Flares & English Wheel

SummerSledSix · 04-09-2002, 07:46 AM

Anyone out there have experience with an English Wheel?

Am wondering if an E/W could be used to stretch existing fender sheet metal enough to do a subtle fender flare (spread over MOST of the fender, as opposed to the abrupt "factory flare" approach), but without turning the fender into tin foil. Can you roll painted sheet metal? Will it destroy the paint?

Also, something like this would require removing the rear quarter from the car. I'm assuming it's welded on, but where are the seams? Is this something where you can drill out spot welds, or does it require a cutoff tool?

norustscott · norustscott's Garage

The only english wheels that I have seen are large stand up units that allow the user to "wheel" a section of sheet metal...i.e. a fender, roll pan...The metal would need to be stripped of all finish. Kinda rules out the 914 fenders. Unless you take them off the car and strip the paint...

CHA914 · 04-09-2002, 12:08 PM

Do a quick search...a little while back there was a big discussion about this very topic, and it was quite detailed...

SummerSledSix · 04-09-2002, 02:21 PM

Thanks. It was that thread that got me thinking about the english wheel technique. Those guys were concentrating on making flares to add to a fender, I'd like to find a way to use the metal that's already there. Richard Fischer did just that, but he cut "stretch marks" into the fender and welded in filler
(check it out at http://home3.inet.tele.dk/box164/html/fischer_part_2.html
).

I was wondering if it could be done without cutting the fender.
Unfortunately, getting the (rear, at least) fender off the car looks like more trouble than I might save even if the e/w approach works.

Zeke · 04-09-2002, 04:30 PM

The English wheel is used to roll out and blend hammer and dolly marks as well as stretching sheet metal. You can make subtle but generous flares with the hammer and dolly. Practice on a scrap. Use a ball pein hammer from the inside against a shot bag. Then work the contour with the dolly on the inside. Remove all undercoating from underside. There's no way you're gonna save the paint using hammers and the wheel will crush the paint.. If you want to save the paint, roll the lip and pull the fender out a little by hand. And that doesn't always work perfectly.

jabb · 04-09-2002, 05:44 PM

John:

JP used a Hammer and Dolly to beat his fenders into submission...

I know he has posted some pictures here before.... It is not easy but he took that approach.....