I just got a catolgue the other day and they had a Central Machinery English wheel and a planishing hammer. Has anyone seen or experienced one? I know; You get what you pay for........
The wheels are crap but I've heard if you spend the time to polish them, and brace the crap out of the frame it's passable for learning. Try checking out metalmeet.com to learn more.
I spent a lot of time to try and get the wheels on mine to line up, They really need a lot of work to get them decent. Mine has been sitting while I've been working on other things. I'll probably sell it on craigslist and get this one... http://www.wttool.com/product-exec/product_id/39564/nm/English_Wheel Much better all the way around....
i bought a planishing hammer returned it the next day i'd say dont waste your time trying to make it work build your own, buy a good one or do it by hand i can do alot better job with a hammer and dollie then the harbor freight tool more then anything it wasnt controlable enough to hold a tolerance if you just wana beat up metal into shapes it might be good....but if your trying to make a somewhat accurate part....stay away from them
a friend of mine just bought the english wheel . on his the wheels don't line up either and will need to be reworked. also, the adjusting screw was wrong and he had to get them to replace it . i think it could be fine..just needs some work
You could give these guys a call. http://www.lowbucktools.com/MM1.html I have been looking at these for a while.
The guys on some other sites have pretty decent things to say about the planishing hammer. Seems like there was a bad batch/production run on them, but most are supposedly worth the $100 or so when it's on sale. I saw one in the store, and it looked like better quality than the usual HF stuff. The e-wheel next to it looked like a big yellow turd.
$539 is very reasonable for that! Any idea of the quality??? LOOKS good and functional. That price tag always makes me wonder though...
There is a Wholesale Tool around the corner from my office, I get stuff there sometimes. A lot of it is China junk just like HF; the English wheel they had on display there looked to be. I have heard of guys spending a lot of time and effort on them to make them work really well, but I plan to just buy a good one in the future. China tools suck.
Who chose the sizes for the anvil wheels on this thing ? 90-degree swivel head Flat upper roll measures 2.25" W x 6" D Bottom roll sizes: 1/8-, 1/2-, and 3/4-inch edge radius by 6-inch crown radius Flat with 5/16-by-1/4-inch step 1.55" W x 0.65" D groove 0.82" W x .065" D groove Two flat rolls Detailed instruction manual included Absolutely HORRIBLE selection of anvil wheel profiles. Even if they are made correctly. The HF selection of profiles is better,even if the quality is poor. Swivel head is a GOOD idea,assuming the lower yoke also swivels. Judging by the overall size and weight,the frame isn't stiff enough. The big gussets on the corners are eye candy. The quick release is a good idea,assuming it is machined nicely, the long handle is awkward to use. The foot wheel is too small. ---------------------------------------------------------------- For the price of the HF POS, plus this POS, then screwing around trying to "fix" them, you could make a decent one. LOTS of good info available online,about English Wheel design and construction.No need to buy CRAP because you don't know any better. Detailed pictures of the ones I have built on www.Allshops.org
I am not an E- wheel guy. I prefer a power hammer, but I too was looking at the wheel selection and laughed my butt off. I think they forgot it was an E wheel and supplied bead roll dies with it instead. What a joke! The frame on either one is a totally weak pos. Save your ducketts and build one yourself. Even if you are not that great a fabricator, you will still have a better product in the end. Tim @ www.irrationalmetalworks.com
How would a massaged (line up the rolls) HF E-wheel work for a guy who works almost exclusively in .040" aluminum ?
I bought one a few weeks ago. Pretty damn good for the price. There was a thread about reworking the lever and polishing the wheels. Did that. No complaints at all. I also bought the accessory wheels. I put casters and and floor brakes on it too. Definatly not a professional tool, but it'll last a lifetime for me. Pat
That's all we fucking need, they are already stealing designs and shitting out cheap copies. Here I go again!
HF won't do a cast frame machine for a few simple reasons. Too heavy.Increased shipping costs. Too expensive;compared to their regular cheap shit unit. If anyone really wants a cast English Wheel, Trident Tool in Canada makes them. You might have seen it on TV,at Mat Hotch's shop. But don't expect to get one at Horrible Freight prices.
I just thought it would be nice if you guys saw an ENGLISH wheel You really need anything more than photos to get the idea and cast one? It's pretty simple. If I remember right this cost US$1800 with three wheels and the stand The axel in the top wheel means you can make dies and use it like a giant Pexto roller And I am an American
ok so having castings done in china is not so popular here in north america, and i'm not about to take on the project of having e-wheels cast there, even though i have had some experence with china castings, someone i'm dam sure is allready looking into it, and if they, china, were giving the correct specs, tolerances and clearances they would be as good as anyones. the only reason that the HF e-wheels are the way they are is because they are built exactly how HF wants them, if not they would be refused and shipped back. i have a casting project coming up and while i'm working with the foundry i'll ask for a quote on casting e=wheel frames, the foundry in in Vancouver BC.
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