MetalWorking

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Ron Covell

Q. I’ve been watching your videos and practising my English wheel skills. I can get steel to come out somewhat smooth, but at some angle of light I can still see the wheel paths before and after painting. Is there another technique I can use so none of those marks will show through primer and/or paint? Or should I use a thin layer of body filler as the last step? I’m thinking I have to figure something out for my car’s exterior before painting. Kevin Boland. Via the Internet.

A. In theory it’s possible to make glass-smooth panels on an English wheel, but there are a lot of factors involved with this. The two most important are the skill of the operator, and the way the anvil (lower) wheels are configured. I prefer using anvil wheels with flat spots in the center, but it’s important that the wheels be made so the transition between the flat portion of the wheel and the radiused area next to it is correct. If the wheels are made improperly (or if the top and bottom wheel aren’t exactly parallel) the wheels will leave lines.