I thought I’d start a thread on my wheeling machine project. I’m making a full size ranalah and the 24” pictured Time is of the essence as the foundry I want to use with the capacity has been hurt by the covid situation. I’m scared of them shutting because these skills will disappear . Anyway here’s the cad screen shot A bit more interesting than making straight edges for a job I hate!
Looks good all ways liked the kickback you can form a circle I am told. Do you know when they were first made I heard a story ww2 designed to make aircraft engine cowls to get rid of weldid joints that were cracking. Sold my Edwards to a chap in Ireland.
In my opinion these would sell well. And for a decent price. Scraping is such a small niche area mainly being rediscovered by hobbyists, rather than by engineering shops or new machine tool rebuilders. Whereas English wheels are highly sought after by hobbyist and professionals alike who are breaking out on their own or starting their own shop. I imagine the casting costs will be quite high due to the size and the complexity. Box section creations on eBay are £700-1000. I can only imagine the flex that’s going to be in them.
As I’ve said before because of hobbyists wanting a proper wheel and fancy car places buying wheels for decoration purposes (this is the annoying thing) it’s driven the price out of range of a lot of pros
This 12” throat Edward made £1175 last week. I remember when a full size wheel was a grand from a dealer!
I don't know much about wheeling, my first thought at the shape of it was a bandsaw frame, the casting would probably cost more than a brand new complete saw but it would look dead good.
The Frost ones are a Ranalah copy, someone else also sell them. Very good price considering how much the old ones go for. WNS are the other company that sell the Ranalah copy.
ive seen burdekins english wheel in the flesh nice big and heavy certainly very useful as much as i took note of the mechanisms that moved on it i presume the english wheel would depend on what capicity of metal you was english wheeling on them
My pal has one. It weighs 250kg less than a ranalah and it flexes bad. He only bought it as he couldn’t afford a real one. He is a professional coach builder.. I’m making him a full size ranalah
It’s meant to flex like a spring, I can flex the chanalah with thumb and fore finger which is a bit to much yield
I'll see if I can get a screen grab from a video a customer of AC Autokraft took walking round the factory, loads of English wheels in there. Most of them came from Thames Ditton factory.
I was prity c**p with ours. Never got into it. Our Wallace was good though, he said I tried to get the shape to fast with to much pressure
