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Fixing bent axles?
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:55 am
by kbean63
Has anyone figured out a way to fix models with bent axles? Or are they best left alone? I fear doing more damage.
I posted the same question on the 1-75 forum since the axles are so different.
-Kevin
Re: Fixing bent axles?
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:38 am
by nickjones
There is a gadget that straightens hot wheels axles, I don't know if it would work on superfasts, anyone?.
Re: Fixing bent axles?
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:52 am
by Taniwha
nickjones wrote:There is a gadget that straightens hot wheels axles, I don't know if it would work on superfasts, anyone?.
There was someone selling these locally here a while back, claiming that it worked on almost all axles - including RW I think. There were different sized notches on it presumably to handle axles with different gauges.
Cheers,
Gavin
Re: Fixing bent axles?
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:43 am
by kbean63
Great, I was able to find the Hot Wheels straightener:
http://m.ebay.ca/itm/321299485016?cmd=VIDESC&gxo=true
They also sell "Hot Wheels earrings" for any earring wearers out there. They're little red line wheels. Almost makes me wish I had a pierced ear. I should start making regular wheel earrings - I think the silver hub wheels like the ones on the Iso Grifo would be particularly classy.
I'll look some more for a Matchbox straightener.
-Kevin
p.s. I'm pretty sure the Hot Wheels straightener will work on SFs with wider wheels, not sure about thin wheels.
Re: Fixing bent axles?
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:32 am
by johnboy
I've had some success straightening superfast axles with the Hot Wheels tool. I widened the notch on the tool slightly which I found to be helpful. It does depend where the axle is bent and even if you can get a little leverage, the axle will never be completely true, but I've found it can improve the look quite significantly sometimes. You secure the wheel with your thumb or finger, engage the axle in the notch and gently apply a little pressure until you get some resistance and then release it. You repeat this gently a number of times until you're satisfied. It doesn't always work, but I've had more successes than failures. The temptation is to use some quick force, but slow and easy is better. I've not tried this on anything of value and if I remember, it didn't touch regular wheel axles.