# Mike's Sol

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mikes-sol/235240>\
**Category:** Builds\
**Created:** [December 13, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mikes-sol/235240 "2007-12-13T15:55:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 901

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**Author:** ![Boxersix](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxersix/32/6327_2.png) [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mikes-sol/235240/901 "2011-01-20T19:58:25Z")

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> [@badass ebay find: mint E21 BMW with M6 motor](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/badass-ebay-find-mint-e21-bmw-with-m6-motor/38917/6):
>
> Good shit, it was actually more work than I’d like to get it to come out right in solidworks. I’ll have to play around with that next time.
> 
> interesting. Looks like another one to try out at some point.
> 
> lol, I meant the only way for me to get it done. I don’t have any of that fancy laser stuff. :tongue
> 
> What have people used for making the cuts? I ended up using pretty much everything in my air-tool in my arsenal but i’m sure there is a better/cleaner way to do it.

Yeah when you do this for a living the expensive tools become life saves in the end. The PM’s are nothing new and do work for the most part, but having been building cages for over 15 years now you just learn faster ways to get the job done than dick around with some finiky pin-type markers.

Lolz’s at the grinders/cutoffwheel method. The joints are only as strong as the fitment of the material. Get a coping machine, The cheap ones are not that expensive and will suit this just fine.

You need a coping cutter/notching tool Something like this from northern tool is a very cheap but effective machine to get the job done. runs off a drill press on the table, or clamped in a mounted vise and large 1/2" electric drill to drive it… You’ll get 3-4 10pt cages from one of these before the bushings shits the bed and the saw starts to wander. There are other more expensive versions with needle bearings that are quite nice, but far from a production machine.

[http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product\_23000\_23000](http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_23000_23000)

~$100

![http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/143355_lg.jpg](http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/143355_lg.jpg)

Harbor Freight also has a version of above for $60.

I have a massive machine I built to handle the demands of full time rollcage and tube chassis production. 2hp motor, 4:1 reduction. It’s a beast. I copied the design of Baliegh Industrial, only made it three times as large to handle up to 4" tubing. About 6’ long and weighs about 350lbs. Their machine picture below is about $2500. I built mine from machine spares at the machine shop and steel. Would retail around $4K if new, but again when into this stuff good machines don’t come cheap.

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