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Harbor freight english wheel

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jroc0801, Apr 18, 2011.

  1. Jroc0801
    Joined: Dec 23, 2010
    Posts: 76

    Jroc0801
    Member
    from Katy Tx

    Has anybody every purchased a harbor freight English wheel is worth it and does it work decent I'm on a budget thanks
     
  2. badshifter
    Joined: Apr 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,535

    badshifter
    Member

  3. skyrodder
    Joined: May 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,925

    skyrodder
    Member

    man we just talked about this at your house, do a search, we would have to work on it to make it work right...
     
  4. skyrodder
    Joined: May 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,925

    skyrodder
    Member


  5. ScottV
    Joined: Jul 18, 2009
    Posts: 818

    ScottV
    Member

    I got my finger crushed in one last weekend at the store F***ing with it ?:p
     
  6. Ruiner
    Joined: May 17, 2004
    Posts: 4,141

    Ruiner
    Member

    Nope, nobody's ever bought one...ever...they just display them in the store with a price tag for the hell of it...and we've never discussed it on here either...hell, none of us even know what an English wheel does, except for those British blokes...sorry...
     
  7. Jroc0801
    Joined: Dec 23, 2010
    Posts: 76

    Jroc0801
    Member
    from Katy Tx

    Wow ruiner thanks pal it was just a question I forgot to search before I posted
     
  8. skyrodder
    Joined: May 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,925

    skyrodder
    Member

    pinche rookie!
     
  9. LabRat
    Joined: Jan 10, 2008
    Posts: 1,551

    LabRat
    Member

    DO A SEARCH ... Goddammit !!!
     
  10. Ravenwood
    Joined: Feb 26, 2009
    Posts: 237

    Ravenwood
    Member
    from Texas

    Don't do that again, or we'll take you down to HB and run your finger through an English wheel... and you'll squeal. :D
     
  11. Ruiner
    Joined: May 17, 2004
    Posts: 4,141

    Ruiner
    Member

    I thought the dripping sarcasm was obvious...I'm just busting your chops man :p...hahaha...
     
  12. do a search, hahahaha , he is.....
     
  13. Jroc0801
    Joined: Dec 23, 2010
    Posts: 76

    Jroc0801
    Member
    from Katy Tx

    Boy oh boy I love the H.A.M.B.
     
  14. Jroc0801
    Joined: Dec 23, 2010
    Posts: 76

    Jroc0801
    Member
    from Katy Tx

    I'll just go to sleep now I forget I even asked
     
  15. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I looked at one yesterday in the store in Richland, Wa and it would do for me even if I had to do a few modifications.

    There was a guy on Ebay selling some nice looking wheels to put on your own English wheel but I just checked and he hasn't sold any for quite a while.

    The HF unit is probably best viewed as one of the learn with and outgrow units unless you modify it to meet your needs. One of these days when it's on sale I'll be looking for the how to modify one threads.
     
  16. kenb
    Joined: Sep 19, 2008
    Posts: 89

    kenb
    Member Emeritus

    Lots of people buy them, but I can honestly say that I've never heard a good review from anybody who knows much about english wheels. The frames are flimsy (way too flimsy), and the runout on the upper wheel and anvils often leaves them un-usable right out of the box. Many guys have to cut the yokes apart so they can weld them back on straight so the wheels meet on the same plane, the adjuster is sloppy, etc, the list is endless.

    A reasonable comparison would be buying one of those 110 volt welders that can't generate enough heat to weld anything.

    I don't know where you are located, but it would be a big advantage if you had the opportunity to try out a real english wheel first. I'd suggest signing up at one or all of the metalshaping websites, as these guys are having metalshaping events all over the place these days (Texas included), where rookies are quite welcome to drop over to try the equipment out first hand. If you luck out and find an event near you, I guarantee that you will never be tempted to look at the HF stuff again. While you are on the sites, you'll also find lots of valuable details to be aware of before buying a wheel.

    If you don't have them around already, I'd suggest taking that same money and buying a nice set of hammers, slappers, and dollies instead of one of those wheels. You'll still be using them to do the same thing many years from now, and you will be much happier with them in the long haul. :)

    Ken
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2011
  17. badshifter
    Joined: Apr 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,535

    badshifter
    Member

    You could always build one instead of buying it....
    Built Not Bought...
    Hmm, where did I get that idea from???
     
  18. 1ton
    Joined: Dec 3, 2010
    Posts: 688

    1ton
    Member

    Geez guys...Is everyone fightin with the ole lady tonight or what?
     
  19. rancid737
    Joined: Feb 22, 2011
    Posts: 219

    rancid737
    Member

    check out some Lasse videos and you'll understand why an english wheel is not a harbor freight item...
     
  20. slddnmatt
    Joined: Mar 30, 2006
    Posts: 3,685

    slddnmatt
    Member

    be better off with the one that Ian Berkey has...he said it works pretty good and doesnt brake the bank.
     
  21. JohnnyP.
    Joined: Aug 3, 2005
    Posts: 1,301

    JohnnyP.
    Member


    im doing a search in just a min, but where did you find him stating what one he has? i love his work by the way.
     
  22. Geeze.
    I'm still on the first post trying to figure out where each sentence starts and finishes so I can understand the question. If, indeed, it is a question ... :D
     
  23. Rehpotsirhcj
    Joined: May 7, 2006
    Posts: 1,440

    Rehpotsirhcj
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Northwest HAMBers

    I haven't built one of these yet, but it seems like a great way learn a bit about an english wheel without having to buy a pos out of the gate.
     

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  24. Soviet
    Joined: Sep 4, 2005
    Posts: 729

    Soviet
    Member

    . <- That is a period.
    , <- That is a comma.

    Please use them.
     
  25. Blacksmith54
    Joined: Aug 27, 2006
    Posts: 84

    Blacksmith54
    Member
    from Phoenix AZ

    I made my own out of some tubing I bought from the metal yard and some ball bearings from a scrap yard along with the receiver hitch tube from a trailer hitch and it works good. So well that I have started a second one for a larger project I have in mind.:cool:
     

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  26. RichG
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 3,919

    RichG
    Member

    Fightin' with the old lady? Dude, I've never even MET your old lady!:confused:
     
  27. silentpoet
    Joined: Sep 27, 2009
    Posts: 207

    silentpoet
    Member
    from NWA

    From Harbor Freight, wouldn't it be a Chinese wheel?
     
  28. AAFD
    Joined: Apr 13, 2010
    Posts: 585

    AAFD
    Member
    from US of A

    I got mine from a blacksmith who realized he'd never use it. It was new in the box and came with an extra upper wheel. The frame is decent, but I welded up all the bolted joints to make it stronger. I also welded the big HF planishing hammer to the backside of it and added a big 1/4" thick bridged gusset between the two. I also put two wheels on the legs so I can lift up one end and roll it around the shop easily. The dies and upper wheel need to be polished to keep from marring thin material. The fixtures are a little loose and the tension clamp is hokey, but with a little work it's a good unit. There's tons of information on the internet about upgrading these E-Wheels. Lots of folks would rather build their own, but for the price of the dies and upper wheel, you can buy the entire HF E-wheel with the dies and still have money leftover for lunch. For a guy who uses his occasionally, it's a good deal and it will get the job done without breaking the bank. I've learned my lesson in buying expensive tools only to find out I don't use them enough to justify spending a fortune on them. I've played with a friends Lazze and really couldn't tell the difference between the two. That's just my two cents.
     
  29. fbama73
    Joined: Jul 12, 2008
    Posts: 989

    fbama73
    Member

    I think the guy you're referring to is Joe Andrews from Hoosier Pattern. I bought an upper wheel and lower anvils from him, and I can attest that they are truly the shit! The claim he makes is that his wheels will have .001" of runout or less. I checked mine as soon as they came: 2 had .001" runout, 3 had .0005 runout, and the other two were dead nut!

    They're nicely hardened, so the wheels actually shape the sheetmetal, not the other way around. And I even ran some low grade stainless sheet through mine.

    If you find him selling, I HIGHLY recommend his wheels.
     
  30. robleticia
    Joined: Oct 15, 2007
    Posts: 2,496

    robleticia
    Member

    Racrdad got one from northern tool, a little more $ than horrible freight, but its a nice wheel. Here is a picture of it in MY garage! :eek: WHAT???? Somebody had to try it out!!!!:cool:
     

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