Collection: English Wheels

Authorized dealer for Baileigh Industrial and Grizzly Industrial English wheels. Shop the full line of English wheels for metal shaping — from 15" benchtop hobbyist units to 45" professional floor-standing wheels for auto body, aircraft skin, and custom fabrication work. Throat depths 15" through 45", steel gauge capacity 20 Ga through 14 Ga. Ships direct from the manufacturer. Not sure which model fits your work? Call 888-714-1410 or email sales — real technical support, no phone tree.

Why buy from Pittsburgh Spray Equipment

• Authorized Baileigh & Grizzly dealer — full manufacturer warranty, real support
• Tech support that answers — call 888-714-1410 or email sales, no phone tree

English Wheel Buying Guide

Throat Depth: How Wide a Panel You Can Shape

Throat depth is the distance from the anvil wheel to the frame — it defines how far into a panel you can reach. Match throat depth to your largest planned panel:

• Under 20" throat — hobbyist and small parts (fender flares, motorcycle tanks, cowls). Grizzly T25101 (15" benchtop) is the classic entry point.
• 20-25" throat — half-panels, hood scoops, larger fender sections. Grizzly T28964 (22" benchtop), Baileigh EW-21 (21" bench), and Baileigh 24" floor model.
• 26-30" throat — full quarter-panels, most automotive body work. Baileigh 28" and Baileigh EW-30.
• 31-40" throat — full doors, hoods, and larger sheet panels. Grizzly T27621 (32"), Grizzly G0973 (40"), and Baileigh EW-37.
• Over 40" throat — aircraft skin, motorsport bodies, and pro shops with big panel work. Baileigh EW-45 (45").

Steel Gauge Capacity

Rated capacity tells you the thickest mild-steel sheet the wheel can shape without stalling or damaging the frame:

• 20 Ga (0.036") — light shaping, aluminum, and mild steel up to 20 Ga. Best for hobby and prototyping work.
• 18 Ga (0.048") — automotive body panels, most restoration work. The everyday workhorse gauge.
• 16 Ga (0.060") — heavier auto body and light structural work.
• 14 Ga (0.075") and thicker — professional bodyshop, aircraft, and industrial work. Baileigh EW-30 / EW-37 / EW-45 are all rated to 14 Ga.

Bench Top vs. Floor Model

Bench-top English wheels mount to a sturdy workbench and are ideal for small-shop and hobbyist users where floor space is limited. Typically under 24" throat depth. Includes the Grizzly T25101, T28964, and Baileigh EW-21.

Floor-standing English wheels come with their own steel frame stands, deliver more rigidity for consistent shaping on larger panels, and free up your bench for smaller work. Every wheel with a throat depth 24" or greater in our lineup is a floor model.

Input Power

All 10 wheels in our current lineup are manually operated — you spin the anvil (bottom) wheel by hand while moving the panel between the upper and lower wheels. Manual operation gives the operator maximum control over material feed rate and pressure, which is why traditional English wheels remain the standard for finish body work. Motorized units exist but are almost exclusively used in production settings for repetitive shaping of identical parts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an English wheel used for?
An English wheel shapes flat sheet metal into compound (double-curved) surfaces by rolling the metal between two shaped wheels under pressure. It's the traditional tool for hand-forming auto body panels, aircraft skin, motorcycle tanks, and any curved sheet-metal part where a stamped die isn't practical.

Bench-top or floor model — which should I buy?
Bench-top makes sense for small shops, occasional use, and panels under 24" wide. Floor models are more rigid, easier on your back for long sessions, and can handle full-size body panels. If you're working on cars regularly, jump straight to a 28"+ floor model — you won't outgrow it. If you're just starting out or shaping small parts, a benchtop like the Grizzly T28964 (22") is a great first wheel.

Do I need different anvil wheels for different curves?
Yes — the bottom (anvil) wheel comes in different crown radii. A flatter anvil produces gentler curves; a more crowned anvil produces tighter curves. Most floor-model English wheels ship with a set of 6-8 anvils covering the common radius range (typically ~4" through flat). Bench-top units usually ship with fewer anvils but accept aftermarket sets. Check each product page for exactly what's included.

What steel gauge can I actually shape on a hobby wheel like the T25101?
The T25101 is designed for light gauge (up to 20 Ga mild steel or up to 18 Ga aluminum). It will not effectively shape thick 16 Ga panels — the frame flexes and the material stalls. If you need to shape 16 Ga or thicker steel regularly, step up to the T28964, EW-21, or larger. The 14 Ga floor models (EW-30/37/45) are what pro auto body shops use.

What's the difference between Baileigh and Grizzly English wheels?
Grizzly generally wins on entry-level price — their T25101 is the cheapest way to get a real English wheel in your shop. Baileigh wins on heavy-duty capacity and finish quality — the EW-30 / EW-37 / EW-45 are 14 Ga rated with much heavier frames, larger anvil sets included, and are the choice for professional bodyshop and restoration work. Both carry full manufacturer warranties.

Can I use an English wheel on aluminum?
Yes — English wheels work well on aluminum, and the same wheel typically handles thinner aluminum than steel (an 18 Ga steel-rated wheel usually handles 16 Ga aluminum comfortably). Aluminum work-hardens as you shape it, so use gentler passes and anneal between passes for tight curves.

Do you offer training or installation?
We ship the wheels only — installation is straightforward (bolt bench-tops to your bench; floor models are shipped assembled with the frame). For technique guidance, we recommend Baileigh's video library (they publish free English wheel tutorials on YouTube) and the classic Sheet Metal Handbook by Ron Fournier. Our tech team is happy to answer setup questions at 888-714-1410.