Rick Kilgore intro

Rick Kilgore · #1 05-17-2009, 10:04 AM

First, I would like to say thank you to the folks behind the curtain. Making this new site available is both timely and welcome.

I have been around since the old Yahoo site and have migrated through the various sites, posting when I thought I had something of value to contribute. I posted as rkilgore29.

I have been interested in the art of metal shaping since the mid 80s. I went to work for what was then Jack Rousch Performance Engineering. I was exposed to a variety of alternate fabrication techniques including what was then referred to as the English method. Basically this was what we now just refer to as metal shaping. Later after taking a course with Ron Fournier back in the early 90s, I got the bug for a wheeling machine. Most of the work I had been doing up to this point involved hammer forming. It was after this course that I began to appreciate the wheel. After seeing the work done by a number of others, I realized there was a lot more to this tool. I have much to learn and understand, and nowhere near the amount of time I would like to spend doing it.

Joe Hartson · #2 05-17-2009, 10:10 AM

Rick, welcome and looking forward to seeing some of you projects. Your signature lint is a very good one. Thanks for joining.

jhnarial · #3 05-17-2009, 10:30 AM

Rick Welcome aboard.

I love the wheel as well,but when working a panel I spend way to much time on it.I have found lately if I fit the panel to the pattern just by hammering it to the pattern.Then just use the wheel to wash it out.I end up getting there quicker then I use to.

I would love to be more efficient with the English wheel,but hopefully with time it will get easier.

Nice intro I'm really glad you joined.

Rick Kilgore · #4 05-17-2009, 04:21 PM

Hi Joe, Johnny,

Thanks for the welcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhnarial

I love the wheel as well,but when working a panel I spend way to much time on it.I have found lately if I fit the panel to the pattern just by hammering it to the pattern.Then just use the wheel to wash it out.I end up getting there quicker then I use to.

This is the way I have used the wheel the most. It is very effective as a plannishing tool. Blocking the part with the hammer gets you to the rough shape quickly.

David Gardiner · #5 05-17-2009, 04:42 PM

When making a low crown panel I use only the wheel but when makng high crown panels it is often faster to form it using a mallet or a hammer depending on what material you are working in. Even working full time doing coachbuilding I spend a very small pecentage of my time on the wheel.

Welcome to the site Rick.