> Safety-wise it seems fine with the blatant exception of welding the steering column.
See the fatal accident of Ayrton Senna. Shortened and welded steering column was exactly the cause of the accident.
See the fatal accident of Ayrton Senna. Shortened and welded steering column was exactly the cause of the accident.
> Lorenzini stated: "It had been badly welded together about a third of the way down and couldn't stand the strain of the race. We discovered scratches on the crack in the steering rod. It seemed like the job had been done in a hurry but I can't say how long before the race. Someone had tried to smooth over the joint following the welding. I have never seen anything like it. I believe the rod was faulty and probably cracked even during the warm-up. Moments before the crash only a tiny piece was left connected and therefore the car didn't respond in the bend."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Ayrton_Senna
And the forces on a formula 1 steering column are also higher than on a road car, I imagine.
A proper weld should be very strong, I don’t think welding a steering column in itself is bad.
With enough time, everything will be messed up by a professional at some point.
If some electrician makes a mistake when wiring a house and it burns down, does that mean that I can never trust myself to wire something myself?
Arguably you have an advantage over the professionals because at least you’re motivated to do it properly because it’s your own life on the line.
Edit: for another half-serious analogy: if a professional race car driver ever crashes while driving on a regular road, does that mean I can’t drive myself? Because even a professional made a mistake while doing it, so how can I be trusted to do it better?
Amateurs can take their time, it makes all the difference.
Amateurs are free to throw more metal at the problem.
Bear in mind that all modern steering columns have joints in them for crash safety reasons and they are often welded at the factory.