English Wheel Users?

[ALANSD]

Saw two great shows last night on tv about guys building custom cars with aluminum bodies. One was an awesome 1000HP monster that looked like a 30's race car, but is 22 feet long and weighed 8500lbs.

Jay Leno added it to his huge collection.

The second show spotlighted a guy who was making his parts out of aluminum and shaping them on an English wheel. Just curious...anyone here using that method of creating and shaping metal?
I really enjoyed seeing the results of their efforts, especially the shiny riveted now Leno owned auto.

[smily]

I watched that show. That was incredible how they take raw material and skill and make artwork.

A craft that is performed with passion indeed.

Smily

[markdoane]

I saw that show also. A while back Jesse James made a really neat aluminum fuel tank for one of his motorcycles. Started out with a sheet of aluminum, heated it with a torch to soften it, pounded into rough shape with shotbag and a mallet, then finished it off on the wheel. Really neat.

[Tripp]

Haven't used one yet, but have been considering buying one from Eastwood. It'd be really neat to make my own parts. I can probably get by with a sliproll for now though.

Tripp

[markdoane]

Tripp,
When you get your english wheel, can you make me a cowling for my air conditioner? I want it to look like the intake scoop on a F-16, but inverted.

[ALANSD]

HEY WOULDN'T AN ALUMINUM AIRSTREAM LOOKING A/C SHROUD BE WAY COOL??
THE POSSIBLILITES ARE ENDLESS, BUT UNFORUNATELY FOR ME THE ABILITY IS PRESENTLY LACKING

[Tripp]

Markdoane,

Too cool/funny!

Won't that scoop cut your mileage down? Or did you want it backwards too?

I was thinking som nice bulbous fender flares would be just the ticket! I could then put dually wheels on it!


Tripp

[wahoonc]

Originally posted by ALANSD
HEY WOULDN'T AN ALUMINUM AIRSTREAM LOOKING A/C SHROUD BE WAY COOL??
THE POSSIBLILITES ARE ENDLESS, BUT UNFORUNATELY FOR ME THE ABILITY IS PRESENTLY LACKING

Alan,
I have one of my shop guys working on a design for mine right now out of aluminum. After we proto type it, I will post pictures, we might just make them available on a limited basis.

Aaron

[amfab]

check this site out

http://www.tinmantech.com/

for metal works stuff

especialy beautiful is the Hughes racer replica they made
-AM

[ALANSD]

YEAH GO AARON.. I was thinking rounded edges, louvered, and able to cover the standard a/c unit. Man it would be so much groovier than a plastic white blob.

[wahoonc]

Alan,
our first prototype looked like something out of Battle Star Galactica, all sharp edges and weld lines, kind of a utilitarian look. We are going back thru again and playing with the curves. I may just have to buy and English wheel to play with and see what we can come up with. The guy in our shop is unbelievable when it comes to welding and what can be done with a piece of sheet metal.

Aaron

[ALANSD]

I sure liked that tin man site. The repair jobs he has done to aluminum bodied cars are quite the thing. I guess aluminitus is not restricted to us here on the forum.

[roger n cindy]

my son just added an english wheel to our shop, were having a ball and learning a thing or two as time permits, keep your fingers out of the wheel was lesson one. its an art is number two. roger n cindy