I'm considering buying a English wheel that a saw on ebay. It is made by jet and I am wondering how good of quality it is. It is not a cheap piece of equipment so I would like to know if it is worth paying for. as I stated before it is a Jet 756151 WH-45T. Any information would be appreciated.thanks
I'd have a look on metalmeet.com, I'm my opinion the only way to go is to buy a kit front Hoosier patterns and build the c frame yourself of 4x8 1/4 wall tubing. An English wheel needs to be stiff. The ones at harber freight are junk, you end up working 2 times as hard to get the same shape in panel that's wheeled in a better machine. If you have the skills, you can build a great machine for the cost to buy any average jet English wheel
This topic has been Beaton to death over on metal meet.com. Check them out you'll be happy you did
I'd have a look on metalmeet.com, I'm my opinion the only way to go is to buy a kit front Hoosier patterns and build the c frame yourself of 4x8 1/4 wall tubing. An English wheel needs to be stiff. The ones at harber freight are junk, you end up working 2 times as hard to get the same shape in panel that's wheeled in a better machine. If you have the skills, you can build a great machine for the cost to buy any average jet English wheel
This topic has been Beaton to death over on metal meet.com. Check them out you'll be happy you did
And the very interesting fact is if you don't have the skills to EASILY make an english wheel frame, you don't have the skills to use the english wheel! :drunk:
That's not an accurate statement. I'm not accustomed to building english wheel frames but can use an english wheel.
As far as English wheels go, I'm not impressed with the Grizzly. I will get a HF wheel and have the wheels machined to avoid tracking. I don't think I will need to strengthen it but not so much to worry about either. I do like the idea of making your own frame though but I'm doing it as a hobby and this hobby is expensive enough as it is. I'll gladly take a HF english wheel and wheel away. If I get the fancy shmancy $5,000 english wheels it must mean I'm getting paid to do it as a job.
I'd like to make a point here....Before you start making a an E wheel..... USE one or buy the cheap HF Ewheel with all the dollys....and get to know the tool........THEN go ahead and make a better one....for two reasons....I'm a guy that looks at something like that and says :heck I can make THAT...and I can and it will LOOK just like it...but if I had I'd have made a big mistake ,first off it wouldnt have worked very well using a floor jack wheel as a dolly wheel (but it would LOOK just like it) and the upper wheel well....I wont even get into that....
Secondly if you cant scrape together 200 - 300.00 for the HF E wheel you certainly cant afford the good wheels you need for a good one.so building a frame would be useless without the good wheels not knowing how it works or how to use one make building one a bad idea....like building a rocket ship from a picture, it may look like one but a pilot would have a better chance because of his experiance..........Now, I'm not saying you have to be a rocket scientist to beat and roll a piece of metal into shape but getting the shape you WANT takes a little experiance. first you need to know if the tool is working or not
I don't think there's a rule book stating you have to make english wheel frames to get your certificate at english wheeling. I see one to be like Carpentry and one to be more artsy, that's all.
truth is, none of us here are real fabricators with the exception of Pugs. He's literally fabbing up a car as we speak. I often hear advice that's way overboard for the experience of the guy asking, not that I know this guy doesn't have experience, but all too often asking the questions means to hear the roar of "buy USA only", "buy this $5000 english wheel or you're doomed", "don't buy a china bead roller, buy a $3000 American one". I'm just here to share my experiences and say, "here's the proof, you don't need to spend your life away to get started on a new hobby."
I agree Pugs is an amazing dude and fabricator extraordinaire. But just about every single person on this forum is a "fabricator", we are all on different levels that's all. You for instance are fabricating that gas tank, YOU are a fabricator too. To make that english wheel frame is about as basic fabrication as you are going to get. And frankly, it is much easier than the fabrication you are doing right now. It's different than sheetmetal but it is MUCH more basic, nothing much to think about at all, measure out tubing, cut it and weld it together. It doesn't take the thinking that tank you are making takes that's for sure.
You are dead right that we don't know the guys skill level, but what better way than to make something like this english wheel frame to get your feet wet. There are plans all over for it, I have some myself that I bought 25 years ago.
Just a few of MANY found in one click of the mouse.
I recommend stuff like this because it's a great way to get your feet wet with some tubing. It's not like making a frame for a car where you and your families safety is at risk.
You are right my comment may be a bit much and smart assish, sorry about that. I just figure we all need a push sometimes.
You have some very good points there Mike.:thumbup: I know I have a "Low buck tools" (I think it was low bucks) wheel, it taught me one thing pretty quick, if I want to do this I need a MUCH better wheel! I improved it with a new lower wheel and mounting, I added bearings to both upper and lower, it's a LOT better better but still a mile from a quality English wheel.
It was frustrating as all heck trying to create something with that cheap POC, I called it a "Bead roller" because it's lower anvil wheel was so narrow it put beads more than doing what a real english wheel would do.
But I certainly respect what you are saying because like me, I got going with this stuff and then stopped (life got in the way) and I got a good taste without spending a bunch of money. But damn if I were to have continued fabbing making a new quality English wheel would have been a MUST. If I had spent all the money and time making a good one and stopped like I did, that would have sucked! At least I got a good taste of it with the cheaper one. Like I said, very good points you made. :thumbup:
I got my HF wheel for less than 200. and used the heck out of it.It came with the most curved anvil and it really streached the metal but I knew I needed a flat one and went out and paid another 100. for all the wheels (six I think) and for a few years now its been fantastic and did what ever I needed ,the thicker steel took a lot longer though...a nicer wheel sure would be a big help but I cant see spending all that money right now when I need so many other tools to further my metal shaping intrests ...I have tossed around the idea of making a nicer frame and using my HF wheels though...That would be an improvement ....I was in HF the other day and looked at the new E wheels and they've made many improvements since I bought mine I wish I could trade it in....and lets face it many of us wont get to a level where a really good E wheel is a must so I highly recomend the HF wheel its done great by me and got things done I never could do before,it really opened the door for me. and I just dont need a better one right now but making a better frame will be about all I'll ever really need.
You do have good points. You know, that one you have is guaranteed for life! Bring it back, say it doesn't work well anymore, the wheels wore out or what ever and they will give you a new one......just saying. I have brought back a few things, they didn't question it a bit.
I think you guys are getting the point about learning to do these things.. Start out with a few cheap tools and some time and get on with pounding metal into shape. As you grow your skills then better tools will come along. As far as metal shaping is concerned one can do it with a stump a ball peen hammer and a slapper or two and then progress to better tools. A lot of guys think they have to have all the fancy pro tools to do anything at all which is not true. the pro guy who has a full shop aquired all those tools over time as his skills and interests grew..
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