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Hi guys, I am keen to start building custom motorcycles. I live in Cape Town , South Africa and would like to get in touch with metalworkers in our country to find out where I can buy tools/machinery.

Hi Deon and welcome! :)

Hi Deon, welcome.

When I saw your name, I was certain you came from my country. There are a handful of us shapers in SA. In Stellenbosch, there's an experienced metal shaper, Barry Ashmole, who runs courses etc. I'm sure he'll write a welcome as he's active on this site.

If you let the forum know what you're looking for in tools / materials, we'd be glad to share what we know.

hi Deon welcome I am from Strand. I will chat more later

Welcome to All Metalshaping Deon

Thanks for the kind welcome guys

Hi Deon and welcome to allmetalshaping.

David

Hi Will(nie dalk Afrikaansprekend nie?) . Can you help me to get hold of shaping equipment i.e. english wheel?

regards

Deon

Hi and welcome Deon!

Not too much available locally in the way of equipment. Adendorf (sp?) have an e-wheel/planishing hammer combo> I haven't seen one yet but I doubt it can be very good. A lot of their stuff is the same as Harbor Freight in the states carries. Their shrinker/stretcher is probably ok for the money.
If you are sure you need a wheel I think you are better off building one.
I have two home-built wheels. To be very honest though if I were starting over (especially if I was planning to build bikes) I would not bother with a wheel to start off with.

As Manny said I offer a 3-day basics course. I do tailor the program according to needs but the majority of the focus is on hand tools simply because that is what most people will have access to when they get home. This craft is learnt by doing two things: Understanding how the metal moves and constant PRACTICE!
Early on I spent two weeks at Contour Autocraft and though it was excellent I came away from that believing I needed a wheel to shape metal properly. I didn't. By the time I had built one, what I had learned on the course was a little fuzzy.

You are welcome to pay me a visit anytime. Give me a call on (083) 461 3493

Cheers & good luck!

Hi Deon welcome to the forum
Peter