Keen to learn

[Ash]

Hi I'm Ash ,

I build hot rods and taught myself to weld a number of years ago , my metal shaping skills have got better through practice but I am very keen to learn how to use an English wheel , Shrinker/stretcher and bead roller the right way .

Currently I use any method or tools I have to make patch panels but a more 'professional ' approach is what I'm aiming at ,rather than making panels from separate smaller pieces and fighting distortion from heat from welding etc I'd like to form larger panels and work that way .
I've bought a wheeling machine , and the other above mentioned tools as I believe I won't learn from sitting in my front room , I need to get my hands in there and make mistakes !
I have a few friends that are experienced metal workers that have said they will show me the basics and then I will be best off having a go , reading lots and maybe enrolling on a college evening class .

So that's me I'll be here lurking and taking it all in and if anyone in the kent area would like to share any knowledge or practice with me I'm up my shop every other Sunday

Cheers

[Z5Roadster]

Welcome to the site Ash, I've just completed a Wheeling course down in the West Country, best thing I have done. David Gardiner is not far from you in Harwich, courses are coming.

Enjoy

[Ash]

Hi , was it an evening course , and what costs am I looking at roughly ?
I definitely think it'll be a great start do I don't learn bad ( hard to rectify ) habits from day one !
I'm really excited about getting into panel forming now
Regards

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi Ash welcome to the forum
Peter

[HEATNBEAT]

Hi Ash an welcome !

[Jere]

Hi Ash and welcome.

Jere

[Z5Roadster]

Originally Posted by Ash

Hi , was it an evening course , and what costs am I looking at roughly ?
I definitely think it'll be a great start do I don't learn bad ( hard to rectify ) habits from day one !
I'm really excited about getting into panel forming now
Regards

I very much doubt that you would find an evening course or a college with a wheel, think they are long gone with coach building and aviation apprenticeships, my course cost a grand all in for 5 days + accommodation, food and fuel which was cheap compared with some especially for 1/1 tuition with one of the best.
Might initially put you off but without it the art of Wheeling is a mystery, having a wheel doesn't mean you can use it but that's the same with any tool. Geoff Moss told me "we don't make scrap", and that can save you a lot.
An easy start is shape in/shape out. Take a 12" square of aluminium, form a dish and then make it perfectly flat all on the wheel. This basic exercise will give an insight of how to get yourself out of a problem.
An ex Tyrrell mechanic once told me all he managed to make on a wheel was shim and that was alongside BAC apprentices at Weybridge.

Hope it helps.

[Ash]

I'll give thst a go soon as I set up my machines , and yes ur right , the term all the gear an no idea springs to mind , but then I could sit indoors playing x box and never try anything creative , so like many others ill ' have a go '
;-) thanks for the advice it'll be good practice

[David Gardiner]

Welcome to the forum Ash. Wheeling is certainly a useful skill but it is a small part of the skills needed to form panels. I probably spend less than ten percent of my time wheeling.

David