Dom, you have hit the main problem with scaling down something . You think that a half sized piece looks just right, then you realise that all the fittings, threads etc have to be half sized also. Then you realise that they are going to be too weak to work properly or last long before breaking. I think that you need to alter the pattern somewhat and enlarge the boss that the adjusting thread runs up into, so that you can get at least a 12 mm threaded actuating rod or even 14 mm into it with a similar set up as per the full sized machine, or you are able to bore an accurate 90 degree hole with the Bridgeport mill for a bushing. The same goes with the top wheel set up, the casting needs to be bigger in that area to accommodate a workable size for the wheel axle hole. I would think that you would need if scaling these two parts that you need to look at 2 thirds as a scale for these bosses to allow for practicable axle/ screw operating thread sizes. As for the lower cradle, no to CNC'ing it from a billet, the costs in the volume you would be doing it in would be prohibitive with steel prices as they are. I think you need to do them as you have done the prototype, but in a better grade of steel and not mild steel, AND again not scaled but at least 10 mm thick. With bottom plates the full width and side plates sitting on top welded both sides. With a suitable medium carbon steel plate that's an acceptable compromise for cost effectiveness of your production and effectiveness of the operation. I am not sure what Geoff Moss thinks about the sizes of the scaling of the lower wheels though. I'd be very interested to hear his views on this matter. The various radii of the originals somehow must be maintained to be able to do the same work as the full size machines and axle size/ strength comes into play again complicating things 2/3rds size again would be my starting option. I'd love to hear your views on this Dom.
Absolute magic Dominic! Many years ago I was a pre-war Brit car restorer in the UK, and was lucky to have a good Edwards English wheel but it was huge. Yours is such a great idea. I love your enthusiasm and programs. I am an ex-pat Cornishman of quite good heritage (Harvey's of Hale) and have lived in South Africa for the last eighteen years where I am a consultant at amotor museum and with a friend have a small vehicle restoration workshop.Take care and stay safe.
I have watched every Ranalah video in a row. Binge watched all of it in two days. I got here from Ivan Chanel and your aero engine car project. Great videos .
Those small Ranalas are ideal for most garage &shed workers, brilliant..the holes you require boring could be done with a Line Boring machine,used to do engine blocks for cranks&cams..most good engineering companys have them&the jigs needed to clamp any type of equipment down..Ian👍
Hi Dom, loving the development of a half size machine. I'm no expert, but have a Justin Baker machine which is a bench top, but not literally scaled down in all it's parts. For me one of the main issues would be the small diameter of lower anvils. The JB machine is about half size overall, but full size in its individual parts and frame sections. The very small anvils not only restrict the bearings and radii possible on the anvils (both main rad and edge rad), but are also restrictive in terms of smoothing blocked out parts and crushing welds etc, like riding a small wheeled bicycle, on a pot holed road. I've a home built machine with 2 inch dia lower anvils and its definitely compromised compared to the 3 inch ones on the JB. I'm sure that there will be some customers for a more delicate machine of high quality, but not for full sized panels/parts. I guess you are familiar with Wray Schelin, who has probably the worlds largest collection of wheeling machines (mostly fabricated), all in use in his classes, he's something for pretty much every job, really worth checking out!! Also, Lambco do some fantastic stuff including a lovely baby wheel with small anvils. Horses for courses eh!! Keep up the good work and best of luck with the development. Btw, the session with Joby Carter was great. Si.
There is something poetic and beautiful about seeing a CnC plasma cutter being used to make parts for a brand new English Wheel built to a 100 year old design. I love it!
Think you have a winner with the half size wheeling machine Dom. Be very careful buying secondhand machinery, perhaps using jigs and fixtures with hardened drill bushings may be better if you’re manufacturing them yourself and you have control of the accuracy of them. Best of luck with everything you’re doing Dom.👍👍
Hi Dom, I have over 40 years wheeling experience behind me, my feeling is everything half size is too small, while the frame depth would be ok everything else needs to be beefed up a bit, scaled down yes but you still need to use the same pressure as a full size machine!
Hi Dom love what you’re doing on all fronts 👍 Just a thought for using the large Lathe to open up the hole using an adjustable boring bar between centres while the casting is fastened down to the saddle. Traverse the saddle along the slideways and there might just be some way of tooling up on the saddle again and use the chuck with drill bit fitted for the remaining hole and finish with a ream.
Dom, I think the idea is good and the price point is good. I’d also suggest you develop a stand to mount the 1/2 scale on. Most of us with small garages don’t have a heavy steel bench that we could mount the wheeler too, having a stand would enable it to be at the right working height and when not in use can be stored out of the way. Thanks Dom, yes I’m a Dom too😊.
I would lay the Ranalah on its side in a fixture that can be indexed 90 degrees and drilling it horizontally. You would just have to bolt the casting , drill , turn the fixture box 90 and drill again.
Maybe overkill but make a single drilling jig that it stands on that has a base which comes right forward and then up the front. Clamps to the top arch to fine tune the position. Has cradle for drilling the top wheel hole and another for the bottom hole. Add on a guide that fits in the top hole once drilled to then drill the bottom hole. Gonna need a long drill so this guide needs to steady it and stop any wandering. Mount jig on stand similar to an engine stand for veedubs, john will know the one. This will mean that you can rotate the whole thing to drill the holes in the base without having to strain too much. With several to do you need to make it easier and quicker to do. Time and expense designing and building will prove a godsend as time goes on. Finally, I have no need for one but love them all the same and I was absolutely shocked when you said you were aiming for a price of £2,000! I expected it to be much more than that, considering the work you are putting into these, it's an absolute bargain! well done
simply the best 20 - 30 minutes or so of every week. whatever you do you do with such enthusiasm. thank you Dom and roll on a fascinating 2024 im sure.
If you think about casting, ask a dental lab. They can cast anything smaller than roughly 100 x 100 mm. They make a copy from yours in plastic/wax and then they cast it according to the lost wax method
The new size seems like a great idea. If you can come in at that price I think you’re on to a winner. One thought on the drilling would be to do the bottom wheel drilling from below. It would mean having to hold the whole thing upside down but could improve the clearance
Dominic, for my piece of mind can you fit a short chain to the Mag drill which then attaches to your bench, it worries me that if you had a power failure or the magnet let go you will never catch the drill which will spin, you may break a cutter but it will save the drill and you, I used to fit three axis robots to Plastic Injection moulding machines using M20 bolts and had the mag drill let go whilst drilling, if its chained on it wont hurt you.
Since you found the Type M Ranalah with Steve Fletcher I've felt that that model would be the most affordable to reproduce. The only concern would be, could it be installed in a building without a really high ceiling and retain it's rigidity. Loving the Ranalah story so far. Thanks for the content.
You could add a riser block on your Bridgeport for a very reasonable price, and depending on clearances, a Bridgeport right angle attachment may allow you to come up from the bottom for the vertical hole
I was thinking the same only doing it by turning the head 90deg and clamp the bottom of the Ranalah to a cast iron angle plate, I'm shure there must lots on E-bay.
Although I am not an engineer, but a m/cycle tech for over 40 years, my thought was the same. If you can't bore from the top, go from the bottom. Remember, you can lay it on the side go horizontally.
Finish it on a horizonal borer with a rotary table, you can index it thru 180deg, also do any facing of datums & might need to set up on a angle plate also, one with a DRO would be needed, starret egde finder. Looking forward to more of the 356 metalwork also!
Well done Dom...what a great year, and looking forward to 2024...and beyond !.... I'm a fellow petrol head and scenic of many years...and the one thing I love is work t-shirts that only those that know...know !...and the knowing nod from those that know !...and would'nt a RANALAH t-shirt be a great addition to any ones collection ?....ps... large if you do start them.....Regards Paul
As a non engineer, I had thought the half size machine would have the standard fittings, already in production, just mounted on an adjusted smaller frame, rather than the complete rejigging of the wheels to a smaller size.
I'd see if you can find someone with a Horizontal CNC mill be a tombstone B axis, you should be able to machine all the holes in a single cycle saving a huge amount of time. They could back face the mounting holes too so the nut has a flat face. You can do it on a boring machine too. Also on the templates on the bottom I'd look at adding guides that pick-up off the outside of the casting. Then you can clamp it in place rather than welding. You make the final part cheaper by removing unnecessary operations (labour time). Very cool little wheel, could also do 1/3rd and 2/3rd version in the coming years !
I’m never going to need a ranalah but, I think like many people, I would love to support what you’re doing. How about selling paperweight sized ranalah’s? Not a working machine, purely decorative. So hopefully cheap to produce and distribute.
Instead of a radial arm drill I would look and a horizontal borer, they can have a long quill which could help with clearance. But to drill the lower hole you would have to use a angle plate and lay it down on its back but then you could use a vertical spindle attachment on the borer to cut the other hole.
Always like your work, think you need a tooling aid, once you have the downward hole (z) complete. use the diameter of that to make a jig with a square block on top which fits flush with the (y) axis witha hole guide to suite?
Half size is great for modeller’s workshop, I know somebody who makes metal airplanes planes as garden ornaments so I’ll tell him about it. Happy new year
Half Ranalah is such a great idea for the hobby enthusiast market. Great video, can’t wait to see more but also very much looking forward to progress on the Porsche. 👍
Just seen the new Mr JWW video from the Aston Martin restoration shop and they had two Ranalah's in there, one looked like an old one and one looked like one of your new ones, great to see
Dom, weld those 2 plates together, and put side plates on it....then you can clamp the whole thing to the base instead of welding it on. Then the relative position of the bottom and back holes will stay the same.
Mmm...i wonder what the neighbours would think of I had a giant bright yellow "paperclip" at the bottom of the garden 😂 The grandchildren would have fun climbing on and falling off it!! I do hope you still it soon. Happy new year to you!
Dom drill the top horizontal hole first to size the make up a 3/4 inch angle plate with machined sides to a perfect right angle drill out the top hole to a perfect fit bolt it to the horizontal hole measure out till it alignes where you want the vertical hole then drill the right angle plate and put a stepped fat 2 inch long bush in it so you can use the mag drill bit on a long shaft. the bush will aligne the bit to the vertical hole and fine tune it with the horizontal bolt left to right then you can use a hand brill to make the hole and he angle plate can be used as the jig on as many RANALAHS as you want hope this helps cheers from down under
Six weeks ago I mentioned revisiting in 6 weeks so the bike would be finished. You were astonished, Dom, that I thought it would take that long but it has. Looking forward to next week's episode plus whatever new ideas are up your sleeve in 2024. All the Very Best for the New Year.
Hi Dom, happy new year to you, John, Wendy and all the family. I bought a small wheeling machine from China, before I even used it for the first time I modified it. I now make everything on it. The good thing is it takes up less space in the limited room I have so the idea of this half scale is perfect. I would love the full size, true English craftsmanship and quality but I lack the space so the half size has made me excited. For the price, (unfortunately price does influence people to buy cheaper inferior tools and machines) but you could offer two options, a fully built version (for the lesser capable people, no disrespect to anyone but some don’t have the time of knowledge to build, drill etc) and then a DIY kit? No holes drilled, unpainted etc just the axles set in place. Wouldn’t be a huge discount but your time is money and it would save people on a budget a few pennies, I feel the biggest interest in these will be home DIY builders Thanks for your progress on these Keep at it Regards Shaun from Belgium
Good afternoon, Dom. As someone who is about to retire in 3 yrs time your 1/2 size Machine sounds great and at that price very interesting. I am rebuilding a hybrid milling machine which will be two thirds that size of a Bridgeport as not to take up all of my garage, so any option of smaller scale items are great for motorcycle panels etc. Hope all goes well Jon
A few thoughts ... I think your price seems ok if it performs the way it should. That will be the key ... in my limited experience, scale sized equipment tends to require an inverse amount of skill.. ie: 1/2 scale = 2x skill and 1/4 scale requires 4x the skill. No matter what, I believe you will require 2 set ups to drill the bushing locations. I see no reason why you couldn't machine the lower section from below. I know the upper half of that section requires a larger hole, but that's no different than any standard line boring procedure. Run the boring bar all the way through, then set it to size, then cut "backwards" to depth. Not sure you would need to solder the bushing in either ... press fit bushings secured with a tapered pin have been used for a hundred years, and are still in use on some highly accurate lathes, etc ... Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
I love the idea and the elegance of the half wheel idea (Ranalah shape just smaller) but wonder if the amount of redesign and rework required to make it work (including new wheels etc) mean that it'd be simpler to redesign the frame to give the same opening between cradles as the full size version, meaning the same wheels and everything else. It'd give you the chance to design an original smaller frame, inspired by the original but YOUR addition to the history....
Hi Dom, Thanks for all the content, it is really great and relaxed. Just a joy to follow whatever you get your hands on, but must admit i'm also looking forward to the Porsche next week. Keep up the good work it is really great, looking forward to see what you come up with in 2024.
Hi Dom would it have been easier to scale the machine but keep the casing the same width as the original and the same gap size on the casting as the large machine so you can use the original size top wheel and lower rollers.
I do think the lower wheels would be easier to produce via conventional machining, via a ball shaping tool on a lathe rather than via CNC. CNC works in steps, so there is only so much of a flatr curve you can get, as CNC thinks in steps, whilst a ball shaping attachment moves a toolbit on a radius around a pivot point.
Great video Dom. You should be so proud of yourself to get the Ranalah business to where it is now. Hope the mini Ranalah is a game changer to the business. Billet parts will look great. What about 3D printing parts. Can’t wait to see some progress to the Porsche. Not seen the Bus for a while. Not even for a Greggs run. Good luck in 2024. 🥂🤙👍
I can't see me taking up wheeling at my age, but all the best with the mini Ranalah. Thanks also for the pleasure your videos have given me over the past year and I'm looking forward to next year's already!. Best wishes for a happy and successful 2024.
"keeping a handle on costs"... I see what you did there.... It seems the pragmatic solution for the Ranalah drilling to do a minor redesign/rethink so that it can be drilled from underneath rather than above. After all you are changing the babbit/mounting arrangement anyway.
In my previous job I have burned with scaling CAD to 1/2 and calling it half size. Making it 2/3s would look more like half size unit. I think 3D printing a few sizes of these would have been a cheaper exercise than going straight into casting.
Seeing how many projects you have on the go makes me (and no doubt many others) feel better about how many I have on the go. As usual, great video and love the 1/2 size Ranalah. £2k seems very affordable.
Why not permantly weld those two jig plates together for drlling the base holes, then sit the ranalah on the now right angled plate and you would just need a couple of tacks to keep it there, should speed everything up a bit. Just a thought.
That 1/2 sized machine would be great for motorbike tanks and guards. And 2k pounds is not bad. Re; your drill template plate. Why don't you weld tabs on to so the pattern clips on to the base and a simple clamp to hole it is the treat. Re: Drilling holes . Have you thought of coming up from the bottom?? Also could you drill the horizontal hole to suit a Morse taper then you set in a shaft with a thread on the back to lock it in???
Great video as always Dom. On another channel i spotted a Ranalah being put to good use at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell , making new panels for the early DB's.
Wishing You, John and all the very best 2024...Enjoy the Ranalah videos...Wishing you much success with them...and looking forward to the Porsche 356 videos
SUeeb video Dom and i love the small machine. I wi start saving up now :). If i had to machine that casting for the hole in my small workshop, i would make a jig to hold it in position to drill from below and then across. Basically, you need to have a reference surface you can run a DTI against to clock it in.
Great videos and let us know when you're ready to sell the half size Ranalah's. I'd be interested. My next projects in 2024/25 are going to be small vintage racing specials with alloy bodies. But room is tight for a full size Ranalah.
Would it be possible to modify the pattern in order to use the full size tooling/wheels on the half-sized wheeling machine? Also, the radial drill is not going to be handy very often, but when it is, it will be worth the space it's taking u.! I wish i had 3-phase power available in my area!
Key this to always remember when using a mag drill is put a sling on the carry handle. Because if the power is lost for any reason. The drill will fall . Damage the drill but more importantly hurt the man it drops on.😮
As to scaling down to half size. I would assume you want the wheels to be the same size as the big one. Just to keep the process of deforming the sheet metal the same. Following this thought I would assume the fixtures and the whole frame need to be beefed up as to be able to excert the same forces on your sheet metal.
greetings from Australia, nice work all round. but you need to use cutting oil/coolant on those cutters in your mag based drill. once they get hot, they are stuffed instantly
Have you considered making mugs that have the handle a Ramalah? Oh with wheels that move as a witget. I would love to have one. I'm in USA, las Vegas Nevada 😊
I only just watched an episode of Mr JWW on a tour round the place where Aston Martin renovate or even make new old models. In plain sight for much of the video was a double Ranalal. Two Ranalahs back to back. I couldn't. Believe it!
Loved the video,and the haft size is great but I really liked the 1/3 .the price at this day and age I think is spot on. If you need to machine them on this side of the pond I have a guy. The size will work great in a small shop and keep it the same shape . The shape makes it a Ranalah! And it works.All the luck to you. Michael Mann
Happy New Year, Dom totally awesome and amazing work the mini Ranalah looks absolutely wicked,looking forward to seeing how you get on with it. Tho we all know that you will succeed making it work top channel absolutely love seeing how much you have achieved since the start well done am looking forward to watching the story unfold in 2024 and beyond ❤👌👍 i would definitely buy one would love to learn how to make body panels
£2K would be a good price point if you can do it. I would definitely be interested. For fixing the bushes forget soldering, go for Loctite retainer, not very vintage but better and far less faff. As for the drilling I would not attempt on a Bridgeport and a Radial arm drill is not ideal either. A jog borer would be best. Possibly outsource the job, I know a couple of companies that could do it at a reasonable cost.
Hi Don, great channel, keep up the good work, I think Sub £2K is the right price point for the 1/2 size Ranalah, I just hope there's enough profit in it for you.
I think the Half Size Ranalah is spot on. As a beginner I wouldn't be wanting to make full panels, I'd want to make repair panels and this size would be perfect
The mini(tiny) wheeling machine would be great for jewelry making.??? Like to wish you all Happy 🎉New🎉Year🎉 Looking forward to seeing your projects for 2024🎉🎉🎉
That's not a Ranalah !
It's a Ranalette. 😂😂
Keep up your projets, I enjoy every one.
That would be a great name for a 60s Motown Band: “The Ranalettes”! 😂
Dom, you have hit the main problem with scaling down something . You think that a half sized piece looks just right, then you realise that all the fittings, threads etc have to be half sized also. Then you realise that they are going to be too weak to work properly or last long before breaking. I think that you need to alter the pattern somewhat and enlarge the boss that the adjusting thread runs up into, so that you can get at least a 12 mm threaded actuating rod or even 14 mm into it with a similar set up as per the full sized machine, or you are able to bore an accurate 90 degree hole with the Bridgeport mill for a bushing. The same goes with the top wheel set up, the casting needs to be bigger in that area to accommodate a workable size for the wheel axle hole. I would think that you would need if scaling these two parts that you need to look at 2 thirds as a scale for these bosses to allow for practicable axle/ screw operating thread sizes. As for the lower cradle, no to CNC'ing it from a billet, the costs in the volume you would be doing it in would be prohibitive with steel prices as they are. I think you need to do them as you have done the prototype, but in a better grade of steel and not mild steel, AND again not scaled but at least 10 mm thick. With bottom plates the full width and side plates sitting on top welded both sides. With a suitable medium carbon steel plate that's an acceptable compromise for cost effectiveness of your production and effectiveness of the operation. I am not sure what Geoff Moss thinks about the sizes of the scaling of the lower wheels though. I'd be very interested to hear his views on this matter. The various radii of the originals somehow must be maintained to be able to do the same work as the full size machines and axle size/ strength comes into play again complicating things 2/3rds size again would be my starting option. I'd love to hear your views on this Dom.
Absolute magic Dominic! Many years ago I was a pre-war Brit car restorer in the UK, and was lucky to have a good Edwards English wheel but it was huge. Yours is such a great idea. I love your enthusiasm and programs. I am an ex-pat Cornishman of quite good heritage (Harvey's of Hale) and have lived in South Africa for the last eighteen years where I am a consultant at amotor museum and with a friend have a small vehicle restoration workshop.Take care and stay safe.
Phew you're a hard worker Dom - so many ideas and projects.
Thanks for all the videos through 2023, and all the best for 24.
I have watched every Ranalah video in a row. Binge watched all of it in two days.
I got here from Ivan Chanel and your aero engine car project. Great videos .
Dom so much work going into this new project, loving your enthusiasm.
Good luck selling the wheeling machine Dom, it's beautiful! £2000 seems SO affordable, good quality 3d printers are more than that these days!
I'd love to 3d print one of these by the way! 😀
@@joeldday same here
Those small Ranalas are ideal for most garage &shed workers, brilliant..the holes you require boring could be done with a Line Boring machine,used to do engine blocks for cranks&cams..most good engineering companys have them&the jigs needed to clamp any type of equipment down..Ian👍
Hi Dom, loving the development of a half size machine. I'm no expert, but have a Justin Baker machine which is a bench top, but not literally scaled down in all it's parts. For me one of the main issues would be the small diameter of lower anvils. The JB machine is about half size overall, but full size in its individual parts and frame sections. The very small anvils not only restrict the bearings and radii possible on the anvils (both main rad and edge rad), but are also restrictive in terms of smoothing blocked out parts and crushing welds etc, like riding a small wheeled bicycle, on a pot holed road. I've a home built machine with 2 inch dia lower anvils and its definitely compromised compared to the 3 inch ones on the JB. I'm sure that there will be some customers for a more delicate machine of high quality, but not for full sized panels/parts. I guess you are familiar with Wray Schelin, who has probably the worlds largest collection of wheeling machines (mostly fabricated), all in use in his classes, he's something for pretty much every job, really worth checking out!! Also, Lambco do some fantastic stuff including a lovely baby wheel with small anvils. Horses for courses eh!! Keep up the good work and best of luck with the development. Btw, the session with Joby Carter was great. Si.
Great news that the Porsche is to come back on the menu! Happy New Year everyone :)
There is something poetic and beautiful about seeing a CnC plasma cutter being used to make parts for a brand new English Wheel built to a 100 year old design. I love it!
Think you have a winner with the half size wheeling machine Dom. Be very careful buying secondhand machinery, perhaps using jigs and fixtures with hardened drill bushings may be better if you’re manufacturing them yourself and you have control of the accuracy of them. Best of luck with everything you’re doing Dom.👍👍
Hi Dom, I have over 40 years wheeling experience behind me, my feeling is everything half size is too small, while the frame depth would be ok everything else needs to be beefed up a bit, scaled down yes but you still need to use the same pressure as a full size machine!
You totally agree, that’s the plan!
Hi Dom love what you’re doing on all fronts 👍 Just a thought for using the large Lathe to open up the hole using an adjustable boring bar between centres while the casting is fastened down to the saddle. Traverse the saddle along the slideways and there might just be some way of tooling up on the saddle again and use the chuck with drill bit fitted for the remaining hole and finish with a ream.
Dom, I think the idea is good and the price point is good. I’d also suggest you develop a stand to mount the 1/2 scale on. Most of us with small garages don’t have a heavy steel bench that we could mount the wheeler too, having a stand would enable it to be at the right working height and when not in use can be stored out of the way. Thanks Dom, yes I’m a Dom too😊.
Can't believe Geoff didn't make the cooker hood on the wheeling machine. 😂
I would lay the Ranalah on its side in a fixture that can be indexed 90 degrees and drilling it horizontally. You would just have to bolt the casting , drill , turn the fixture box 90 and drill again.
Maybe overkill but make a single drilling jig that it stands on that has a base which comes right forward and then up the front. Clamps to the top arch to fine tune the position. Has cradle for drilling the top wheel hole and another for the bottom hole. Add on a guide that fits in the top hole once drilled to then drill the bottom hole. Gonna need a long drill so this guide needs to steady it and stop any wandering. Mount jig on stand similar to an engine stand for veedubs, john will know the one. This will mean that you can rotate the whole thing to drill the holes in the base without having to strain too much. With several to do you need to make it easier and quicker to do. Time and expense designing and building will prove a godsend as time goes on.
Finally, I have no need for one but love them all the same and I was absolutely shocked when you said you were aiming for a price of £2,000! I expected it to be much more than that, considering the work you are putting into these, it's an absolute bargain! well done
simply the best 20 - 30 minutes or so of every week. whatever you do you do with such enthusiasm. thank you Dom and roll on a fascinating 2024 im sure.
If you can get a hold of one, a right angled milling head for drilling out. From underneath looks to have the most clearance. 👍
Excellent to catch up with you every week Dom. Happy New Year.
If you think about casting, ask a dental lab. They can cast anything smaller than roughly 100 x 100 mm. They make a copy from yours in plastic/wax and then they cast it according to the lost wax method
The new size seems like a great idea. If you can come in at that price I think you’re on to a winner. One thought on the drilling would be to do the bottom wheel drilling from below. It would mean having to hold the whole thing upside down but could improve the clearance
Dominic, for my piece of mind can you fit a short chain to the Mag drill which then attaches to your bench, it worries me that if you had a power failure or the magnet let go you will never catch the drill which will spin, you may break a cutter but it will save the drill and you, I used to fit three axis robots to Plastic Injection moulding machines using M20 bolts and had the mag drill let go whilst drilling, if its chained on it wont hurt you.
Since you found the Type M Ranalah with Steve Fletcher I've felt that that model would be the most affordable to reproduce. The only concern would be, could it be installed in a building without a really high ceiling and retain it's rigidity.
Loving the Ranalah story so far. Thanks for the content.
You could add a riser block on your Bridgeport for a very reasonable price, and depending on clearances, a Bridgeport right angle attachment may allow you to come up from the bottom for the vertical hole
I was thinking the same only doing it by turning the head 90deg and clamp the bottom of the Ranalah to a cast iron angle plate, I'm shure there must lots on E-bay.
Although I am not an engineer, but a m/cycle tech for over 40 years, my thought was the same.
If you can't bore from the top, go from the bottom. Remember, you can lay it on the side go horizontally.
Finish it on a horizonal borer with a rotary table, you can index it thru 180deg, also do any facing of datums & might need to set up on a angle plate also, one with a DRO would be needed, starret egde finder. Looking forward to more of the 356 metalwork also!
Well done Dom...what a great year, and looking forward to 2024...and beyond !....
I'm a fellow petrol head and scenic of many years...and the one thing I love is work t-shirts that only those that know...know !...and the knowing nod from those that know !...and would'nt a RANALAH t-shirt be a great addition to any ones collection ?....ps... large if you do start them.....Regards Paul
How about a jig to drill upwards?Lay it on its back and use the mag drill.
As a non engineer, I had thought the half size machine would have the standard fittings, already in production, just mounted on an adjusted smaller frame, rather than the complete rejigging of the wheels to a smaller size.
Hi Dom. Really interesting and beautiful work on that Lotus. Thanks Dom
Absolutely brilliant. Have you a waiting list for one of these started yet Dom?
I'd see if you can find someone with a Horizontal CNC mill be a tombstone B axis, you should be able to machine all the holes in a single cycle saving a huge amount of time.
They could back face the mounting holes too so the nut has a flat face. You can do it on a boring machine too.
Also on the templates on the bottom I'd look at adding guides that pick-up off the outside of the casting. Then you can clamp it in place rather than welding. You make the final part cheaper by removing unnecessary operations (labour time).
Very cool little wheel, could also do 1/3rd and 2/3rd version in the coming years !
With regard to drilling the lower wheel mount: invert the mini-ranalah, and drill it from the bottom up.
So pleased to see a back to back pair of Ranalahs at Aston Martin the other day. Motor heritage.
I’m never going to need a ranalah but, I think like many people, I would love to support what you’re doing. How about selling paperweight sized ranalah’s? Not a working machine, purely decorative. So hopefully cheap to produce and distribute.
Funny you should say that! I have cast 10 mini versions for that exact reason! Just working on packaging etc at the moment!
@@DominicChineas fantastic, keep us updated when they go on sale.
Instead of a radial arm drill I would look and a horizontal borer, they can have a long quill which could help with clearance. But to drill the lower hole you would have to use a angle plate and lay it down on its back but then you could use a vertical spindle attachment on the borer to cut the other hole.
Always like your work, think you need a tooling aid, once you have the downward hole (z) complete. use the diameter of that to make a jig with a square block on top which fits flush with the (y) axis witha hole guide to suite?
Half size is great for modeller’s workshop, I know somebody who makes metal airplanes planes as garden ornaments so I’ll tell him about it.
Happy new year
Half Ranalah is such a great idea for the hobby enthusiast market. Great video, can’t wait to see more but also very much looking forward to progress on the Porsche. 👍
Just seen the new Mr JWW video from the Aston Martin restoration shop and they had two Ranalah's in there, one looked like an old one and one looked like one of your new ones, great to see
You should interference fit bronze bushing. You can also use Locktite compound to secure the business if necessary.
Those smaller Ranalah’s would be perfect for motorcycle work.
I hope so!
Dom, weld those 2 plates together, and put side plates on it....then you can clamp the whole thing to the base instead of welding it on. Then the relative position of the bottom and back holes will stay the same.
Not a bad idea! Now I have them the jigs etc can evolve as I use them, thank you
Mmm...i wonder what the neighbours would think of I had a giant bright yellow "paperclip" at the bottom of the garden 😂 The grandchildren would have fun climbing on and falling off it!! I do hope you still it soon.
Happy new year to you!
Dom drill the top horizontal hole first to size the make up a 3/4 inch angle plate with machined sides to a perfect right angle drill out the top hole to a perfect fit bolt it to the horizontal hole measure out till it alignes where you want the vertical hole then drill the right angle plate and put a stepped fat 2 inch long bush in it so you can use the mag drill bit on a long shaft. the bush will aligne the bit to the vertical hole and fine tune it with the horizontal bolt left to right then you can use a hand brill to make the hole and he angle plate can be used as the jig on as many RANALAHS as you want hope this helps cheers from down under
Six weeks ago I mentioned revisiting in 6 weeks so the bike would be finished. You were astonished, Dom, that I thought it would take that long but it has.
Looking forward to next week's episode plus whatever new ideas are up your sleeve in 2024.
All the Very Best for the New Year.
Hi Dom, happy new year to you, John, Wendy and all the family. I bought a small wheeling machine from China, before I even used it for the first time I modified it. I now make everything on it. The good thing is it takes up less space in the limited room I have so the idea of this half scale is perfect.
I would love the full size, true English craftsmanship and quality but I lack the space so the half size has made me excited.
For the price, (unfortunately price does influence people to buy cheaper inferior tools and machines) but you could offer two options, a fully built version (for the lesser capable people, no disrespect to anyone but some don’t have the time of knowledge to build, drill etc) and then a DIY kit? No holes drilled, unpainted etc just the axles set in place.
Wouldn’t be a huge discount but your time is money and it would save people on a budget a few pennies, I feel the biggest interest in these will be home DIY builders
Thanks for your progress on these
Keep at it
Regards Shaun from Belgium
Great video as normal Dom. Great news also on getting back to the Porsche. All the best for 2024
I am no metal worker but I enjoy the videos. Would you ever consider a 12 inch model that could be sold as a display piece?
I think the half wheel is going to be extremely popular for the motorcycle builders
Turn the Ranalah upside down and then drill it from there, now there is enough space for a drilling machine. Good luck!
The top hole is larger than the bottom hole though!
Good afternoon, Dom. As someone who is about to retire in 3 yrs time your 1/2 size Machine sounds great and at that price very interesting. I am rebuilding a hybrid milling machine which will be two thirds that size of a Bridgeport as not to take up all of my garage, so any option of smaller scale items are great for motorcycle panels etc.
Hope all goes well
Jon
A few thoughts ...
I think your price seems ok if it performs the way it should. That will be the key ... in my limited experience, scale sized equipment tends to require an inverse amount of skill.. ie: 1/2 scale = 2x skill and 1/4 scale requires 4x the skill.
No matter what, I believe you will require 2 set ups to drill the bushing locations.
I see no reason why you couldn't machine the lower section from below. I know the upper half of that section requires a larger hole, but that's no different than any standard line boring procedure. Run the boring bar all the way through, then set it to size, then cut "backwards" to depth.
Not sure you would need to solder the bushing in either ... press fit bushings secured with a tapered pin have been used for a hundred years, and are still in use on some highly accurate lathes, etc ...
Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦
Aww the mine one I find a inspired idea imagined using it to make jewellery but the half size is also a brilliant idea.
I love the idea and the elegance of the half wheel idea (Ranalah shape just smaller) but wonder if the amount of redesign and rework required to make it work (including new wheels etc) mean that it'd be simpler to redesign the frame to give the same opening between cradles as the full size version, meaning the same wheels and everything else. It'd give you the chance to design an original smaller frame, inspired by the original but YOUR addition to the history....
The work your doing is epic mate, the vision you have to take this project on and see it through is to be commended ❤
I really appreciate it thank yoy
Thanks for another weekly fix Dom
I love what you are doing! Keep up the good work 😊
Hi Dom, Thanks for all the content, it is really great and relaxed. Just a joy to follow whatever you get your hands on, but must admit i'm also looking forward to the Porsche next week. Keep up the good work it is really great, looking forward to see what you come up with in 2024.
Hi Dom would it have been easier to scale the machine but keep the casing the same width as the original and the same gap size on the casting as the large machine so you can use the original size top wheel and lower rollers.
I do think the lower wheels would be easier to produce via conventional machining, via a ball shaping tool on a lathe rather than via CNC. CNC works in steps, so there is only so much of a flatr curve you can get, as CNC thinks in steps, whilst a ball shaping attachment moves a toolbit on a radius around a pivot point.
Great video Dom. You should be so proud of yourself to get the Ranalah business to where it is now. Hope the mini Ranalah is a game changer to the business. Billet parts will look great. What about 3D printing parts.
Can’t wait to see some progress to the Porsche. Not seen the Bus for a while. Not even for a Greggs run.
Good luck in 2024. 🥂🤙👍
I can't see me taking up wheeling at my age, but all the best with the mini Ranalah. Thanks also for the pleasure your videos have given me over the past year and I'm looking forward to next year's already!. Best wishes for a happy and successful 2024.
Happy New Year Dom & Jon. Looking forward to another year of brilliant videos, they are a joy to watch.
"keeping a handle on costs"... I see what you did there....
It seems the pragmatic solution for the Ranalah drilling to do a minor redesign/rethink so that it can be drilled from underneath rather than above. After all you are changing the babbit/mounting arrangement anyway.
The new ranelagh looks great, but it will need the Jeff moss treatment before you go into full production, best of luck with it, happy new year.
It will definitely spend a lot of time with Geoff before I sell any!
In my previous job I have burned with scaling CAD to 1/2 and calling it half size. Making it 2/3s would look more like half size unit. I think 3D printing a few sizes of these would have been a cheaper exercise than going straight into casting.
Brilliant as always Dom. Thanks for all you delivered in 2023. Looking forward to 2024. Happy New Year.
Here’s to a prosperous new year to you, thanks for sharing your adventures with us!👍👍
That sounds good value for money. Like you said it will suit alot of beginners who have a space and cost limit
Happy new hair cut Dom, all the best for 2024
Seeing how many projects you have on the go makes me (and no doubt many others) feel better about how many I have on the go. As usual, great video and love the 1/2 size Ranalah. £2k seems very affordable.
Why not permantly weld those two jig plates together for drlling the base holes, then sit the ranalah on the now right angled plate and you would just need a couple of tacks to keep it there, should speed everything up a bit. Just a thought.
I’ll do that next time!
That 1/2 sized machine would be great for motorbike tanks and guards. And 2k pounds is not bad.
Re; your drill template plate.
Why don't you weld tabs on to so the pattern clips on to the base and a simple clamp to hole it is the treat.
Re: Drilling holes .
Have you thought of coming up from the bottom??
Also could you drill the horizontal hole to suit a Morse taper then you set in a shaft with a thread on the back to lock it in???
Great video as always Dom. On another channel i spotted a Ranalah being put to good use at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell , making new panels for the early DB's.
Yes! That is one of my new ranalahs!
@@DominicChineas Nice one. And those guys know quality when they see it... only the best for them .
Thanks for that and all your videos, Dom. Happy new year!
Wishing You, John and all the very best 2024...Enjoy the Ranalah videos...Wishing you much success with them...and looking forward to the Porsche 356 videos
SUeeb video Dom and i love the small machine. I wi start saving up now :). If i had to machine that casting for the hole in my small workshop, i would make a jig to hold it in position to drill from below and then across. Basically, you need to have a reference surface you can run a DTI against to clock it in.
Hi Dom, love the idea of the mini Ranalah, in currently building a prewar special an would certainly look at one at that price.
Keep up the good work
Great videos and let us know when you're ready to sell the half size Ranalah's. I'd be interested.
My next projects in 2024/25 are going to be small vintage racing specials with alloy bodies. But room is tight for a full size Ranalah.
Would it be possible to modify the pattern in order to use the full size tooling/wheels on the half-sized wheeling machine? Also, the radial drill is not going to be handy very often, but when it is, it will be worth the space it's taking u.! I wish i had 3-phase power available in my area!
Key this to always remember when using a mag drill is put a sling on the carry handle. Because if the power is lost for any reason. The drill will fall . Damage the drill but more importantly hurt the man it drops on.😮
As to scaling down to half size.
I would assume you want the wheels to be the same size as the big one. Just to keep the process of deforming the sheet metal the same.
Following this thought I would assume the fixtures and the whole frame need to be beefed up as to be able to excert the same forces on your sheet metal.
greetings from Australia, nice work all round. but you need to use cutting oil/coolant on those cutters in your mag based drill. once they get hot, they are stuffed instantly
I was always told not to use coolant for cast iron?
@@DominicChineas ah I thought they were cast steel, me bad
What a great idea on the smaller wheely machine, you've come a long way , I remember you in a field looking for an old one in a field. Happy New Year.
Have you considered making mugs that have the handle a Ramalah? Oh with wheels that move as a witget.
I would love to have one.
I'm in USA, las Vegas Nevada 😊
Happy New Year Dom, I've really enjoyed all the 2023 videos, and I'm already looking forward to seeing the 2024 ones. 👍
I only just watched an episode of Mr JWW on a tour round the place where Aston Martin renovate or even make new old models. In plain sight for much of the video was a double Ranalal. Two Ranalahs back to back. I couldn't. Believe it!
Yeah! One is an original machine, the other is one of my new ones!
Loved the video,and the haft size is great but I really liked the 1/3 .the price at this day and age I think is spot on. If you need to machine them on this side of the pond I have a guy. The size will work great in a small shop and keep it the same shape . The shape makes it a Ranalah! And it works.All the luck to you.
Michael Mann
Happy New Year, Dom totally awesome and amazing work the mini Ranalah looks absolutely wicked,looking forward to seeing how you get on with it. Tho we all know that you will succeed making it work top channel absolutely love seeing how much you have achieved since the start well done am looking forward to watching the story unfold in 2024 and beyond ❤👌👍 i would definitely buy one would love to learn how to make body panels
Nice one Dom.
Fan, Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 ❤
£2K would be a good price point if you can do it. I would definitely be interested. For fixing the bushes forget soldering, go for Loctite retainer, not very vintage but better and far less faff. As for the drilling I would not attempt on a Bridgeport and a Radial arm drill is not ideal either. A jog borer would be best. Possibly outsource the job, I know a couple of companies that could do it at a reasonable cost.
Spot on.
Hi Don, great channel, keep up the good work, I think Sub £2K is the right price point for the 1/2 size Ranalah, I just hope there's enough profit in it for you.
Happy New Year Dom & co. I've enjoyed watching your antics this year, I'm looking forward to what you get up to in 2024...
good luck with the mini machine ive seen this very similar one on ebay being sold as new at 4500£ WNS Cast Iron English Wheel
They look great, your enthusiasm is amazing,,👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏happy new year
I think the Half Size Ranalah is spot on. As a beginner I wouldn't be wanting to make full panels, I'd want to make repair panels and this size would be perfect
The mini(tiny) wheeling machine would be great for jewelry making.??? Like to wish you all Happy 🎉New🎉Year🎉 Looking forward to seeing your projects for 2024🎉🎉🎉
Happy New Year to you and your viewers Dom.
I'm sorely tempted by the idea of the affordable wheel. Maybe a present to myself next Xmas 🙂