metal shapers CHEAP english WHEEL

Chris, you and me both. I have already a planishing hammer and a pro-tools shrinker/stretcher setup. I ordered the English wheel to check it out. I will be posting my review about it after I use it a few times. Im excited.

However, I did order the lower anvil set and they have a very smooth feel to them and look to be very sturdy. I put them up to an "American" made bench top unit and I couldnt see any difference.

 

You know, if I was some super duper English Wheel guy, I would prolly think its a peice of **** too. But for the beginner/enry level guy, it' a good deal.
If I take up Cycling, I'm not gonna go out and spend a bazillion bucks on a bike until I get good enough to notice the difference. This will help me make ****. DO WORK, SON!

 

WOW! I got some of the order allready! Shrinker/Stretcher, Lower anvils and Upper wheel. All look good. Wheels are treated with Cosmoline or some thing like that, and takes a bit to wash off. Bearings seemed a little dry, so I packed grease into them. Now I'm just waiting for the frame and planisher.

The springs that go between the jaws on the shrinker needed to be stretched a little to get a better bite on the material. Works great.

Will post more later.

 

Note: Modesto Ca. store has both the english wheel and the planisher in stock ( you will have to ask to see it and it helps if you bring the item number)

 

Be sure to post some pics of what the wheel and planisher will do. I'm curious to see how it works out.

 

What it'll do, and what I can do with it may be two different things...
but I'll post what I can.

Been playing with the shrinker and stretcher. So much fun! Can make tons of **** with these.

Stll waiting on the E-wheel frame and the planisher.

Will post more...

 

Sawzawll knows what he's talking about,.....!
Believe me!

As far as manufacturing,....yes, overseas ****s,....but then again I don't have a cool grand to hand to a guy just to make a few patch panels now and then as needed for my own projects. If I were to get into a samll business myself, THEN I would start investing my money, BUT then again, my machines would be made by myself,....not another.

I'm glad HF has so much to offer us in the hobby. Synthesis had a good point,....it gives us low buck guys something to learn with.

So, lets have some fun!!

 

I am starting a buisness, and will need to make panels.. once in a while. I spent my money on things like a lift, nice welder, tools, plasma, lumber for work benches, office supplies....

I'm sure you can see how it all adds up. Not to mention all the fees and permits I've had to pay for in the last couple weeks.

I'm not gonna be using this thing on a daily basis.
This is not to say that I'm not gonna buy a "real" wheel down the road. I'm just looking to pay the bills. till I can buy one offa one of our MetalMeet buddies...

 

so has anyone used one of these yet?

 

i actually seen one the other day at harbor freight and it looked pretty good and sturdy...but i didnt realize it was that cheap or i would have bought it.

 

Mine is ordered, should ship this week.

 

Well. I went and visited my local HF store and ordered both the English wheel , kit along with the shrinker stretcher, should be in by this weekend, yeah

 

been down in fl for the past 3 months and needed to buy a ramp for my truck and found a HF local to where i was. walking around the store i saw the e wheel and checked it out.

this is what I found:

bearing in upper and lower wheels
frame could use some help
ajuster for lower wheel is **** and does not keep lower in line with upper
they have a tumb screw to lock ajuster but still has some wiggle in lower axle

will you be able to make patch panels with it yes
can people using this weld panel in with out warping and covering with plastic ??????
will you be able to make a decent panel bigger then 18x18 no


when it comes down to it i would rather use a stump and a few good hammers then spend the time to make this work.

 

the store in Lancaster pa has the english wheel and the planishing hammer in the store now both look to be good quality

 

punkabilly.. to answer your question..

yes I am using the ANVILS..

because I already had built my own frame..

 

Picked mine up the other day - have not had a chance to even get it out of the box though. They were out of stock on the anvils and I need to order them. Shipping up here's a killer - we don't have Harbor Freight in Canada. I'll post again once I've tried it out.

Steve

 

We have a E-wheel just like that one here in Sweden. The only diffrence is that its blue.. It works allright for beginners and middle pros. But its like with everything cheap made.. You get what you pay for and nothing more. And when the frame on this wheel starts to flex you should take that as a warning signal for having the lower wheel to much tighten. This tool can help you to make your own panels and stuff like that but remember that the tools needs someone that can operate it since it wont make the panels itself. And to be abled to operate a tool you need to learn how to use it and for that, This wheel is perfect.

When your new, dont blame the tool. blame yourself and dont give up. Else you'll fail.

 

Any updates on this product from the people that bought one?I'm waiting to see opinions on whether or not to buy.

 

My buddy ordered one and it's just about like I thought. It's pretty much a wiggly turd out of the box, but it can be made right. We welded the whole frame together after squaring it up and getting it as close to right as we could. The upper and lower anvils run true but the up/down adjustment and the cam lever adjuster are a little hokey. I beat out a compound curve into a piece of 18 ga. and the wheel shaped it up pretty decent.

For the average hillbilly working in his garage its probably going to get the job done without going broke., but by no means is it a high quality piece of metal shaping equipment.

 

Any added info on this thing?

 

Has anyone actually took delivery of this and tryed it?? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

I've been using mine some, made a repair panel for the rear quarter on my '31 Chevy today as a matter of fact. The biggest problem with mine was the way it was packaged for shipping, had some parts missing when it arrived. HF offered to send a complete replacement, but I just fabricated the missing parts so I could try it out. I checked the runout on the wheel and anvils, all of them were within .002 -pretty decent.The top and bottom yokes all slightly out of alingment, haven't fixed that yet, I will eventually. You can certanilly put enough pressure on it to flex the frame but it will work as is. Is it as good as a $1000 tool? Hell no. Anybody who expects that is an idiot. Am I satisfied with it for what it cost? Yes.

 

time for somebody to do the side by side on film and post it. $1000 machine or the $2600 machine. bet i could make both of them work like ****! when i was done you couldn't tell which one did what panel.

 

and look- it's on sale for $259.99 this week!!


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95359

 

Is the lower anvil set they sell for $79.99 all radius anvils or are they flats?

 

If you want an English Wheel you need to buy it from England. Try this;

http://www.justinbaker.co.uk

 

I went on down the local HB shop and took a real good look at this attempt of a shop aid. It will be good only if used on real light sheat, no more then 1/8th inch thick stuff. And it can only be used with time on the rollers. Youcan not take this unit and compair it to one of those units that have a 12" thick foot and throat cast frame. Remember, this is a lite shop aid for doing lite thin stuff. This is like compairing a Hugo to a Corvette everyone. Just looking at this unit says, and screams out to you, lite thin stuff only.
Damn put this blog to rest........I would buy it just for doing things like making air cleaners and funky light shells and such. Not for doing no .250" armour plate for the war wagon....lol.......need flames for that kind of forming........lol......

Maximo

 

Well, good news. I finally got my english wheel after (2) back orders and 3 months.

I quickly put it together and wheeled some 18 ga. mild steel and some 19 ga annealed stuff left over from the HAMB Chop.

I have to say, im very impressed. It tracks down the middle straight and is pretty solid after all the "adjustments" are tightened up. (lead screw and "tensioner".) It doesnt "crease" the metal at all, a nice smooth transition.

It's not wobbly to say the least, very solid. The arch is made of heavy gauge steel, and the feet (which are already punched for casters) are made of lighter gauge box'ed steel.

Its a heavy beast.

Here are a few picts.

I cant wait to really use this thing for some real panel work Im very happy for now.

 

Hey you AU HAMBERS...
how come Bunnings dont sell these??? Where can I get a HB special??

 

HAY My son in law bought one and it paid for its self the first job he did with it.I hope to make som patch panels with it. will get some pic of it at work soon as i get my 49 out of the weeds and start somebody work. Lee