Who knew...

how expensive hand reamers are!

I've bought some nice cheap Oilite bushes and mirror polished stainless steel tubing for my build. The bushes are OBF222820 (22mm inner diameter, 28 outer and length of 20mm). The rod is 7/8" diameter (i.e. 22.225mm in metric format). Therefore I thought I'd have a look at getting a 22.5mm reamer to ensure a nice fit. But having seen they range in price from sixty to several hundred pounds I think I'll revert to a little elbow grease or attach something to my pillar drill.

It's not just the parts that soon start to make a hole in the wallet, the tools are just as bad when starting out with only the basics. I've already invested in a mitre saw and a few other hand tools and having seen all the positive comments about 3D printing that's the next item of my wish list.

So I guess this thread is a word of warning to others, don't just consider the cost of the parts for your racing sim but also consider the cost of additional tools etc before setting out!

On the other hand, it's a hell of an adventure! I've learned a lot and it's a big brain exercise to consider all the parts, how they fit and work together, and how to buy, build, or machine them in various ways.

You are definitely right though. I way underestimated what this project was going to cost me. Not to discourage anyone and there are lots of ways to build this stuff inexpensively depending on what you have at your disposal and can do yourself, but there are a lot of hidden costs. It's also easy to get feature creep going. Saw the positive comments about seat belt tensioners and opened up a whole new angle on my project. But I totally recommend a 3D printer. I never had so much use for one as for this project. So here is a pulley frame farm in Fusion 360 for all the turning pulleys for my seat belt tensioner. It's a sickness.

Since starting building my sim ive added almost a complete machine shop. No because i had to but i learned so much building the sim and it was a great project to start and then upgrade as i improved.

Since sim:
Lathe
Milling machine
3d printer
Cnc router
Bandsaw
Shop press
Plasma cutter

And countless other items. However i dont calculate them into the cost of the sim. The sim was the inspiration to learn so many new skills

You just gotta know where to look for reamers is all
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/Reamers/1503094_510544605.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.0eaIPJ


3d printers = Awesome possum and WELL worth the investment if you got the time and effort.

Now I have learnt something new yet again, I didn't know that they made 'adjustable' reamers!
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...32660208084.html?spm=2114.12010612.0.0.TvHeMI