Support with those heavier engineering jobs

Morning!

Can anyone recommend a model engineering supplier or person who is happy to help with one off engineering jobs please? paid of course.

Jobs will be more fabrication type work (rolling, welding) which is beyond the capabilities of my workshop.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Mike

I use Charles Watts in Rugby for anything that's too large for me. Oddly, at work we tended to use them for small stuff.

I use them because they are within walking distance of my home. Look for general engineering firms in your area, there are probably a few about.

Hi Mark,

Charles Watts has come up before so I may give them a shout. Finding someone local would be ideal to cut out the postage cost but around me is mostly agricultural so I am not sure on what the end result will be like.

I have recently had what I thought was a simple job done by a local fab shop who I have used for years both for myself and for work and they made a complete mess of what I thought was a simple job.

Please tell us where you are ? And also what size of work you envisage ? Agricultural engineering now is not what it was - it's far more technical ! Noel.

Hi Noel, I live in Tarporley, Cheshire.

The job that has come up next is for 40mm x 5mm front wheel tyres for my traction engine project. I do not own bending rolls so the choice was to either buy some or get the job done outside.

I failed miserably by trying to be too clever and providing a drawing and DXF so they could laser cut the fixing holes all nicely spaced as well as the profile. I did discuss with them making them oversize and cutting them back but unfortunately they didnt and I was left with flats on the ends.

I have since learned and put together a far simpler drawing which shows an over length curve just from stock flat strip and I`ll cut out the good curvy bit.

It would be useful to build a relationship with a business that is happy to do these ad-hoc small jobs as I often get asked in work life to do small jobs that are usually too big for me! I have a great network of aerospace suppliers but they all come with aerospace price tags.

I`ll put the drawing up....

Edited By JasonB on 23/12/2021 15:08:00

Make your own? Like these, rolling my front wheel rims:

They're initial pinch, so if you turn the work end for end at each pass you don't get flats. The rims were rolled from blanks of the right length for the finished diameter. When I rolled the tyres for the front wheels the blanks were over-length so that I could cut the ends at an angle after rolling. Rolling with the angle precut didn't work for me.

A lesson I've learnt is that traction engine wheel building is all about fudgeit and bodgeit. Trying to be too precise with predrilled holes didn't work for me.

Andrew

I know I should but I cant see me doing much rolling of this thickness again....never say never

I thought the guy I used was going to cut them back after rolling adding the angle but clearly they just lasered them out as is hoping for the best.

Edited By Michael Checkley on 23/12/2021 12:09:48

I'm rural too. Local Agri engineer may not have the kit to do a specific job but will likely know a company that can. Around here the pub used to be the best place to find a welder for a classier job. A local Steel building firm does neat flat mig ribbons on heavy-duty I-beam. You could also look for architectural steel fabricators. The bigger problem is getting such folk enthusiastic about one-off's.

pgk

I'd say come and use them, but we're a long way apart.

Andrew

Thankyou for the offer Andrew! your post has given me the now obvious idea of seeking out my local model engineering club. My excuse is that we have only just moved in to the area!

I thought it was worth concluding this post as it may help others...

My mission to find someone to roll my front wheel tyres came to a successful end and Newbrook Engineering Ltd helped me out and did a good job. Thankyou for the recommendation Densleigh!

Newbrook (Crewe) are local to me so I`m sure I`ll be calling in again.