How To: Making your own RC parts

Do you want to be able to make your own parts for your RC car? Here's how I make my DIY parts using a super durable, very flexible plastic called Kydex. Bumpers, brackets, ESC trays, or even a battery hold down like I'm building here are easy to make out of Kydex if you have a heat gun and something to clamp the plastic with. Follow along as I take you step by step through the construction of this battery hold down

[@mikej8832]

I've been using aluminum to build my custom parts like bumper mounts and shock mounts on my Tamiya CR-01. Well what's left of the CR-01 that is original. Wish I'd known about Kydex when I started modifying it. Great how to

[@nicolasleroy3796]

Thank you for kydex presentation, it's nice material for DIY RC parts

[@thepilotxproject4035]

There are good and bad RC channels on CZcams. Pretty much all of them are either about bashing expensive vehicles or about dropping expensive parts on RCs - that are of doubtful value at best. This one is about using your brain and hands to make something useful. It's about the love of the hobby, about learning. Kudos. It saddens me you don't have more subscribers, keep up the good work. I hope some RC owners will slowly move away from "buying stuff"...

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

Thanks. I appreciate the kind words!

[@RCModSquad]

Thanks for the video. Kydex is really great stuff. I’m planning on building an RC boat and I will use Kydex for the hull.

[@operation11charlieinc]

Good stuff brother

[@sudsrc8261]

Cool tip. I'm always interested in parts making as most of the RCs I have or are eyeing are sold at deep discounts, ie - being discontinued from that brand, which means finding part replacements will be harder in time. I recently picked up a 3d printer and I really dig it. I think that's an easy solution for printing part replacements... Now I just have to learn CAD with a free program like fusion 360 or tinkercad, etc.

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

There's definitely a big learning curve with Fusion 360. I know just enough to do the basics, but my more complex designs like my 10428 bulkhead are a mess in that trying to modify them usually ends up causing problems. There's a real method to designing parts in 3D in a way to be able to make changes later.

[@seansrcconstruction]

Pretty cool good info

[@philthyco1]

Good info man

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

Kydex has been my newest go-to!! As you said, it's easy to work with, heats and molds easily, and pound for pound, much stronger than Styrene.
After carving Balsa mold lasts, I've even made Kydex Inner Wheelwells!!
Carmine 🚂 🚙

[@2XRC]

Great DIY vid! Now that TBone closed, I’ll try making a bumper for bashing. What thickness Kydex do you recommend for a 1/8 truggy bumper?

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

Probably 1/8" or 3mm

[@kaylariffic6611]

What is your editing software your channel is so good I wish I was as good as makings vids as you.

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

Thanks! I use a program called Hitfilm Express. It's a little difficult to use, but very powerful.

[@kaylariffic6611]

@@BudgetRC_Channel Thanks

[@toddhowell2299]

Hey Jim, where do you get your Kydex?
Also, since you really only need to heat the "hinge", you might find it faster to lower the wood on the back side a little to expose the "hinge" part a bit. That might allow you to continue folding it over while applying heat. Or maybe I'm way off base, I've never worked with Kydex before :) Great video.

[@BudgetRC_Channel]

I buy the Kydex on Ebay. I'm not visualizing how you're describing the heat & bend of the tab.