English Wheel - Modification

This is for Tools - Homemade or Modified or tools used to make your plane building easier
Post Reply
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
I kept "eying" the English Wheel at HF...

Finally, One day I went in to buy something else... and noticed the English Wheel on sale.

I could have used it EARLIER on my project... But it still came in VERY HANDY...

Since my shop doesn't have much space... "Tucking" the tool out of the way , matters...

But, Getting it out to use it should be easy... It "is" a little heavy and awkward...

I used two shopping cart wheels... ( the rear "straight" ones )

It doesn't sit on the wheels, But when I pull forward on the tool, it acts like a "Hand Truck"

It moves around very easy...
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
This next "Tip" wasn't my idea... I saw an English wheel demonstrated at an EAA meeting.

Something that impressed me was the modification of putting a Soft Rubber Wheel in place

of the 8" STEEL wheel... I've used this set up more than any...

The Rubber Wheel let's you put a curve / radius to something without "Dishing" it....

English wheels distort metal in a "Bowl" direction...

The Rubber wheel will let you run a length of aluminum down it ,

and curve it Like a Leading Edge...

It was handy making my Cowling...

Something I'll add later , an adjustable arm , that chokes up the throat...

Since it "is" a cheap English Wheel... The Tubing "Throat" will "give"...

A adjustable arm to strengthen this effect could slide out of the way more...

If more throat is needed... The more you Choke up on the throat... the less it would flex.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
PS One more "Mod" I found during research... The Roll pin that acts as a "Stop" on the

tension arm... it stops the arm at the peak of adjustment...

If you want more or less pressure... Turn adjuster while the pressure is off...

You can see the "Roll Pin" at the lower part of the picture.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Here's what it looked like... Not bad to assemble...

If you buy the English Wheel...

Don't forget the accessory package of Radius Dies...

Honesty... I don't know WHY they are separate...

You need the whole set-up...
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

Hey Guys ,
Some scrap pieces of plate seemed to fall in place to make this a quick project .
This one already had the hole in it .
.
I taped it up for light tack welding ...and more clearance .
Since the tube isn't flat, a plate will distribute the load , so it's used for set-up now .
.
A little Pre heat , a little welding.
I'm welding the nut all the way around ,
all the force will be focused on that point .
The bottom bolt is just a pin , with side load.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Hey Guys ,
Ooooops... My set-up was too tight , I didn't allow for SHRINKAGE .
I don't want a smaller plate ( the floater )
I don't want to grind on my freshly painted parts ...
.
So a smaller pin would be more than strong enough ,
Finding a smaller bolt was painless .
.
I found a nail to use as a " T " , I ground the head a little and with a propane torch ,
I peened the other end until it wouldn't slide thru the hole in the bolt head .
.
My wheels didn't square up before ...Now , not only does this stop a LOT of flex ,
I can also use it to MATCH the wheels ...this is probably most important with the FLAT die.
(Another way is with pieces of paper in the saddle where the Die fits into , tilting it . The old way .)
.
This is easy to move ...I figure I probably don't need it choked up too close .
Or it's easy to take off.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Hey Guys,
The tube will still flex ...but it's a lot less than before .
The " T " adjusting bolt has a PINCH to spare according to wheels aliening with each other .
.
If I need more length / adjustment , I'll weld a spot of silicon bronze on the bolt .
.
I'll be wanting to run this as close as I can ...as long as it's not in the way .
I'll know more as it's needed .
I was testing it on some scrap aluminum ,
I think it was worth the time making it .
.
The yellow stripes might help...pinch point , or just scratching your work ...
.
When the support is choked up this close , there is no flex , it is very solid .
I bet most of my work is IN this Throat range ...?
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
User avatar
planecrazzzy
Site Admin
Posts: 1154
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:23 pm
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: English Wheel - Modification

Post by planecrazzzy »

.
Seems the frame isn't quite square ...
I needed to make the tool fit it's "range"
I need the plate to push against the tube , so I made the bottom holes into "slots" .
I dropped each hole 1/16" , this was enough to fill the range of settings
My adjustment bolt was too short , I made a new one ...re-drilled another bolt .
This time I made the " T " handle with a hardened material , the nail I was using was a little weak.
I soldered a penny on it , hmmm
.
I "pointed" the adjustment bolt , and put a divot in the push plate .
This stopped it from walking while tightening it.
.
Gotta Fly...
.
.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Sometimes you just have to take the leap
and build your wings on the way down...
                Gotta Fly...
Post Reply

Return to “Tools”