English Wheel Top Wheel?

[B20]

Not having or used one.Why is the Top wheel so much larger in diameter than the lower ones?
Thanks

 

[RonA]

I also don’t own an English Wheel but would love to have one.
Found this another site devoted to metal shaping, can’t testify to its accuracy but the logic seems credible.

“Upper wheels are usually flat, so as far as the sheet metal is concerned, size doesn't matter. The diameter is more of a personal thing. The larger wheels (8's or 9's) usually have more heft to them, and therefore more inertia, and therefore more ability to roll over the walnuts (lower wheel) with less effort from you.”

RonA

 

[frank horton]

so it's for cracking walnut's then..........sorry

 

[RonA]

so it's for cracking walnut's then..........sorry

Quote is from an American site, as they say two countries divided by a common language! Probably from the same base that brought us the logic, to reduce gun crime buy more guns.
RonA

 

[AndersK]

so it's for cracking walnut's then..........sorry

And making blue finger nails

Compare rolling over a curb, a lot easier with a bicycle than a wheelbarrow. Same with the wheeling machine, much easier to smooth out the surface shaped on a sandbag with a large and heavy upper.

 

[Maker]

The larger wheels (8's or 9's) usually have more heft to them, and therefore more inertia, and therefore more ability to roll over the walnuts (lower wheel) with less effort from you.”

I think the extra inertia of a bigger wheel would require more effort as you're constantly stopping and reversing it. I'm pretty sure one of the youtube machinists (Keith Rucker?) fabricated a hollow top wheel to reduce the inertia. It'll definitely roll smoother though.