The English Wheel

In this episode, I introduce you to a very old and handy toy that I've been learning to use!
If you enjoy the video, please leave a like, and if you would like to see the rest of this journey and more, subscribe to my channel! And don't forget that bell button, if you want to receive notifications.
You can also find me here:
Instagram - / dominicchinea
Filmed & edited by Dan Cross: / djcross87

[@rogerdavis5914]

Probably one of the best sites on KZbin thank you Dom 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@michaelbatty3906]

Brilliant, I was an engineer learning all my skills as an apprentice and moved up the ranks to become a design engineer, I am now 77 but still like to play in my shed whenever I get the chance, it is a great shame, lads today do not get the same chance, as I am sure they would love it

[@MrMikeyspfx]

You are so right about that I find it a pity that they got rid of shop classes in the schools… the youth of today has no way of learning trade skills unless they can learn from people like you or Dominic.

[@athewake]

You made a fair job of that. This takes me back to 1972 as an apprentice mechanic, I had to make a similar dome using 3 pieces of mild steel plate shaped using snips, the wooden mallet, and a leather sand bag. After brazing the 3 pieces together, the seems were filled with tinmans solder, then filed and sanded prior to painting my dome, all done as a test using hand tools.

[@scoobymaniac]

nice to see someone else keeping the old ways going, i'll be wheeling tomorrow, building a one off bentley arnage hearse for a customer, i'll be doing the main side panels. love old school metal working, done it since leaving school in 93

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

No. No you have not.

[@brianwaterhouse7975]

When I apprenticed as a coach builder and worked building commercial vehicles in the sixties the panel beaters used these wheeling machines to make the domes for the front of lorries. Later I trained to be a panel beater on modern cars. Alway's wanted one if these machines. Great vid

[@captainchaos3053]

That is the very first metalwork tool that ever removed one of my finger nails. Oh the memories of serving your time.

[@jaye1967]

I think my favorite part of this video was the circle cutting tool. In many shops they would do it with a laser cutter, yet when you consider the whole process, this was probably just as fast and was as accurate as needed.

[@DominicChineas]

The circle cutter is so handy! Glad you like it

[@superseven220]

You can get stretchers and shrinkers with composite jaws that don't mark as much. I used to be an aircraft production sheet metal worker back in the 90's and used to use the wheel, stretchers, shrinkers etc to manufacture and shape components. They were usually rough formed in a rubber press first but occasionally had to make free hand parts on the wheel

[@jaye1967]

It's amazing how nice it is to work when you have a tool made for a task. I love seeing those old tools.

[@tyrsafray4640]

Beautiful work! The youth of today couldn’t give one damn about hand crafts… thank you!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@loridavis71]

Ribbly is now in my vocabulary! Thanks for keeping the old skills alive and for sharing your passion for them. 👍

[@anthonyburke5656]

I’m learning what the tools in my Fathers and Grandfathers workshops were used to do, I remember seeing them, but not what they were used to make. I remember my Brother in Law (a boatbuilder) being in awe of something my Father made for him.

[@moonstarer55]

Great with English Wheel Dom. You made a comment that I tell folk who’ll listen.....crafts are dying out and the old codgers who used things like an English Wheel are too! My career at sea meant I had some time to be taught rope work with fancy knots etc and also ships in bottles....both build and repair. So watching you using your English Wheel was a real tonic for me. Well done. Keep the crafts alive!

[@NaturallyCuriousUK]

As someone who has absolutely no history in this field whatsoever I found this fascinating. More power to ya Dom. 👍🙂👍

[@neilchalcraft602]

As approach retirement almost everyday I have a conversation about skills disappearing ,it's great to see what you do and your enthusiasm to keep skills alive .

[@mikethespike7579]

I have a City and Guilds of London in sheet metal work and we had an English wheel in the workshop at the technical collage. We learned to beat our work pieces into the desired shape with hammers and only used the English wheel to tidy up the uneven parts properly. Nice to see that this tool is still in use.

[@MrMikeyspfx]

I also have the same qualification that I got when I was in my teens and it was very cool to be able to use all the old tools in the metal shops

[@mj897]

Which college? If I mat ask

[@mikethespike7579]

@@mj897 The former Bolton Technical Collage on Manchester Road, now renamed Bolton College situated on Dean Road.

[@mj897]

@mikethespike7579 thanks... trying to find a local college in.london at the moment... no luck.so far

[@mikethespike7579]

@@mj897 I wish you success in your endeavour.

[@wellybobs4403]

Amazing. I have seen english wheels around but never seen it demonstrated so perfectly.

[@DominicChineas]

They are amazing things...

[@paulcovacic1914]

Great video. It's great to understand to workings of the machines and how they should be used. Lots more please.

[@DominicChineas]

Glad your enjoying the videos, thanks!

[@WESTHAMRUSS]

I'm so happy that you are making these videos. My favourite repair shop expert.

[@petesmith2132]

I am a retired mechanical engineer and one time sheet metal worker, and I found this video very interesting. I have used one of these machines briefly during my apprenticeship days, but not with much success! Strangely, the Americans refer to these as ‘English Wheels’, whilst we knew them as ‘Wheeling Machines’.

[@Mr2at]

Whilst I'm a hobbiest woodworker i still find this channel fascinating.

[@stevedane787]

I've seen these in use on other videos, but that was in the context of making something specific. This gave me a start to finish view of the entire process, including to other tools you need. There will always be a place for this sort of tool, so its good to see the skills being acquired

[@nickedney1272]

Brilliant! Loving the quality old tools and equipment. Keep on doing it Dom.

[@davidaustin2172]

That’s WHEELY great! Lovely to see someone keeping up the old skills!

[@leslieaustin151]

Love the old craft tools. Never (knowingly) seen a circle-cutter before. I’ll look for one of those! Great videos Dom, thanks. Les

[@joeltham1979]

You are amazing Dom. Love your workshop and your amazing old tools.

[@neilrodda6821]

Great to see you are helping keep traditional techniques and skills alive also preserving some lovely hand operated crimping and rolling machines

[@kevingerald8286]

Love this video - such a traditional panel making/repairing technique 👌

[@johngardiner6800]

Brilliant as ever, love watching you Dom, like you l love preserving old tools

[@1st_track_dents]

Amazing work Dom, I'm always reshaping metal but I use a very different process called Paintless Dent Removal and Aluminium is always the hardest to work with. I've been in car restoration workshops and have seen very skilled people using these English Wheels close up. I just hope these skills don't die out. Looks like you are a natural at this sort of thing and have a passion for it, especially from seeing all the various projects you have worked on over the years. Keep up the good work and thanks for keeping these skills alive! All the best, Jake 👍

[@pompeymonkey3271]

I'd heard of the English Wheel, but never seen one used, along with the associated tools and methods. I could easily see that you have to really "know" the way the metal behaves to use it. Brilliant!

[@howdymartin6258]

That must be so satisfying --- and a largely analogue workshop must be bliss

[@StephenBoyd21]

It’s always good to learn new skills. That looks great fun with endless possibilities.

[@oldtomsphotos]

I love your enthusiasm for your tools. I need to stop buying camera gear and you have encouraged me to keep going.

[@davidhenderson4883]

Ah, the old skills! I recall watching a craftsman building a wooden aircraft propeller. They were laminated and it was quite a skill. Likewise the old blacksmith with forging and tempering. Thanks Dom, you're doing a great service for us all.

[@tomlee812]

So fascinating to see how these old crafts shaped our past world...

[@grahamwarren6578]

Wow, those old machine tools are amazing. It's great to see them still in use, much more satisfying than something that is cut by some soulless Computer. Glad you're keeping the old skills alive.

[@1971silversurfer]

Such a useful tool in so many ways....a domesticated smaller version which sits on a bench top would be a useful addition to any DIY workshop

[@bozz1954]

Over 50 years ago I learnt my trade using these machines and I am so pleased to see someone who wants to learn these skills. 67 next month and I am still working but of course as you say these days I am using CNC machines and Fibre lasers. Well done Dom

[@DominicChineas]

You haven’t got one hidden away somewhere have you?! They are hard to find!

[@bozz1954]

I’m afraid in business it’s all about speed and accuracy although we still use the exact same circle cutter that you have.

[@wsherratt5159]

Dom, it’s great watching you strip down the wheel in preparation for the next part of the challenge. It’s bloody obvious the passion you have, not just for the design and building, but that the dream is to keep the machine in production and encourage others to use it. Like another viewer identified, as kids we were taught at school in Metalwork, woodwork and technical drawing which were all compulsory at the time. These are all but dying out now so maybe your channel will inspire youngsters to take up the subjects. Just keep it going mate, it’s great to watch and see your hard work paying off. Wayne

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks so much for such a lovely message! Really appreciate it

[@Brisuth1]

So glad I found your channel... Perfect to watch and de-stress to... Thanks Dom....

[@endoxr4]

Very nice. I’ve actually built my own English wheel using some bearings and steel tube works pretty well and been learning from you tube and practicing shaping metal as I’ve been restoring my 1954 Austin plus have some other classic cars that friends want me to do so need to learn these metal shaping skills. The dome is a good exercise I’ll have to give it a go and see how I get on. Thanks for sharing and explaining what you were doing too. Love the old fj machines and that shrinker is lovely too

[@EdVanMeyer]

I have found Ron Covell's videos really great to learn from, he also does DVD's and I have his English Wheel and bead Roller ones. Its amazing what the English Wheel can achieve as we have seen here.

[@richardsmith6224]

That's such a great vid, Dom. So good to see you passing on your knowledge after seeing you on The Repair Shop. Greatly appreciated.

[@andrewmarch7891]

Brilliant work thanks for keeping the skill alive, many folk take finished things so much for granted without a thought as to the skills and processes needed on the way. I did metalwork and woodwork at school from 12 - 14 and those skills have stood me in good stead ever since I'm 74 now and have used the basic craft skills throughout my life and still use the basic skills learned whenever possible.

[@malcytull]

A great video Dom showing how to make that dome, you prove it needs skill & patience. I do like your circle cutter, I've never seen one like that before, great stuff mate, thank you.

[@davidasmithreverseglassgil9868]

Absolutely Brilliant Dom! A pleasure to watch you create this. Master of many crafts mate.

[@mikefisher9992]

You are certainly getting the hang of that piece of old time equipment Dom, keep up the good work and videos.

[@tomford5416]

the guy that taught me the english wheel ~ he smirked and said " you never stop collecting tools "

[@snooziesuzi]

WOW 🤩.... loving your metal dome. Well done you’ve nailed that pretty quickly! That was amazing to learn and watch. The machine that cut your circle of sheet metal ... amazing. The dome looked perfect. Your so clever. 👏🏻

[@DominicChineas]

Thank you!

[@bobsukdragracingarchive3119]

I could watch this all day Dom, reminded me of school metalwork classes back in the 60's

[@Andrewausfa]

Superb! Yes keeping the old methods alive is important!

[@s3aham]

Hi Dom,great seeing all your tools,i used to use all of them when i was in the RAF ,i was an Airframe Technician Aircraft,when i went into Station worhshops one of the test jobs was to cut 6 pieces of Aluminium,2 inch by 12 inch fold them on an 1/8th radius bend bars along the 12 inch length,then use the shrinker to form it into a horseshoe 3 internal 3 external and each one had to be the same as the last,love your w/shop plus the repair shop.

[@stevesetford4757]

Absolutely fascinating to see these old tools still in use and you are learning the skills that are sadly dying out. Well done Dom 👍

[@barrylouth7515]

That thing you were hitting the aluminium with is called a pear shape mallet in which you get larger or smaller as i was an apprentice coach builder in the 60s in Pompey there was a lot of wheeling and working with skilled men you appreciate how clever they were and if you weren’t paying attention at the other end of a large dome he would pull and pinch your thumb in the wheels.mate you’ve brought back some memories thank you so very much

[@stepheneddison2335]

Like the process..Im an older boilermaker still working full time .My Dad was a Sheety and was originally from England.I do machining jobs and lot of smaller repair jobs with light sheet metal.. Mild,Aluminium and Stainless. Love the old Machines. Still got Dads old Gilbo tin snips. He taught me a lot Like your video.. Steve in Australia

[@nicksanford7363]

Love the passion. The world needs more people like you. A beginner my foot! The dome you just made looks pretty impressive to me. Thank you.

[@glennmorrissey5309]

Cheers Dom. Thank you for the quick tutorial on the English wheel. marvellous!

[@jeffpollard7304]

Light is your friend!!!!! You have done a great job using truly excellent ‘olde’ tools!!!

[@roncannell4665]

I certainly did enjoy it and on many levels, entertaining and educational. Thank you Dominic.

[@congt9288]

Lovely bit of panel work and what a machine.

[@davidcooke7744]

Great to see the old ways still being used just magic 👍

[@danrichardsjr.1475]

Great video. Interesting how they did so much by hand and the ingenuity that went into engineering the tools of their trades. Really enjoyed it. Thanks.

[@hankpikuni7024]

Hi Dom thanks for inviting us into your workshop. Look forward to your videos.

[@deandowney9316]

I could watch that all day. Theraputic. Well done Dom.

[@teddyshepherd2854]

Nice one Dominic. Circa 1965 I worked at TVR sportscars, Blackpool. The R&D department was pretty much one bloke in a shed, equipped with not much more than a guillotine, a set of bottles and an English Wheel. Over the months I watched him build by hand, in aluminium, the next model to be. This would have then gone on to serve as the plug for the fiberglass moulds. As you say, a lost/dying art, but it was pretty impressive stuff I must say. Especially when you have to mirror t'other side of the car.

[@mj897]

Wonder where the prototype are now?

[@teddyshepherd2854]

@@mj897Probably in the same place as my youth, somewhere lost forever.

[@rogerbond7811]

Good to see someone keeping the old skills alive. Have seen a powered shimmer in the tinsmith's shop at work.

[@jward8173]

Whilst studying for my A&P license, I came across mention of the English wheel. It didn't make much since on paper. Thank you for this video! It gave me a genuine appreciation for the craftsmanship involved with using this machine.

[@stevesyncox9893]

We call it “bacon edge” in knife making. Just found your channel. Your efforts are inspiring. Thanks Dom.

[@jimbos3421]

That was excellent! Thank you for showing how it was done!

[@richmondpp]

Loving your channel, seeing and learning about things I never knew existed. So interesting.

[@deathbychicken]

Great to see you have your own channel now Dom. You have my absolute dream job!

[@WiltshireBornandBred]

Good to see your videos as they show two things - that the old crafts can be learned by anyone who is interested to do so, but also, & maybe more importantly, that when anyone, particularly a non crafts person views a finished piece of work, they can appreciate the manhours put into achieving it

[@marciabaldwin2506]

Well done to everyone for keeping the old skills alive for generations to come and a big thanks to you Dom for all that you do 8m looking forward to seeing your newly created ranalah in action ♥️

[@richardwhatton1249]

Great video Dom, fascinating to watch, thank you and kind regards, Richard.

[@JezVibert]

Fantastic to see you learning these traditional skills. I’ve been following the Retropower Cars channel and their fabricator Stuart has been making wings for a widened Morris Minor using the English Wheel. It’s like wizardry how a flat steel sheet can be manipulated into a shape so complex!

[@WinnieRoseReyes]

So much work but so fulfilling. Cool!

[@nigelreid5486]

What a fab video. I'm not an engineer but am fascinated by these old machines and the skills that go with them. Thankyou Dom for helping to keep them alive.

[@DominicChineas]

Glad you enjoyed the video thank you

[@EvilUnderTone]

Spent many hours on a wheeling machine. Nice to see folks are not letting it die off. Well done.

[@monicafaloona1293]

The circle cutter!! Wow loved watching that and the English wheel of course, your so talented.

[@chrisburnby62]

Amazing machine that circle cutter!

[@richardstarkess7595]

Life this, I'd seen old films where the English wheel was being used in the background didn't know what it was called till very recently and now thanks to your video I now know it's potential. Even if you could get panels pressed out for an old car restoration they probably wouldn't fit as you'd like them to but with one of these and the skill to use it the finish could be so much better Thanks for great videos 😊

[@davidjames1007]

Thank you for sharing this, I've always wondered how an English wheel worked, now I have a basic understanding. Great channel, keep them coming

[@dannymullane9252]

Very good to see you're enthusiasm

[@ChadDippyDora]

Watched a couple of your videos now. Really inspirational, educational and fun. Thanks.

[@paulbanks8583]

Great to see someone showing off what can be done with an English wheel. Great video and I think we should all use the word ribley 😁👍

[@SimonWillig]

Love to see these old machines at work. No fancy electronics, Just good old skills. Btw, something very similar to the pinching device was used by my father on the farm for many years to sharpen his scythe

[@DominicChineas]

Cool isn’t it! Glad you enjoyed it, that pinching tool is shrinking the metal, thank you!

[@silverfoxman4987]

Dom, I'm with you the old skills need to be passed on to a new generation because creating something with your hands and special tools should be the most satisfying thing that anybody can do. Keep doing what you do every video that you have done is so interesting long may you continue 👍😃

[@paulmarriott8645]

Hi Dom great channel. I remember shaping aluminium, it only seems to go so far before you need to aneal it. Which if remember right you can black one side with a carbon flame from you oxytetracycline set then with a neutral flame heat from the opposite side until the soot is gone. It is now at the correct annealing temp. Allow it to cool and it is as soft as butter, and it won't crack on you. Keep up the good work on the channel.

[@Cobwobbler]

I used a dished block of wood and some old pennies to make little wind chime bells. Very satisfying.

[@yorkshirelad6267]

Loved watching this video, informative and explanatory. Thanks Dom.

[@johnboyce7646]

Would love to have a try……Many thanks for sharing British industrial engineering from the past.

[@forestedforestschool]

Very well done on keeping these old skills alive.

[@DominicChineas]

Thank you! I’m trying!

[@lewisp3954]

fantastic Jessie James the American chopper builder is awesome on an English Wheel keep at it .

[@TheXeroid]

Fascinating video Dom.

[@brucelangridge6302]

Brilliant I learned to use the wheel at the school of motor body engineering in Borderton Street in London. We did it slightly differently using dollies to shrink the aluminium to get the basic shape. Then we finished it on the wheel. Lovely to see someone using the old skills great job.

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks for watching!

[@sadgit66]

Very interesting to watch. I have never heard of an English wheel before.

[@thegentlemanmaker]

Fantastic Dom! The wheel is an awesome piece of arcane magic, I’m looking forward to more projects that involve it.

[@steverock2760]

Love that circle cutter!

[@DominicChineas]

Cool isn’t it!

[@Handbuilt1]

I agree Geof Moss is a very tradesmen and good teacher , he has incredible skills , say hi for me when you see him next

[@DominicChineas]

I will! Glad you agree, it’s an amazing thing watching him work!

[@mikes6844]

Absolutely fantastic, looking at the Porsche I can see where you are heading. Credit to you. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks!!