Homemade Ab Roller, By Ulma Doctor

[Ulma Doctor]

A flash of inspiration came over me, this weekend past.
from my mind, came the idea of constructing an ab roller from materials i had laying around.
this is the progression,
enjoy!

I started with hot rolled steel, 3/4" diameter.
the bearings 2) 6303-RS C3, i had chosen them for sheer abundance in my shop.
a 6303-2zz C3 is a double dust shielded (the 2zz part of the part #), C3 precision bearing.
the dimensions: 17mm Id x 47 mm Od x 14mm thick.
I needed to reduce the shaft to 17mm.
here's a video of part of the process

the finished shaft with 2 6303-2zz bearings installed

i made the shaft to exactly 17mm and froze the shaft for a couple hours.
i warmed the bearing to approximately 100*f and banged the bearings on the shaft.
the end result is a strong press fit upon temperature equalization.

i cut out a 6"rim from scrap 2x8 construction fir with a 6" holesaw.
then milled the stepped center hole with a rotary table on my vertical mill.
i used a 4 flute HSS endmill and a small rotary table to achieve the 47mm bore, to accept the shaft and bearing assembly.




I turned a pair of delrin thrust washers to keep the bearings at zero thrust clearance


and the opposing side,

i reclaimed a bearing support from a PVC overwrap machine.
i bisected the flange and turned the 2 halves to make 2 stepped bearing retainers.

here's a couple pictures post bisection of the flange,



i installed the bearing retainers and secured them with #10 drywall screws.

Every rim needs a tire,
so i thought of a way of doing just that with what i had on hand...


i used the drop from the rim rendering operation as a form to clamp the tire during the glue up
prior to glue up i drove a antique tack into the tread to keep the tread centered.
i also skived and joined the belt ends to make a continuous tire surface.


and a shot of the glue up, clamped in the strangest way- but it worked!!!



after a 2hr cure the clamps were removed and the tire was ready.
i used 3/4" shrink tubing to cover the hot rolled shaft to give a more finished look.



thank you very much for looking!

i hope that these words and images inspire others to do something, out of the ordinary,
whenever possible

 

[Bob Korves]

When you said ab roller I was thinking about abalone and tenderizing it... 8^)

Nice job, Mike!

 

[JimDawson]

Now we need a picture of you using it.

 

[jpfabricator]

So how long will it be before the kids are trying to use it as a unicycle? It would take my kids about 20 seconds! LOL

sent from somewhere in East Texas!

 

[Ulma Doctor]

When you said ab roller I was thinking about abalone and tenderizing it... 8^)Nice job, Mike!

Thanks Bob! Abalone does sound good though!!!

Now we need a picture of you using it.

Thanks Jim!
If you'd really like to see some pictures, i'll post em' ,
but i can't be held responsible for any loss of lunch after viewing said photos!

So how long will it be before the kids are trying to use it as a unicycle? It would take my kids about 20 seconds! LOL
sent from somewhere in East Texas!

Hi Jake,
Oh No, now you brought up stuff that reminds me of something i might have tried as a youngster.
i should probably let the boy know it's for exercising, not riding! (not that a warning from a grown up was always heeded, by yours truly)

thanks guys!

 

[eeler1]

And before and after pics of your abs!

 

[Ulma Doctor]

be careful of what you wish for...

 

[FOMOGO]

That's using the old noodle. Pretty cool. Perhaps some comely young thing for the demo would be a safer bet. Mike

 

[chips&more]

Yeah, I wanna see that in use video as well And well done!

 

[great white]

And before and after pics of your abs!

NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!














(lol)