Broken Wagon Tire Roller | Review & Repairs | Engels Coach Shop 

Even though it's "only a museum piece", Dave, you won't return it until it's better than when you borrowed it. Every person wishes they had a neighbor like you.

Well, I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the roller. When I was going through my apprenticeship (electrical) back in the 70s, there was one of these fellows in our main workshop, at the time very much still in use for bending steel for transformer and DC motor mounts or parts. If our elderly millwright had to use it, it was up to us apprentices to provide the power for him. It was a great part of our day to get a call from old Ron to come and help as he had a very dry sense of humour and ensured the we enjoyed our time with him if only for an hour or 2. He did go through its history, which I have forgotten over the years, never thought I'd ever see one again, but how wrong can one be. And now I'm feeling oh so old, lol. This isn't the first time you've shown tools & plant I worked on and with during the 70s, and for that I'll be eternally thankful. The memories and tears of joy are gold. As always, THANK YOU for posting.

Seems to me you're qualified to add yourself to the history of this roller since you have continued the craft of building Borax wagons. Nice job.

One of a few RU-vid channels where I give the video a thumbs up to before I watch it. Thank you, Mr. Engel for your work and effort.

Nice to see a good repair , greased up and ready to roll . I like the way you temper your work in the fire overnight . Grand video 👍🇬🇧

As a weldor of over 40 years plus who has done my fair share of cast iron/steel repair may I suggest switching to am Argon/Helium 50/50 mix. It creates a much better, meaning hotter burn time of the puddle. Many may not know how to tell the difference between cast iron and steel. A small drill bit and spot drill will tell the difference . Cast iron creates crumbles. Cast steel creates curls. Good work on this.

I found it quite amusing that you didn’t want to break yours....but didn’t mind risk breaking theirs...but a good repair job as I doubt anyone will use their roller ever again...

God I love seeing older equipment like that, the amount of engineering that went into something that had a simple task, but with multiple used, is commendable. AND once again from watching your videos and also reading some of the comments I learned something again. Gabe. below gave an easy assesment to evaluate Steel vs Iron, by drilling and observing the drill outs. "Crumble it's iron, curls its steel" I don't know why but I've always felt that each time I drilled and seen that the curls meant steel to me. and Gabe just verified that for me!. strange how sometimes ones gut instincts can be true. nice feeling and thank Dave, and Gabe.

Wow! The first roller you showed, with the three-place adjustment notches is exactly what we had at the wagon shop at Dollywood. Our roller was powered off our line shaft, so had a flat-belt pulley in place of the crank handle, but was otherwise the same! Wonderful memories!!

I remember the break, thought that was the end of the story. Happy to see this.

With as much mass as that casting has a 5/8 " hardened dowel pin installed down through both pieces is the best for adding extra strength . Then welding all around as one normally would ,when finished there is no sign of the pin this technique will add a lot of extra strength to any repair were there is room for a hardened pin ( use appropriate size pin ) several can be used on longer Broken pieces . Much stronger than welding alone . I learned this from a old German master machine tool rebuilder.

هذه الة تعويج الحديد اصليه وذو قوه ومتانه متقنه تستحق اصلاحها اما الالات الحديثه في الوقت الحالي التي نجدها في الاسواق لاتستطيع الاعتماد عليها على كل حال لقد ابدعت في عملك باستعادت هذه الماكنه الى العمل من جديد شكرا لك اخي الكريم على هذا الفديو الجميل الذي من خلاله نستفاد ونستمتع ونرجو المزيد: شكرا

I enjoy seeing an old machine restored to functionality again. Thank you sir 👌

in the 50;s as a twelve or fourteen year old i worked a summer for a small musieum just west of the town of selma california. i would ride mt bike out to there and my main job was taking care of the fourty mule train. the whole train was laid out in the sun and the leather harnesses were dry and checked so i spend weekends oiling all the leather harnesses for the whole 40 mules and cleaning all the metal on the train . i have wondered over the years if the train was still there or what happened to it. there wasnt much i could do to the wood parts of the train but marvelled at the wheels and dad would explain how they were made. dad loved wagons, wanted one all his life. im jim mullins and this comment may show as lou anna my wife

Dave, I, too, like AndyB, had always wondered about your great camera work. When I visited you back in June, I got first hand knowledge on your set ups and I think you learned from my light painting photo work also. I hope to see you this summer on a fishing trip.

YEP ,THE OLDER ORE ,SMELTING , FORGING AND GENERAL WORKMANSHIP ,WERE AND IN ALMOST ALL CASES BETTER THEN ANYTHING MADE TODAY. A LOT I THINK WAS A PRIDE, ( IN MAKING THE BEST QUALITY PRODUCT ,THAT COULD BE MANUFACTURED BY A FOUNDRY OR INDIVIDUAL ) THAT IS MISSING FOR ALONG TIME NOW. SOME THINGS ARE MADE FOR EASE OF USE AND NOT FOR LASTING,AS WE HAVE BECOME A DISPOSABLE SOCIETY. THAT IS WHY YOUR VIDEOS ARE SO GREAT .YOU HONESTLY CARE ABOUT THE CRAFT AND IT SHOWS. I REGRESS.. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS DON'T STOP CARING ABOUT YOUR CRAFT

Mr. Engels, thank you for the detail shots in this video! I've been watching your tire/hub-band rolling videos for WEEKS trying to work out the details of the Eureka's removable top roller and side-plates. This video just answered all of my questions! I'm planning to build a heavy roller of my own for a future parade wagon/truck (power-wagon?) project. This helps immensely!

Hello David nice vlog and it is as you say the old machines that was used to make the wagons etc is part of the history and very nice to see them being used even if they need a repair now and again 😀👍👍 I see from the snow that winter ❄️ has arrived 🥶🥶🥶

With what little you did to repair it, that roller probably works better than it did far too many years to count. This was a good change of pace video. Instead of repairing wagons, you're repairing the machinery that is used to make wagons.

It's like a great history lesson. And what a teacher.

I think he is a national treasure. I hope I a wrong but I do not think there are many craftsmen left of his tremendous skill level! To anybody out there who is a blacksmith, cabinet maker, carpenter, welder, etc etc … I think we all get it!!

This content helps to explain in greater depth the workings of the essential tools of the trade and illuminates the complex heavy metal technologies that were necessary for the fabrication of every element of those early wood and steel vehicles. I very much enjoy it when you share these details of your craft and trade. It gives me a more complete picture of how such tools are made and used. Another fine video production!

I LOVE that this restoration was NOT sponsored by Rustoleum - Cheers EngelsCoachShop, old school methods work just fine!

I liked how each nut and washer, when removed, was placed in an orderly row to be returned to it's exact place. That's the way I was taught to take apart things. Too often today in restoration videos every nut, bolt and washer is heaved into a pile where it's a guessing game later of their original position.

Well, I guess we know how they probably broke it before. Very nice repair job. I have had good results with the wire feed on cast steel, too.

Great job Dave, back in working order and safely in the museum! Strong enough! Thanks for sharing with us.

Nice job on the museum restoration. Have you heard about the cleaners that broke off the beard from king Tut’s golden mask? They stuck it back on with about 1/2 “ of five minute epoxy. It’s hysterically how bad they screwed up . Your repair is a master work. Thanks again for sharing your methods.

Thanks for sharing that. You know, the borrowed roller will go back in better condition than it arrived as if the top ear hadn't broke, you'd probably not have done a clean-n-grease maintenance on it.

Amazing repair/conservation of the tire roller. Looks like nothing has happened to it. Thanks very much for sharing.

Another enjoyable video, love the sound of old machinery, great repair to it with the welding and subsequent heating/cooling!

Dad's 95 and not from that part of the world. I'm going to have to get him to watch your videos. He's likely to tell me exactly how they were used in his day

I've used similar rollers before for one inch flatbar, but it couldn't be more than about four inches wide and you had to go very gradually and have the ends already bumped up in either a large press brake or a hydraulic press and it had to be soft hot rolled steel and the part that broke on you had a locking bar that took the strain off the upper part of the 'U', but all in all, that design of roller was an indispensable tool, nice job fixing it !!

Seems it never fails.... i borrow equipment and it breaks while in my possession. Lol.... well you did an excellent job repairing the equipment back too original condition. It's really something holding a piece of history in your hands. Thank you Mr Engels for the Friday evening video. Keep'm coming sir 👌👍👍😉

Thanks for taking the time to show us Dave.

That is really neat to have discovered that connection to the past. To actually lay hands on it would have been great. Now Engels is part of the time continuum.

I'd swear that grain structure looks like cast iron, but your "spark test" says it's steel. Must just be that it had a rather "rough" heat treat (they didn't let it sit in the mold to cool off).

I learned many decades ago that welding cast iron or cast steel is no picnic (it was cylinder heads I think at the time), so I am full of admiration at your skill and knowledge that an enormous amount of heat has to be put into the workpiece.

you sir; are an authentic coach maker, any repair you make only add to the providence of the machine.

Moin Wish you all a Beautiful Peaceful 2nd Advent Weekend and Health Moin Wünsche euch allen einen Schönes Friedliches 2ten Adventwochenende und Gesundheit

I love these kinds of historical connections.... Well Done, Dave. Another thing I enjoy is to cut the video down to half speed and then I can watch you in real time..... the fun lasts longer ... lol.... Russ

Cool that its mounted on the dovetailed end of a log from a log cabin.

Never welded cast iron but one time in Houston in an ink powder making shop. Heated before using cast rod but pipe kept cracking. I kept trying and finally held, but for how long who knows? Had to get rid of all my clothes that day. Ink powder in every nook and cranny!

well dad blame engels,another great job.i was raised in the foot hills of the serria nevada mountains in placerville california.even back in the 40's we were still using horse drawn wagons and such.my dad used to make repairs on them,me to.

Nice rebuild there David. I also enjoy your videos and see how things were made back in the 1800's. Can't wait for your next video. Still trying to catch up on all your videos. Thanks again David.

Oh Dave...my stomach sank when you broke that Museum Piece! An old Cowboy once said 'if it wernt fer Bad Luck...I wouldn't have any Luck at all'. Glad to see you got it all fixed up good as new again. Wonder who did the Previous Repairs, cuz that was some Awesome Welding!

Hello Sir It always good to see how you save this old roller Welding Cast iron is very difficult You are a allround Talent but this is what Stellmachers 😉 are. When i see what my grandfather build and konstuktet to do his work in his shop. He was a alround Talent too 😏 Greetings to you and your Family I wish you a good Advent Weekend Good bless you Yours Frank

Now that's how you restore an amazing old tool, function over form.

I appreciate the history you share about the tools used.

Definitely a significant part of history, as are you and your endeavors.

Dave, thank you for this very interesting video! It was fascinating to "see" the history of use & repair on this Eureka.

@20:43 Min.: My Name is Alfred. But everybody calls me just „Alf“. So I finde it very interesting „having“ a Blacksmith Shop in CA. To bad that it is too far away from my home in Germany.

I think I see half of that roller is quite original, square nuts. Great job.

A very impressive and inspiring work as always! May I suggest to always keep the pieces in friction very well lubricated? The idea is that you will reduce the efforts on the structure of the tool to the strict minimum.

Thanks for taking us along on this rebuild.

Repair is good for another 50 or so yrs , thanks for sharing and giving a insight of some the tools needed and used to make some of the wheels

i think the 7018 would have been stronger especially with a 5P root pass the MiG won't get the penetration a stick welder will get. i used to watch and old welder weld up cracked cyl. heads on on old oilfield pumping unit engines like Waukesha engines etc. he would get his wood burning stove cranked up and set the head on there for hours and slowly pre-heat and then weld the head up and put the head back on the stove again and stoke it up and let it set for a post bake and normalize. the guy like yourself was a real craftsman.

You are a excellent wheel wright, and you are a very good machinist, love your videos.

Regards from Bavarian, good ole "G". Do you have roots in my homecountry? Very good work Organisation! IT's a Honor to watch your work and skills. Stay marvelous 🖖 Kind Regards from Markus P.s. Sorry for my bad writing or Spelling and any mistakes in my comment 😉

Wow never cease to amaze me I'm sending me videos around older fellows I know I'm older by the way. Thanks for the information and the inspiration

Great ! I had emailed you about 2 months ago asking about your roller and where I could get one. I appreciate all your input and did find one at an auction, paid 1600$ for it but I’m glad to have it. Now I gotta figure out how to use it. Lol thanks again, you are a master craftsman, hope I can keep up with you...

Man, can you imagine all the rollers in the country back in the day and how many were thrown away. I'll bet Eureka did well for a while.

You did good. Old are does break excellent repair.

Great repair work friend

Thanks again Mr. Engels as allway very intresting and and Happy 2 Advent

Very cool tools. Nice fix, surprised to see the mig but I learned something! Thanks for sharing Dave

Another amazing video I wish I could come out west for a visit not to bother you just to say I was there and saw an amazing craftsmen.!!!! Bless you and your family!

Since you said before that you're mainly a one man operation I'm just curious how much time of your day is taken up by moving the camera around the shop to get all of those awesome simulated multi camera shots, not to mention editing? I'm assuming you're only using one camera since I never see other cameras and tripods in your shots and close ups. Does it interrupt your workflow much? In your last video I saw where you were talking into the camera then turned to your left and edited it like there was a second camera! Very professional looking. Nice work. You really do produce some of the best audio and video quality and editing on youtube, especially since you're in a working shop and not a studio. I'd love to see you get someone to shoot a video of you doing all of the behind the scenes stuff.

Thank you sir. That was very interesting to watch. I always wondered why they just didn't run a rail line out to the BoraX mines to bring in the mined Ore.

There ya go, good as ... uh, old :) Looked to me like it had a micro-fracture already in progress, and rolling one last tire was enough to make it go. The ol' gal has clearly has a lot of use.

I real interesting video to see the old roller I it’s original condition as well as yours in comparison. There nothing worth treasuring like having to maintain the past history of machines that help build the American west! Thanks for sharing.

if your rollers ever need to be build up.. either on the rolling surface or on the shaft surface.. you might search out an engine rebuilding shop or a crankshaft specialist that still has their crankshaft welding machine.. its usually a storm vulcan submerged arc version that has specialized sand pouring out to shield the arc.. they should be able to handle any weld up and grind back to size you need. if one of your shaft locks is broken.. how about using your wood working skills to create one slightly larger to take up for shrinkage and grinding to size and have one cast up at some foundry when they do a steel pour instead of a cast iron pour.. brilliant idea about placing the side in the forge to heat it up to duplicate the rust patina.. i would think that heating and slow cooling made that even stronger.. thanks for sharing the behind the scenes.. with water jet and laser cutting abilities.. those gears could even be easy to recreate..

Alf's has a lot of really cool old stuff, if only those walls could talk!

Maybe a sample of the steel/iron they used in the day vs. the material we have today would yield more strength ? That is a huge stress bending 8-9" of 1" plate.

Excellent work 👌 done 👍.

Fantastic video, Keith Rucker would be proud.

Nice, clean repair.

I sure wish these were more common, I would love to find one for use in the machine shop/job shop. Never seen one for sale in 20 years of buying tools

Another great video,,They may be old, but new to me if i haven't seen it

Enjoyed the video Mr Engel. You would never know that side was ever broken. You eyes will focus on the rough repair on the other side. Very nice repair job. Thanks again for taking the time to produce the video. Y'all take care and God bless.

Great stuff mate 👍 pretty fascinating gear buddy 👍

Great piece of working history... Nice job on the repair...

Have you heard of any plains for them ( the town folk ) to put a statue up of you in the town square yet Mr. Dave. I would like to come for that celebration.

It's a shame it broke. But stuff happens. Nice repair.

Like the ancient art of Kintsugi. A method that celebrates an artifact’s history by emphasizing its fractures and breaks instead of hiding or disguising them. Thus making them more valuable. Except for repairing the break with gold of course..lol

Very nice light restoration. I appreciate that you differentiated between cast “steel” and cast “iron”. I welded up the table on my old Japanese high quality drill press (it had a huge smile of shame) with my MIG welder. Everyone told me that it was not possible, but it worked great because it was cast steel. Cheers from Tokyo!

Have you ever used CO2 for your weld shield ? I worked as "A" craftsman in Big Spring TX, Cosden Refinery from early 60's to 1976. They updated with a couple wire machines in about 1970, and CO2 is what we used. I'm still tinkering with welding (at age 79) and still using CO2. I've heard of using an Argon-CO2 mix, but never gave it a try. I use Argon with Helliarc for welding aluminum. Is there any benefit for wire welding using Argon mix ? CO2 is a lot less expensive. I really am enjoying your videos. You are truly a craftsman and an artist. Rod Hallmark

I believe you said the tyres on the Borax wagon were 1" in thickness. I suppose if the raw stock was heated up to redness you could roll it in a hand-cranked machine. Of course it would be no big deal to build the 25-foot long fire for the 8' diameter wheels, LOL. As far as rolling that thickness material cold, I can't imagine doing that by hand. Yeah, that's how you break the rolling machine.

I really enjoy watching your videos.

WOW! Thanks, Mr. Engle.

Приятно посмотреть за настоящим мастером своего дела. Мастерская просто как в сказке.

EXCELLENT JOB AND VERY RELAXING TO WATCH YOU WORK , GIVES ME INSPIRATION AND IDEAS FOR MY OWN WORK SHOP ALL THE BEST FROM AL THANKS.

Love this channel.

Excellent!!! Very Smart !!!

Beautifully executed repair and got your name in the history books too

(RU-vid to me): "Hey! I know you're an electrical engineer, but you should watch this guy fixing old wagon wheels!" (Me, 20 videos deep): "Yeah, I guess so..." LOL

Great piece of History!

Really cool old

Grease is a lubricant. It also stops rust in those hard to reach seldom seen places.

They took the photo just before they broke the roller.

Should do the job. Thanks for sharing. GW