Here is where the magic happens....
Here is where the magic happens. No, it's not their bedroom, so get your mind out of the gutter. Vickie and Kasey discuss and design the new Oasis 24-inch IROC wheel. Using a CAD-design system, all Oasis wheels meet or exceed DOT requirements and are tested in-house before delivery.
As most of you know already, the automotive market is full of custom wheel companies vying for your hard-earned dollars, and almost every automotive truck mag is full of wheel ads for every type of vehicle under the sun. The prices for these wheels run from super-expensive to baller-on-a-budget pricing. For those of you who have bought these low-budget wheels, you know what you got. That's right, cheap-ass wheels, most likely made in a cave somewhere out of old tin cans.
Here at Sport Truck, during deep discussion--OK, we were at Wendy's looking at the extra-value menu--the topic of wheels came up and our inquiring minds said, "How do they make a custom wheel?" The answer? Oasis Wheels located right here in sunny Anaheim, California. We stopped by Oasis wheels and asked owner Juan Hernandez and brother Miguel, "How do you make a wheel?" It just so happened that Juan had two of his best employees, Vickie and Kasey, working on a new wheel design and getting ready to actually make the prototype wheel that day--what luck!
When we met Vickie and Kasey, the first thing we noticed is that these two employees were the hands-on type of people--they do it all. Alright, so maybe we noticed some other things, too. But, you have to admit that watching them make a wheel sure wasn't boring. Hang on to your hats, as we give you a down-and-dirty tour of what it takes to make a custom wheel. So, the next time you buy a set of wheels from Oasis, just think of the time and tender-loving care that Vickie and Kasey put into making each wheel.
Happy motoring!
This is how the steel mold...
This is how the steel mold arrives, which will later be milled to be the bottom core of the new 24-inch IROC wheel.
Our ever-detail-oriented employees...
Our ever-detail-oriented employees take the final measurements to ensure the circumference is correct for the big 24-incher.
Making a wheel is a hot and...
Making a wheel is a hot and sweaty job. To ensure strength and reliability, Oasis uses A356.2 Strontium Modified Aluminum. This aluminum comes in about 2-foot blocks and is then melted in one of the furnaces to a liquid form, which is then poured into the steel casting. Did we mention it's a hot and sweaty job?
Here, Vickie is machining...
Here, Vickie is machining the steel mold needed to produce the old-school classic. Computer programs guarantee a precisely-balanced mold.
The on-site foundry uses a...
The on-site foundry uses a low-pressure casting machine to create the wheel. Hydraulic pistons apply the pressure as the aluminum is poured, and the top-mounted attachment slowly rotates to form the wheel. This process also creates a lot of heat.
Here is another close-up view...
Here is another close-up view of Vickie monitoring the casting process. It's a very hands-on procedure.