DESIGNS FOR 6 BASIC WHEELCHAIRS
DETAILS OF HOW TO MAKE WHEELCHAIR PARTS
(can be used with many wheelchair designs)
HEAVY-DUTY WHEEL HUBS
axle (steel bolt 5/8”)
spacer tube
outer steel
tube (1 1/4”
thin-wall)
frame of chair
thick-wall tube
welded to frame
locknut
623
• A thick bolt should fit tightly
used sealed bearings
inside bearing.
• Bearings should fit tightly inside
outer steel tube.
• Carefully mark and drill the outer
steel tube for spoke holes.
• Spacer tube fits over axle bolt and
holds bearings against spoke heads.
holes for bicycle spokes
To attach the heavy-duty
hub to a wood chair, you
can weld the thick-wall
tube to a metal plate.
The metal plate
can be bolted
onto the wood.
The bigger the plate is
the stronger the mount.
axle
Note: Used sealed bearings with
a 5/8” inner diameter can often
be obtained free or at low cost
from electrical tool and appliance
repair shops. These used bearings
often last longer than standard
wheelchair bearings.
wood
CASTER FORK AND HUBS
steel bar
nut
sealed bearing
galvanized steel tube
for caster barrel
bend
5/8”
bolt
A sleeve tube spot-welded
to inside of barrel keeps
bearings in place.
Drill at
equal
lengths.
Mount the caster axle at
least 7 cm. behind bolt.
This helps prevent ‘flutter’
at higher speeds.
Sealed bearings fit
tightly inside caster hub
and rest against inner
sleeve tube.
Weld bolt to
steel bar.
7 cm.
Caster axle fits
tightly inside
bearings.
For slightly different designs, see p. 597, 616, and 619.
BRAKES
bent piece
of flat
bar
weld
piece of
rubber hose
flat or round
steel bar
bolt for
attaching
to frame
Or steel
rod can
be bent
like this
for the
brake.
LOCKED
metal stops
to hold
brake in
place
UNLOCKED
For other brake designs, see p. 601.
SEAT AND BACK MADE OF CANVAS (strong cloth)
Cut canvas twice as
wide as seat or back,
allowing 4 cm. extra
on sides (for seams)
and at least 20 cm.
longer on length.
Sew canvas into
a tube.
Tuck in,
ends
to add
strength
where
wear is
greatest.
Sew seams
here.
Drill holes
and screw
rods to
frame.
CAUTION: Measure carefully. On a folding chair,
the width of the seat and back control the width
of the chair.
For designs of other wheelchair parts, see the following pages:
wheels: 594, 596, 597, 616, 619
seats and backs: 595, 615, 616, 617, 619, 620
tires: 596
armrests: 599, 621
footrests: 600, 616, 619, 621, 622
axle mounts: 597, 598, 615
handrims: 601
cushions: 200, 609
disabled village children