How to make Lego® valve stem caps. by imaseahawksfan
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Intro.JPG
I can't take credit for this idea. Several years ago I had seen a Lego Edition Ford F-150 with blocks for valve stem caps. I decided to make my own. In this instructable I am going to make two for my motorcycle. Here it goes:
 
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Step 1: You will need:

1One.JPG
1) How ever many blocks and which ever color you desire but they must be 2X2.
2) Metal valve stem caps.
3) Hot glue gun.
4) Utility knife.
5) Small flat screwdriver.
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CaseBoy says: Dec 21, 2011. 6:25 PM
I find that if you stick a credit card to the bottom when its in the freezer, you get a much smoother result
ajsaunders says: May 5, 2011. 6:25 AM
those are cool
DestructoBear says: Jun 16, 2010. 12:26 PM
Just made them putting them on my bike!
Legofanatic says: May 12, 2010. 10:08 PM
Nice, will make soon
cynical_chemical says: Jul 30, 2009. 12:02 PM
bahaha.. i made like 30 and im sticking them on random peoples cars :D
Dagon327 says: Jun 25, 2009. 3:18 PM
I've got a method that doesn't use a razor, and seems to work better. Use a needle nose pliers, to grab the outsides of the center tube, and squeeze, then rotate the pliers (without squeezing) 90º or so and squeeze again, keep doing this until the center tube has almost completely detached, then twist and it should come out relatively clean.
prestonm says: May 12, 2009. 4:07 PM
they would be good bike cap too
djr6789 says: Mar 22, 2009. 8:50 AM
nice idea! im gonna go make loads of them now
KeaneYang says: Feb 23, 2009. 8:18 PM
Cool idea! I bet using pieces from Playmobil would look great too!
Kayjay says: Feb 19, 2009. 6:05 PM
my one buddy has done something like this but with a .22 shell instead, but sweet idea and awesome instructable
gnargnar says: Feb 3, 2009. 7:59 PM
it seems as though metal valve stem covers are MANDATORY for this job. i can't find any plastic ones that fir inside the brick. they all hang out ALOT. super sweet instructable btw! i've actually decided to lego theme my bike, thanks to this instructable, and my love of legos. also working on getting lego knobs on my guitar.
pyrocop1 says: Jan 31, 2009. 3:55 PM
Using a lego person head would be pretty cool also. You would have this little head sitting on top the valve stem.
bill oddie says: Jan 31, 2009. 2:23 AM
this is a satisfying instructable, and it makes my old toyota corolla, look like its been on pimp my ride.(well, if you look close enough.) *on this step instead of taking out the inside bit of the lego brick with a stanley, i used a verticle drill.
pepsiqueen says: Jan 29, 2009. 9:04 PM
i love it... i will be cruising around seattle with these puppies in no time!
Yerboogieman says: Jan 30, 2009. 10:26 PM
Same here :D.
Yerboogieman says: Jan 30, 2009. 10:20 PM
Thats really nice and clean, with supplies people probably already have. I rarely favorite things, but this will be there. Thanks!
Sandisk1duo says: Jan 29, 2009. 5:19 PM
what did you do to the monkey?
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 29, 2009. 7:17 PM
I wasn't paying attention and he tried to eat hot glue. I'm such a bad parent :'(
Sandisk1duo says: Jan 30, 2009. 6:55 AM
*gasp*
Willem303 says: Jan 29, 2009. 6:34 PM
Now I'm curious to. Nice done, You can make varietes with this idea ;)
Furball_Fidelis says: Jan 29, 2009. 4:31 PM
Very nicely done. i've got a tip for you..instead of useing just round valve caps..stick in one with some squareness to it..like somethign with a hex head on it...much like the cheap chrome ones you can find at places liek Princess Auto...that way there's less chance of the valve cap coming loose in the glue when you take it on and off :D..i'm gonna make some for my mountain bikes..and my cruiser motorbike :D except with bullet casings :D
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 29, 2009. 7:15 PM
Thats actually what I used on my very first set. Unfortuantely, the bottom of the valve stem caps sticks out about 3/16" (the dome top). However the ones with the flat top should set almost flush and that is why I used the ones I had cause they are very small. I has some on my Acura and I know I had gotten up to 105 mph. Once I sold my Acura and put them on a Buell I had. They withstood 135 mph on that. I think that that set works flawlessly for about four years and prbably longer than that since I left them on my Buell when I sold it. 9mm brass should work but I would be concerned about weight with anything larger. Thanks!!
amando96 says: Jan 29, 2009. 12:34 PM
i'm putting some on my bike :D
visionFoo says: Jan 28, 2009. 8:18 PM
I love this! Further, I could see repurposing some old keyboard, key-caps in the same manner! Great work!
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 28, 2009. 9:14 PM
I'm glad you like. Yea, keys may work. Heads from Barbie dolls.... if your into that kind of thing. Thanks for the comment.
liquidsunshine says: Jan 27, 2009. 8:15 PM
Is there any reason a plastic valve cap won't work? Or is a metal one just what you happened to have?
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 28, 2009. 10:31 AM
Well since plastic valve stem caps are prone to cross-threading I suggest that metal ones should be used. That's all.
zyda says: Jan 27, 2009. 4:04 PM
Very cool project! I'm going to have to go see if I can get some legos to match my bike. You should check your rear rotor though. In that first picture it looks like it is starting to get grooved. If you can feel grooves in the rotor with your fingernail, it is new rotor time. Wouldn't want you to be injured due to decreased braking power...
evilution says: Jan 27, 2009. 10:15 AM
It's always worth remembering that if you use caps with metal threads on valve stems with metal threads, you should always use copper grease between the 2 to stop bimetal corrosion which can stop them coming off.
JerryMopar says: Jan 26, 2009. 8:07 AM
This is just cool, never thought of it. I will have to go make some now!
balisticjoe says: Jan 22, 2009. 1:06 PM
these are really cool. I'll have to make a pair for my bike.
Velotrash Industries says: Jan 23, 2009. 11:36 PM
my bike already has these! crazy sychronicitudinal idea time.
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 24, 2009. 7:30 AM
xD How'd you make yours?
Velotrash Industries says: Jan 24, 2009. 11:13 AM
in precisely the same way, except I just removed the center plug by crushing it and ripping it with needlenose pliers.
jamwaffles says: Jan 25, 2009. 4:07 AM
i made some led brick lights in the same way. crush and rip. i didnt fill the thing with hot glue though. i will have to try that. a 2x4 lego brck with 1mm holes all over it and a led diffused by glue in it. awesome
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 25, 2009. 8:14 AM
You should put them on here, I'd like to see 'em.
Learndy says: Jan 22, 2009. 11:01 PM
:-)
--
Airspace V - international hangar flying!
http://www.airspace-v.com/ggadgets for tools & toys
hernanai says: Jan 22, 2009. 8:41 PM
Nicely Done... Simple but so many cool points.... 5/5 and faved....
mommy22699 says: Jan 22, 2009. 1:41 PM
Very cool, but spanking the monkey doesn't count as hurting it! LOL.. Naw...it's cool.
imaseahawksfan (author) says: Jan 22, 2009. 2:10 PM
Corn should make sum for the g ride. xD
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