Strengthening my English Wheel.

Time to beef up my English Wheel. This is your typical fabricated frame and works well enough so long as you are gentle with how much pressure you use and not aggressive with working it fast. Neighbour across the road gave me a lintel that was 100x75x10, 4"x3"x3/8" angle.

Looking around to finish the rest of the frame, I thought what is left of my donor Willys Truck frame that would do the job. This job be using what I have on hand to get the best results possible. When wheeling aggressively I noticed the top of the frame would twist back and forth. Much like what happens with single plate bead rollers.

The movement caused the upper and lower wheels to move away from being directly above each other which altered the pressure. Then when you changed direction at the end of each stroke, it would rise back over the centred highest pressure point and back off the other side causing waves in the panel. Using the chassis's already arc shape worked out well. Used the last bit of angle iron to strengthen the bottom joint which you want nice and stiff.

Found some old box under my Dad's house that I had stored there in 1986 when I used to work in the structural steel trade! Been a while since I had run a long continuous pass like the corner weld too in heavy metal! The box was cut into two angle pieces to box the angle which is all I had left of that too. Used the remaining pieces of the chassis to box the lower member.

The lower anvil adjuster boss was boxed to stop it from any twist as well. By just picking the right spot to cut the chassis where is goes from 4" to 5" section, and where it arcs and bends, the top member worked out so well. Looks like it was made for it!

Can see the back of the frame where the original frame is sandwiched in between and the bracing is now on the outside of the frame. Using up 8 cans of left over spray paint from my Father's place, it is back in white. Not sure why he had so many half used cans, and white, but will remind me of him now when I use it. :)

Rather than just a set screw, I have made this adjuster up so I can lock the lower into place to stop any movement here as well. I'm sure I am not the only one that has a draw of old stickers, and raided it to 'dress it up' a bit! ;)

Think I got a bit carried away! Time will tell if I have not over done the bracing as too stiff a frame means a lot more adjusting of the wheel if there is no spring left in the frame to raise over the biggest lumps. That is what makes a well designed cast frame better, but they are way outside my price range. I try to make the best of what I have after lots of observation and research to where the strength needs to be. I have been using it on hard stainless and so far and very pleased with the large improvement and the speed I can work at now. Good consistent feel now as well and can shape much faster with much more response to pressure changes.

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