kraffft work

**skrag** · 10-09-2009 12:50 PM

That video of the slide wheels v2 and v3 is eppppiiiccc!!

**Sho Nuff** · 10-09-2009 01:21 PM

the two wings you made from your arms made me wonder how they could be used to control speed downhill riding..., instead of foot braking or sliding, come out of the tuck, open your arms.., reach desired speed, resume tuck..,

p.s. i think you are a little crazy but in a good way.

**livehard365** · 10-09-2009 02:36 PM

Is there any hookup in those wheels after you initiate the slide?

**kraffft** · 10-09-2009 05:09 PM

Mad rush today.. trying to get a board together for the bomb, make a bunch of wheels, and get the build contest entry in..

Look for the red hill bombing hat this weekend if yr in NYC:

Otherwise see y'all monday!

**kraffft** · 10-12-2009 10:35 PM

Wheels in production and two complete sets:

Close up of the logo.. (hard to photograph)

Some slides in here:

YouTube - Slide Board 10/1-12/09

**spoctopus** · 10-12-2009 10:38 PM

i want nao

**rodgon** · 10-13-2009 02:33 AM

slide a's my ass!

KRAFT WHEELS FTW!

( how much for a set? )

**streetheap** · 10-13-2009 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by kraffft

Some business thoughts..

Sharing designs freely. Creating a huge catalog of many peoples designs that anyone with a decent shop can make. When you want something from the catalog you make it yourself or get in touch with a builder and have them make it for you.

This model works best with very specific types of items.. Things that relatively few people want. Things that don't require a lot of set up or specialized tools to make. Things that both maker and buyer can be happy with the price of.

Something that irks me a little bit is the idea that I could make a set of wheels, sell em for ~$40 and make a ~20$ profit.. or I could buy wheels wholesale, sell em, and make the same profit.. One of the idealistic goals of the small builder model is to cut down on that middleman merchant nonsense.

I'm ok with working for the rest of my life doing manual labor.. This whole country is a scam.. I'd like it not to be.

Quoted for many trufes.
This thread should be required viewing....

**botofusup** · 10-13-2009 07:50 AM

I'm ok with working for the rest of my life doing manual labor.. This whole country is a scam.. I'd like it not to be.
-kraffft

This really has me thinking. Earlier this year I was layed off for a few months from my Art Director job at a small agency. During that time I did some construction/rennovation/deck work for some friends. I loved it, however when I got called back to my desk job I went. Not because I wanted to, but because it is that job that lets me support my family so my wife (who is struggling with two chronic illnesses) can be home with my two sons (one of whom needs lots of occupational therapy and other needs). Luckily my lovely wife is going back to school and wants to work again, so there is light out there.
Anyway, Kraffft, this thread is refreshing and thoughtful, please don't kill yourself product testing, I'm not sure your shoes could be filled easily.
Have you ever tried attaching the wings down the sides of a shirt or jacket? I also was thinking about the sliding dumbells, it would be cool if you could tighten/loosen down the wheels to add or remove resistance. Just some thoughts.

**benmasters** · 10-13-2009 01:30 PM

yeah if you ever need a crash test dummy
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**kraffft** · 10-13-2009 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Sho Nuff

the two wings you made from your arms made me wonder how they could be used to control speed downhill riding..., instead of foot braking or sliding, come out of the tuck, open your arms.., reach desired speed, resume tuck..,

They definitely have potential for that.. I'm inclined to favor power output over tuck in thinking about new designs though.. and then making it aerodynamic with a crazy bodysuit..

Originally Posted by livehard365

Is there any hookup in those wheels after you initiate the slide?

You can probably see it in those videos better than I can describe.. they have a lot less hookup than any wheel that I know of.. but they still want to track straight when pointed forward.

They basically have proportionally less grip than various softer wheels, meaning you can do the same slides at slower speeds, on gentler hills.

It also means that if you want to go fast with them (upwards of 20mph) you're only going in a straight line.

Originally Posted by rodgon

slide a's my ass!

KRAFT WHEELS FTW!

( how much for a set? )

These are "slide f's"...

kraffftwork slide f UHMW wheels.

Three sizes currently available:

52mm $30
65mm (shown above) $35
82mm $40

(That's 2, 2.5, and 3 inch nominal sizes- the plastics always run a little oversize for some reason)

Cut them into slide pucks when they wear out (some tips on how to do that safely in a bit).

I'm working on getting paypal and shipping set up this week. So they'll be available to ship soon enough.

Originally Posted by botofusup

Not because I wanted to, but because it is that job that lets me support my family

Have you ever tried attaching the wings down the sides of a shirt or jacket? I also was thinking about the sliding dumbells, it would be cool if you could tighten/loosen down the wheels to add or remove resistance. Just some thoughts.

We can structure society however we want..................

Once I get done fiddling with the slide wheels.. looks like the vote is in to work on the next generation of skate wings.. sounds good to me. There'll also be a lot more quick projects along the way..

Those sliding barbells are one of the more dangerous items in my quiver currently.. If I get motivated to bring them out, I usually get in a bad awkward crash or two.. then give up.. Need some major tweaks to be what I want them to.. (increasing slide glove functionality.. being able to steer your slides: speed up spins and change direction.. dragging the wheels sideways to brake, otherwise having no friction.. etc.) Right now the wheel/axle size/hanger shape are all a little off, causing wrist bite.. (which is one way to do what you're talking about there botof)..

Originally Posted by benmasters

yeah if you ever need a crash test dummy
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Here's another business fantasy idea (Ben living ~250 miles away) : Network of testers that are located in a chain.. each near the next one.. so they can easily pass a prototype on to the next person..

A similar idea stemming from the info-barter thought a little bit back. I'd be interested to trade new slide wheels for used longboard wheels in the 75mm size range.. The used wheels get put on the at cost shlongboards sold locally. Might have to be two sets of used for one set of new slides to make sense.. but it'd be ok if one or two of your wheels were flatspotted.. or if they're all slightly coned..

**speshlspeclsteak** · 10-13-2009 08:27 PM

you should make some jank aerolids

**jaytoo** · 10-13-2009 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by kraffft

Those sliding barbells are one of the more dangerous items in my quiver currently.. If I get motivated to bring them out, I usually get in a bad awkward crash or two.. then give up.. Need some major tweaks to be what I want them to.. (increasing slide glove functionality.. being able to steer your slides: speed up spins and change direction.. dragging the wheels sideways to brake, otherwise having no friction.. etc.) Right now the wheel/axle size/hanger shape are all a little off, causing wrist bite.. (which is one way to do what you're talking about there botof)..

maybe not high on your list of ideas, but what about using 4 wheels? like quadlines on your hands or something.

**unclewinkie** · 10-13-2009 10:44 PM

Kraffft is definatly one of the best things that have ever happened to this website and small buisness builders.

**Pleinair** · 10-13-2009 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by jaytoo@gmail.com

maybe not high on your list of ideas, but what about using 4 wheels? like quadlines on your hands or something.

4 wheels into a cross seems like the best idea to prevent wrist bite. You could also raise the 2nd set of pucks higher a bit, and then make it out of a grippier material (Tire Rubber?) that you can lower to control speed/steer better.

**scratch** · 10-14-2009 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by kraffft

Something that irks me a little bit is the idea that I could make a set of wheels, sell em for ~$40 and make a ~20$ profit.. or I could buy wheels wholesale, sell em, and make the same profit.. One of the idealistic goals of the small builder model is to cut down on that middleman merchant nonsense.

har.. I feel ya on that one... I could have boards made for the same as it cost'm me to make 'em and not have to pay for the shop or work 80 hours a week...

but, at the end of the day... I'm proud that I actually make something and put food on the table doing it... I think you know where I'm coming from...

also.. I got a sick new machinist's drill press, call me if it you wanna try it out...

**rodgon** · 10-14-2009 12:44 AM

i love helping out small builders, youll have a PM shortly for some of those 65mm wheels. ^_^ they look fun as hell. lol

**kraffft** · 10-14-2009 12:57 AM

Finally figuring out the multi-quote function (it has a max of 5 quotes, and drops the first ones when you go over 5.. so confusing)

Originally Posted by CarlTheSmokingCrab

The nano-tubes that the guys at Insect work with every day is TORMENT on the lungs.

I was referring mainly to puck materials.. The smell of hot Corian (especially during a toeside shutdown slide) can't be healthy. Similarly the glass filled acetal that Brock was talking about might be unhealthy for pucks.. though since it is apparently very durable it'd need to be a lot of people using them on the same hill all day to really matter. There's a lot of other materials that have similar problems.. UHMW is food grade though!

I'm fairly careful about shop fumes and dust.. I'll use any material to make things..

Originally Posted by ghost_rider_x

i wish i knew this was going on 10 minutes from me before i moved.

I'm totally going on tour some day..

Originally Posted by speshlspeclsteak

you should make some jank aerolids

Yeh can't wait.. tempted to even do some concept art..

Originally Posted by jaytoo@gmail.com

maybe not high on your list of ideas, but what about using 4 wheels? like quadlines on your hands or something.

I'm hesitant to make it even more complicated.. but 3 or more wheels would definitely help get rid of some jerkyness.. I have a lot of rollerskate frames around.. so it'll be real easy to try. or maybe two wheels in line instead of side by side.. the 31 wheel roller suit guy only has one wheel on his hand.

Originally Posted by Pleinair

4 wheels into a cross seems like the best idea to prevent wrist bite. You could also raise the 2nd set of pucks higher a bit, and then make it out of a grippier material (Tire Rubber?) that you can lower to control speed/steer better.

Sounds kind of like the freebord of slide gloves!

I'm going to have to actually practice with those barbells to see if I can show y'all what I'm thinking of with them. (and see if what I'm thinking can even work.. happens a lot coming up with slides that what I'm picturing my body doing just doesn't work how I think it will..)

**flannelman** · 10-14-2009 01:06 AM

well i cant get my lemon freerides to slip... those 65s sound like they would

think i will have to get me some of those soon. i like supporting the small builders when i can. they have never done me wrong yet. i dont know if the 82s make much sense. there would be tones of material to wear through, but they would just flatspot as fast as a smaller wheel. i'll keep peeking in here and see whats going on. it seems we have a fun inventor here.

**dmackanic** · 10-14-2009 12:27 PM

Yo put me down for some of those 65mm wheels haha. I can't believe how cheap you are pricing them! I would say that those wheels could sell on a big scale