Hi from the road...

[Truckntran Bill]

Hi guys, I figured I'd join up and see what sort of knowledge I could find here.. I'm a full time pilot car driver who also owns a fleet of older jeeps, all of which need metalwork in various places..

I'm also a former body shop class teacher from a vocational high school, unfortunately the program was cut and I was out the door 20 years ago.... But, I still like playing with metal and sharing what knowledge I have on the subject. I have a small home shop in central texas, and am stocking it up with various items slowly. I used to have a place in upstate NY and I am trying to move my equipment down from there, including a kick shear, various machine tools, and two nice oak workbenches I miss dearly at my new place.

I recently picked up a 3 in one shear/roller/pressbrake and an HF E wheel ($145!!) to play with. The 3 in one is already being used, and for the price I don't think it is a bad tool, especially after I bolt it down to a real workbench. It is super handy for those small brackets I always seem to need for this or that in the pilot truck. As far as making jeep parts, we will see if it has the capacity.

The E wheel I bought at a clearance sale with the 20 percent off coupon..I got the anvil set as well. I hope with the modifications I have seen on the net it is going to be a decent learning tool ... Not much on the jeeps I work on has compound curves...but ya never know what project I will work on next...and I think it might come in handy straightening the fenders on the old bicycles I like to play with. I think I will need to make a custom lower anvil more suited to the fenders tho.

EDIT..after joining I could see the threads in the E wheel forum do not especially like the HF wheel, my apologies to those I might have offended mentioning it. I still would like to learn on it at least a little bit tho. Maybe I will set it up with a rubber topped caster wheel and just roll with it..lol.. or, use it for a mailbox support as someone suggested..

Anyhow enough rambling, I hope I have made the required moves to join up and be a real member now..