Hand held english wheel

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I have been thinking about building one of these using harbor freight wheels ,i have seen a few videos of guys using them mostly on old cars that have much heavier gauge metal than our mustangs . Not sure exactly when i will get the time but it looks fairly simple ,here is a video of one in use 

 

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I just came across this pic ,needs a little deeper throat and a wider throat but with a little modifying this could work  

[Mach1 Driver 603]

Like!

[Grabber70Mach 108]

Neat adaptation. 

[RPM 1,256]

Me likey too. Wish our Mustangs didn't have such a large hood reinforcement under it, as it makes it difficult to get to most of the hood skin. Jim, does this photo show the recommended technique to fix too much hood bow?

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Big ass hammer always does the job !

I kind of drew up a pattern using harbor freight rollers ,if i can get some 1 3/4 tubing today i may play around with the bender and see what i can come up with .

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I have one sort of drawn out ,probably change as i go . I made one wheel mount ,just needs to be welded together. I tried to get some 1 3/4 mild steel round tubing but looks like they had to order it ,should be here tomorrow sometime . I dont think it will take long to make ,but may be a bit to make both sides the same in the bender .

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I have the other wheel mount made ,i may just break out the tig welder to weld this up ,i havent used it in a couple of years .

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Not sure if i like this or not but it should work . I had an old turn buckle for the adjuster ,it will double as a handle ,one side is reverse thread and the other is 1/2 inch threaded so i can use a lock nut to keep it tight . I drilled the eyelets at 3/4 so i can use a 3/4 pin so it can open up to go over things and then pin it back and adjust tight .just have to see if it works ,if not ,i have a nice big scrap metal pile it can go in .

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

My metal made it in today ,20 feet of 1 3/4 SQUARE tubing ! I ordered round tubing ! Have to wait until tomorrow to make the rest of it i guess. 

I did get the roller mounts welded up though ,i used the mig because the tig is buried in the corner and i didnt feel like digging it out.

The pins will get chucked in the lathe and a hole for a 1/4 inch bolt with a bigger washer than the pin hole in both ends to keep the pin from falling out. 

[RPM 1,256]

What, you don't have any square tube dies??? Knuckle heads ebby where. 

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Probably be fairly simple to build square tube dies ,another future project i guess 

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Still waiting on my metal ,probably be monday before it gets here. 

I had a couple of 90* bends here ,they come in handy when making cages ,looks like it will be 11 inches to center on both sides ,i was figuring 10 inches so that should work out.  I had some tubing that is a snug slip inside fit . This will weld to the bottom of the roller mount and i will index them to work forward or side ways and they will pin on .

Just got a call from the metal shop ,my tubing is in so off i go ,may get it made this weekend ! 

[Mach1 Driver 603]

So you're going to be able to rotate the axis of the wheels in relation to the pipes in case you want to move it sideways?

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

1 hour ago, Mach1 Driver said:

So you're going to be able to rotate the axis of the wheels in relation to the pipes in case you want to move it sideways?

Yep !

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I dragged the pipe bender out ,its one of those tools that you only need when you need it! Converting it to hydraulic was the best thing i ever did!

Got both sides bent up ,almost an exact match side for side ,one needs to be closed up just a bit but i ran out of time today. I am not real happy with turn buckle though ,looks cheesy so i will have to figure something  else  there.i have to shorten the end where the rollers will be so the rollers will fit between .

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I welded up the roller mounts making sure they were centered and square ,i chucked the sleeves in the lathe and made sure they were perfectly square. The pivot in the rear will be next then i can clamp it to a table and make sure the rollers are square an drill the pin holes ,may have to make a small fixture to get those pin holes perfect . The final throat opening will be 21 3/4 so you are looking at about around 10 3/4  each side ,should go over a roof or around the back of a 35 ford pick up cab .

[Mach1 Driver 603]

Nice, LIKE

[RPM 1,256]

How deep is the throat? Yikes, that sounds like a movie title. 

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Seen that movie ,it sucks!

Not set on depth yet but looks to be 24 inches ,the farther i go back with the turn buckle the more it takes to ad pressure to the wheels . 

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I still have to pin the roller heads but its together ,it opens up to 17 inches now but soon as i re angle the back end it will open a lot more. Still dont like the turn buckle but i guess i will use it and change it later. 

The welds may not be the prettiest ,friggen helmet that wont let me see what i am welding,but it is functional !

[Mach1 Driver 603]

Huh, look who's complaining about his welds!

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

I do hate my welder ,but i hate my helmet more !

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Good ole tractor supply ,had just what i needed

[Ridge Runner 1,154]

Dude! This adjuster works so good i dont believe it ! Pin the rollers and its ready to try out.