with a strong spray adhesive such as 3M
Super 77. Then wrap the leather tightly and neatly around the foam pieces.
Now you have a headrest and seatpad. Put these aside for use later |
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STEP
1)
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Glue two of the spacers together as shown, be sure they do not slip
while drying. Drill out the screw holes then insert the screws as shown.
Repeat with the remaining two spacers. |
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STEP
2)
 |
Cut the 2x4 according to the measurements you got of yourself earlier.
The longer one is now the boom, the shorter one is the tail. At one end
of the boom, cut away a wedge shaped piece that is about 10" long about
about 1" thick at is widest end. The cut end of the boom should be about
1/2" thick. This is now the front of the boom. |
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STEP
3)
 |
Using glue, attach the spacer assemblies to the boom and the tail,
aligning the angled edges so they make a smooth slope. Make sure
they do not slip while drying. Drill out the screw holes then insert the
screws as shown. |
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STEP
4)
 |
Glue the pan to the boom and tail. This is where a laser level comes
in handy to keep the pieces aligned and straight. Make sure they do not
slip while drying. Drill out the screw holes then insert the screws as
shown. |
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STEP
5)
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Now glue the rail to the bottom of the pan. Secure in place to make
sure it does not slip or pull away while drying. Drill out the screw holes
then insert the screws as shown. |
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STEP
6)
 |
Attach the gussets to the frame assembly. Glue them on, being careful
to align them. Make sure it does not slip or pull away while drying. Drill
out the screw holes then insert the screws as shown. |
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STEP
7)
 |
Glue the longer piece of the footrest pieces to the top of the triangular
piece with the angle to the rear as shown. This is now the footrest assembly.
Then attach the pegstrips to the rear edge of the footrest assembly as
shown. Glue them on, being careful to align them. Make sure it does not
slip or pull away while drying. Drill out the screw holes then insert the
screws as shown. |
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STEP
8)
 |
Attach the footrest assembly to the boom of the frame assembly. The
front of the footrest should be flush with the front of the boom. A bumper
will be attached here later. |
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STEP
9)
 |
Cut the stool legs down to 4 1/2". Assemble the stool legs, then drill
two screw holes from the back of the leg bracket into the stool leg itself.
Inset two 1 1/2" wood screws. These are now the handles. |
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STEP
10)
 |
Attach the handles to the frame assembly using screws as shown. Make
sure they are secure and do not wiggle about. Now sand the entire thing
smooth, remove splinters and paint it or stain and shellac it, then put
some protective clear coating on it. |
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STEP
11)
 |
Now we will attach the trucks. Print out this truck
placement guide for the placement of Randall 2 trucks using 83mm-85mm
wheels. Apply 3M Spray Mount removable spray adhesive to the back of the
patterns, then carefully stick them to the bottom of the frame as shown.
Use a drill press or a hand drill keeping the drill perpendicular to the
frame. Remove the guides before attaching the trucks. |
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STEP
12)
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Attach the headrest and seat pads using a strong spray adhesive such
as 3M Super 77. Press down on them for several minutes or place weights
atop the pads. |
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STEP
13)
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Attach a front bumper (it must be an IGSA or other relevant organization
approved design if you wish to race). Place rubber strips or rubber tubing
on the leading edge of the footrest nerfing area. |
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STEP
14)
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Now attach the rear bumper (it must be an IGSA or other relevant organization
approved design if you wish to race). Carefully check over your luge, adding
screws to strengthen where necessary. |
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STEP
15)
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Set the front trucks on a common bathroom scale. Set the rear trucks
on a block the same height as the scale (or a second bathroom scale if
you have one). Be sure it won't roll, then lay down on the luge in full
riding gear. Have someone read the weight measurement. You could use a
video camera or mirror if you are alone. Now swap the scale and block locations
(or if you have two scales, simply read the second scale measurement).
For optimum performance and safety, you must balance the luge. The
weight distribution should be:
Combined weight of the luge and
rider in prone position
60% on the front trucks
40% on the rear truck
Free weights are good for this.
They come in 5lbs., 2.5lbs. and 1lbs. increments. They MUST be tightly
bolted to the frame and must absolutely must not come off, even in a wreck. |
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Congratulations!
You have built a street luge!
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Very nice, you should be proud. Just like a fine sailing yacht or major
league baseball bat, wood still kicks ass! And now go and build some more
SHXRavens with your friends and spread the word!!! |
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