Fixing Cart Wheels | Less Than Ideal Can Still Be Workable | Engels Coach Shop 

A retired Army Colonel once told me "The goal is perfection, the standard is excellence". That was an excellent repair, perfect for the situation which presented itself to you. Well done.

Good enough, a good friend once told me that the worst enemy of a good idea is a better idea, sometimes optimal is not achievable with the resources available or allowed, so you have to be creative and accept that good enough is exactly that, good enough to function properly and safely, as well as last a while. I restore homes, it's funny that all the channels that I watch, we tradespeople are forever in need of band-aids and tape, lol! No matter how good, experienced, and careful you try to be, you still get bit, oh well, there's always band-aids.

The time you don't get paid for ... Every craftsman has to deal with this on almost every project.

I love woodworking, sometimes I make something, sometimes I just make sawdust. I am a 75 year old Disabled Vietnam Veteran. When I came home, I was so afraid of death, I was no longer living. So, I became a Hospice Volunteer. After the first year, I thought, I need to do more. So I started working on wood projects for the families to remember their loved ones by. I just wish I had your tallent.

Dave, I appreciate the extra time and effort you put into getting the "extra shots" from different viewpoints for editing those brief segments where, for example, you see the hammer hit the nail or rivet from one side and then see it fly out on the other. I'm sure others here appreciate it as well. It's the icing on the cake. Thanks!

I live in a Amish community...just love the craftsmanship in these wagons and skies. A true art. I enjoy your channel. At the end of the day you have to feel satisfied! Another great vid.

I learn so much from every video. The devil is in the details. Please keep on doing it the way you are doing it!!!

.....very methodical and always a pleasure to watch..... different wheels is a different challenge regardless of the same basics is always interesting to see........ thank-you........... UK......

An absolute wizard at work there!! I though those hubs were junk, Dave, but you brought them around just fine. Many many years of experience cannot be beaten👍🏻👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

*Great work Dave!* I've never even owned anything with a wooden wheel that I can remember, although I grew up around a few of them, mostly pony carts and the like. Therefore, I've never worked on a wooden wheel and most likely never will, but I still have a difficult time not stopping to watch the entire process, every time it shows up on my feed. You are truly a craftsman that has spent many hours doing what you do and it shows.

Thank you for telling us which side of the spoke the shim goes in the hub. The reason you gave explains that it's position is so important! Something most people wouldn't have considered. You're the best. ❤🌅🌵😷

A nice sympathetic restoration using all the original parts. Brilliant job, thanks Dave.

The practiced ease with which you do this is a pleasure to behold. The wheels were junk when brought but they left many many times better and safer.. Thank you for the entertaining videos you so expertly produce!!!

I know I'm late to the party on this one, but I'm just amazed at the amount of engineering that went into these wood wagon wheels! I had never thought about it, naturally, being brought up in the age of automobiles, but they were quite sophisticated! I think those hubs were pretty hinky on these wheels - that's a part I think I would have replaced if were doing this. But, you're the wheelwright, and quite the craftsman, and you made them functional again. Thank you for taking us along on this journey.

Some nice photography that made the expected a little ‘unusual’ and another nice job. Thank you.

You are also a fine video maker. Camera angles, editing, audio, lighting are superb.

12:17 I like it when you point to where I'm supposed to look as you are tightening that clamp. It makes your intention very clear. Thank you. ❤🌅🌵😷.

Nice save, Dave!. It's a pleasure to watch you work. Thank you.

It was just like the old days when it was always wheels is the shop. Nice to see again

Tremendous video. Truly a gifted craftsman in your trade. Enjoyed the video and never get tired of you doing wheels

What fun for a city boy who's never used real tools. I felt so superior when I saw the runout on the lathe and actually knew that was the issue. I never get tired of watching you "scuff" the tires into place. Intuition says that they'd just pull right back over time, but obviously, they don't. I lost a bet with myself - I thought you have to wind up making new hubs. Those spokes looked to be in really great shape to me. I winced as you hammered directly at your crotch! ;o) Thanks for sharing this with us, I always wondered about this craft and it's very nice to learn the details.

Its great to sit back and watch the process you go thru to over come a challenge. "Touch of the Masters Hand"

Hiya Dave. Somehow I hear the godfather in the discussion. " I am no longer doing wheels", "Just when I thought I was out, they drag me back in". I still enjoy the video no matter what you are working on.

As a fellow craftsman in multiple trades, I am completely mesmerized by your extreme talents in such esoteric specialties. My hat is truly off to you. I appreciate the general lack of music, so I can pick my guitar with what's left of my joints while I watch in amazement. Thank you.

Well Mr Engel I never tire of the so-call "same old" it always intrigues me. It's good old fashion hard work with a lot of on the fly ingenuity thrown in. I love the common sense shown. Well done sir.

I like just looking around his shop, the semi-cluttered corners, the well used equipment, the old tools. It has such a welcome feeling about it. Unlike some other shops on those TV shows that look like a NASA clean room. They are an abomination to my eye. But, each to his own I suppose!

Always like how you save what us who dont know better,older wooden wheels,when you are done new and old look the same

Think think think overcome the urge to make it all new and perfect looking at what cost and not the original wheels. Keep it original and it will work fantastic. Great to watch you strip and build a wheel again and see the tools working especially the home built specials. Love the efficient way the shims are glue in the hub and wedged into position still allowing repair to carry on. Heating the wire and allowing gravity to pull them level before brazing them together everything has a reason and done in the most efficient manner. And of course made to look easy by a skilled craftsman.

Thanks for sharing the less-than-planned side of things, Mr. Dave!!!! Enjoyed that!!

I love to watch a craftsman at work

Seeing you spin the handwheels on your tire stretcher reminds me of the mad scientist Doctor Frankenstein spinning dials and pulling levers on his crazy equipment--and I mean this in a *good* way! The world is a better place with you in it, Dave.

Always looking forward to see the new upload each Friday

A very enjoyable 24 minutes, as usual. I found myself thinking, how pleasant (for me) it would be to take a trip up north, pass thru Joliet and say hello.

Nice save Dave. They look very nicely restored.

That's quite a job you did Dave. It's Such a pleasure to watch you work.

You are not only a great and skilled craftsmen but a real gentlemen and honored you word and fixed what turned out to be more than you thought the wheel needed. It really was pretty rough. You are a real gentlemen!

Job well done !!! It's unreasonable to expect a perfect job repairing a wheel that didn't start life being perfect. Although the repair wasn't perfection...the workmanship was.

It reminds me working as an apprentice at the D.A. Hochstetlers in Topeka Indiana 1982. When all the Amish came into the wheel shop with very bad treated wheels, and we should fix what was left of the wheels to the absolute smallest cost. We had one advantage - we used an huge hydraulic ram from late 1800 when we put on the iron tire - and that helped a lot. Keep on doing your very excellent movies!

As my great - great granny used to tell me when "things weren't going according to Hoyl" or plan ... "could always be worse ..." And as Great Grandad was fond of saying ... "Expect the worst. That way you'll never be dissapointed..." Good job salvaging what was there. 😷👍

Once again thanks for the video, until next week.

Congrats on the new wood stove! Thanks for taking the time to make these videos!

You've become a really good videographer Dave. Lots more details are shown, without taking as much time as it used to. I also suspect that it is quite nice having this video record for clients. I've often wondered how many of my customers begin to understand what went into the pieces I make for them (I'm sure none of them do). Yours can certainly see and appreciate it. Laughed a lot at this one, as different problems came up. I actually enjoy the videos where you solve the problems like those encountered here. I think you did an great job on those tenon edges. Some folks might have poured in a gap filler, but that isn't as good as wood. Thanks as always

Enjoy your videos immensely!

Good job. Another satisfied customer and you fit into his budget.

Perhaps I’ve been watching too many of your videos, as I’m now trying to anticipate what you might do when you find a problem. For the loose spokes in the hub, I thought about using shims before you said it! Certainly was better than making new spokes, and helped make up a little of the time you don’t get paid for. I admire all you do!

Thanks again, Dave. Your videos are the highlight of my Friday evenings! I really appreciate seeing your policies and philosophy in practice - there are some great lessons to be learned here, and I think that explains one (more) reason why your videos are so welcome. Please be assured that you would be greatly missed if you were not "here".

Now, that video serves as a great testimony of problem solving a complicated adaptive process. Truly, a great example of where experiential knowledge meets functionality and economy.

I enjoyed watching you salvage and repair the cart wheels. Those same principles and techniques can be used on much more than wheels. Thanks again for taking the time to film and share your knowledge, and for proving that sometimes it really is possible to make chicken salad out of chicken crap.

Once again I'm impressed. I thought this would be a no fix or complete rebuild. Good job.

They came in looking pretty scrappy. They went out looking fabulous. A perfectionist's eye is never satisfied but the customer's perception can still be 'perfect.' It is a challenge to accept the customer's perception.

Hi once more from England Dave..joy to watch as usual. For me it’s the old grey matter drawing down from experience,(as we saw you doing there) the best,cost effective way to go about such a repair,or any type of repair to a budget for that matter! What I believe you arrive at is what is often called a bodged repair!? My thoughts are..it takes a bloody good bodger to be capable of such skilled work!, So I say bodge on when the Devil (and lack of funds),so demand! Stay safe all of you ...Please! X from the UK

Everybody who repairs something finds things that weren't right to begin with. I call those repairs "unscrewing the inscrutable." Thanks again, Dave, for letting us watch.

You remind me of one of those Italian master-craftsmen who's the only man left on earth who's mastered an old craft and keeps it alive. That makes me happy.

One upside to making these videos besides our entertainment is that the owner of those wheels sees how much work went into his "Quick Fix" - Thank you for entertaining me yet again.

Fascinating and instructional. I learn every time I watch you.

Thanks for sharing, Dave - another great lesson on patience and know-how !!

Still amazed at the craftsmanship that is required. Amazed at the equipment required. Am lucky to see just what went into my grandpas carriage wheels. From the time I was in in elementary school until I was in high school my grandpa would come with his horse and carriage to pick up me, my cousins at school and bring us home. The best horse he had was Nell. She was gentle.

VERY GOOD ...FROM SPAIN..OK👍

Nice to see the tyre wire equipment back in action. Not many tyres done recently, as evidenced by the lack of scuff marks on the floor. 😀

Thanks again, Dave. Never tire of watching whatever you are doing.

They may not be new but you make sure they're safe. Good job.

Yours is an art not a job, you are really good it is a pleasure to see you work

Another good job done on some pretty ropey wheels. Always love watching the tyres go on, particularly the "skid"part to close up the gap. Just amazes me how that works.

Dave, if you can't repair it nobody can. Another great video. I have watched all your videos and can see how your experience shows increasing ability to repair almost any wheel, wagon or cart.

In the house renovation business we call those things "mightaswells"

I spent a good deal of time searching the Internet for another wainwright. There is one in the U.K., and none other in the USA. But saying there is but one Dave Engels is still an understatement.

Well done. I takes a lot of experience to make that call. What is amazing is that there was no compromise on the final product.

Thanks again Dave. Always educational.

Bet the new stove is more efficient, but I will miss the beauty of the old one. Thanks for another wonderful Friday evening of great craftsmanship sir.

Your work is true craftsmanship!

Well so far the wind of my spirit have not picked very old man up yet, so....Thanks very much....Looks good to me....!

The could you just jobs are always a mare. The wheels vids are still mighty impressive every time Dave thanks again

Hi Dave: Friday has become a day that I really look forward too! You usually post a new video, and I look forward to the education. Really great content! I have been doing wood working for a very long time. In one of your recent videos, you suggested using a hoof rasp. Well, I took your advice, and bought a used one, in like new condition, from a vet! I must have 20-30 files, rasps, routers, etc.This hoof rasp works GREAT! I build a lot of outdoor furniture, and this rasp is just what I needed to round off corners.; not to aggressive, just right! Thanks Again! Gary

Hope the finger is okay. I've been watching for more then year now and that is the first time I've seen a bandage on you hands.

...great joie to watch and see true craftmanship in every single move and plan - thank you kindly from ZA!

My favorite to watch. Dave excels at all he does. Jc

Well done once again thank you, Dave This comes back to the video you did the other day when you said you need to know when good enough is good enough. From the model engine doctor from down under. If I ever have the opportunity to get over there one day i would like to spend some time with you and maybe even give you a hand..

Well all was difficult but durable. Kind regards from London UK 🇬🇧

This is the reality of repairing any thing, always more needed than originally thought. No can guess what will be found once things come apart.

Dave, even though I've seen you do this work before, I enjoy seeing it again. Keep up the great videos and don't be afraid to repeat stuff.

Even though you have done repairs like this many times, it still must be a rewarding "feeling" to bring these wheels back to life, and usefulness. Love your videos Dave!!

for those of us that have that worn and somewhat "loose" wheel hub that really needs to be addressed this gives me a great basis to have a go at repairing it....once I've bought a replacement...it's always good to have a spare ;) Thanks again Dave, I always look forward to your videos, they are an excellent resource and I appreciate you sharing them with us

Had to take the not perfect but it will do route today trimming a older horse with arthritic knees. Even with pain meds it’s a trial keeping her feet up long enough to make progress. Her sole leaves a lot to be desired but her toes are shorter and her heels are back where they belong and the foot is reasonably balanced. Thinking I may have to have my vet teach me how to do a carpal block to make things easier on both of us!

I knew every step of this process. Kept saying yep, you are going to do this next Bill. Why? Because Bill taught me on RU-vid. Thanks Bill for sharing, why I am a subscriber!

You my friend are a true Craftsman! 👍

I would like to see a video with all your shop made jigs and tools

Another excellent video. The attention to details and all those different camera angles make what you do beyond fascinating. The editing and sound quality is very well done. I deeply and truly enjoy and love watching you work. I would volunteer to assist you anytime. Just to learn. Thank you fine sir, and keep up the great work. Jim

Three things Mr. Engels. 1. You are going to come in and realize one day, that you wore a hole into the concrete banging those tires on the concrete floor so many times. 2.A lot of what I seen you do reminds me of what I have to do to my bike when I have a wheel go bad or break a spoke. 3. You reminded me of something my father use to say about a job that was less then idea. Which was it's good enough for Government work. My late dad by the way is prior Military and served in the motor pool. Now I do wonder some times, if it is not possible to get someone to make me an old pair of wooden wagon wheels for my bike, with all the spokes I break mind you my bike is actually an old Schwinn adult trike. But I think it would look odd to see an adult trike with wooden wagon wheels on the back two wheels. lol

I get the time not paid for, no one who owns a business is unfamiliar with time you dont get paid for. Thanks for sharing. Charles

You are a true craftsman, sir!

I love watching your work... "the time you don't get paid for", thinking time. I make bows (wooden archery bows) and I tell newbies they should spend at least as much time thinking as they do removing wood. I do a fair few repairs and it's always interesting to see other people's work and try to figure out how to do a tricky repair... those "just" jobs that take an awful lot of thought and time... :-)

Really enjoy watching your videos.

Nice looking new fireplace .

I never get tier of watching you fixing weels....great enterteinment OCD man...lol

Never apologize for repairing or making wheels Dave, I can watch it all day long.

It's a lot to watch. I watch your videos every week aref from iran

What an interesting guy he made it look so easy, I like the bit at the end welding then closing up the seam.

I noticed a foxy Young Lady slip by during the video.

When you made those shims on the bandsaw and then worked them in...the fit was perfection!

I love this channel. Thank you for making these videos. I find it fascinating and a learning experience as well.