Dad and son from the Netherlands
 

Cheers,

My name is Frank and I'm working with my son Bram (8y) every Saturday on all kinds of projects but mainly on our replica Cobra and Super Seven. Both engines and upholstery is something we address.

Both cars are made of polyester (plastic fantastic) and we're in the process of learning about metal shaping the old school way. I've followed a basic metal shaping coarse that ended with a very short introduction on the English Wheel.

I'm intrigued by everything regarding panel shaping as it was done in the early days on the old racing Cobra's etc. I've bought a very simple and small English wheel and a planishing hammer to start with small panels.

I've found that there are so many different ways of shaping a panel that I hope to find some on this forum that fits my capabilities. I'm a novice so it'll take a while for me to give something sensible back to the forum :-)

Kind regards,

Frank (and Bram)

Frank, welcome and thanks for the nice introduction. Lots of information here to help you with shaping sheet metal. If you have questions, just ask and someone will try to help you. Thanks for joining us.

welcome bram and frank
allot info to find here i like you are working together hope to do the same when my son is a little older

Welcome to the forum. Lots of info can be found here and lots of dutch interest in metal shaping.
Btw; did you buy the wheel in the netherlands? If so what did you buy?

Hi Frank and welcome!:)

Hello Frank and welcome to the forum. You do not need a workshop full of machines to shape panels. It is possibel to make just about anything with a few hand tools. Machines will speed things up sometimes but I feel sometimes machines are used when simple hand methods are quicker. It often depends on whether you are making one or two or a batch of the part. A wheeling machine will speed things up and you can do just about anything else by hand and get machines as you feel the need.

David

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for the warm welcome. I'm on a tight budget but some investments are to be made.

I once bought a very cheap English wheel air hammer combo (at HBM machines in the Netherlands) for under 300 dollars. I think the thing's very bad but for an introduction to the principals it serves it's purpose. I'm working with aluminum and for small panels I manage. But now I'm looking into investing based upon 2 options:
- A small cast iron Frost wheeling machine (big investment)
- A harbor version of the Lazze wheeling machine (1/5 investment of the Frost machine)

My gut tells me to do it right the first time but the investment might be ridiculous for a hobby.

Anyways, today I've practiced with the English wheel. I'm also trying to build a wooden forming tool to make a Cobra Turkey pan. A Turkey pan looked like a simple job but to do it tight needs some practice on my part. But I won't stop till I get it right.

Kind regards,

Frank

E-wheel
 

Hi Frank,

i think you are talking about the E-wheel that Vocor=tools sells,

It is not a bad wheel for the money and i think it can do the same as the Lazze wheel.

You could also build your own from tubing and buy the Upper wheel and the lower anvils.

There is a lot of info about wheels in this and other forums.

Good luck

Ben

Hi frank!

Welcome here, i have the vocor wheel too.
I didn't use it much but have good hopes for it, and its good value for the money i think.

Goog luck with the project!

Cheers

Hi Jeroen,

Doe you have the C-shaped version (blue) or the quare type (green)?

Kind regards,

Frank