has anyone ever made a set of brake lever hoods?

[foz]

I'm looking for some white hoods for a set of mavic 451 levers, see here: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=153773

but I wondered if anyone has ever made (or has even heard of it being done) a set of hoods? the levers have black hoods, so I think it should be possible to take a mold from them...

any ideas? Thanks!

 

[monty dog]

Depends on what you are planning to make the hoods from which will dictate the design of the tool. Rubber-moulding tools aren't that complicated whereas for white you're probably looking at a thermoplastic elastomer and a specialist moulding machine. There are some pretty effective resins used for making prototype tools that are strong enough to make a small batch - if you talk to someone in the model-making / prototyping trade they could probably advise - last did this over 20 years ago so my current knowledge is limited.

 

[alanf1968]

I have a couple of bikes with hoods well past their best, would it be expensive to re-produce them?

 

[monty dog]

I used to work with a company where we used to design and make a lot of rubber mouldings - the technology is simple as the tools are only cast alloy and you could probably make a resin tool these days fairly cheaply i.e. a few hundred. The actual skill is getting the right mix / blend of rubber and getting it to cure properly - something not readily available to the DIY 'bodger'. Perhaps you could get a group of retro-bikers to chip in to fund a tool and limited production?

 

[alanf1968]

I had in mind old Weinmann gum coloured rubber hoods, there are so many out there that are past their best, yet nos replacements, theres a hopeful queue behind the rocking horse......

 

[Dead Rats]

I had no bother finding some for Weinmann on eBay :?

 

[alanf1968]

I have seen excessive prices and poor condition on ebay, depends when you look, can always get lucky occasionally on there

 

[converse320]

How about some of the dental impression taking materials? Don't know if they come in white, but you can certainly make small one offs with them from a simple mould.

 

[latman]

I saw someone made some on weight weenies , they used rubbery heatshrink tubing over the body and used their hands for some extra pressure in certain spots and then trimmed the tubing with a very sharp blade around the brake lever , I guess they would only be thin but you could repeat the process a few times with the shrink that had glue inside so they wouldnt all slide around.

 

[shumandu]

I do a lot of custom fiberglass plastic mold making and rubber casting and the mold it self would not be hard to make. BUT, you need one to make one. To make a virgin copy without an original to form around would end being custom at best. And without an original to cast around, the time and money spent on crafting a plug to form around would be costly. The casting rubber itself can be of various compounds- silicones, polyurethanes and the like. Easily found online. Just search "rubbermold compounds". The shore hardness and tear strength of the rubber casting compound are also things to consider. Making them white is just a matter of adding pigment before casting. Not all that hard to do if you've got some time on your hands. But, for the time and money you spend to make it. . . I think you know the rest. Goodluck!

Da Shoe!