My HF Bead Roller....I know, I know!!

So i bought this bead roller from HF and it really worked like crap so i made so modifications and it works KILLER now!! I really tried to find a used AMERICAN MADE one for a while as i can't afford the really nice new U.S. made ones....But no luck!!

It's really sturdy now and i have all the dies and tools hooked up to it so it's self contained....Everything is there.

I used the foot rest of a messed up stool i had for the wheel and i have plenty of leverage and control.

If you have one, do that, you'll be stoked!!

Here it is!!















Ian

 

There may be hope for us low buck folks to have a workable tool yet. Thanks for posting that.
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That looks great, I've got one of those to.. this seems like a worthwhile modification.

 

Lookin good

 

nice work....

 

Show off!!

....kidd'n...Looks killer - Congrats!

 

There have been several threads on this and many other boards... the HF beaders do work pretty well when you beef them up like that. Even if you build a whole new frame, the gears and dies are pretty much worth what you pay for the HF tool.

Mine's not nearly as pretty as that, but it does get the job done.

 

Hey thanx to all you guys!! It works really well and i'm just a hobbyist so i can't justify spending 500$+ for a tool that i use every once in a while. With the 20% off coupon, it's pretty cheap!!

Ian

 

I WANT ONE OF THOSE,AND I WANT IT NOW!
Thanks for posting,nice piece of machinery.

 

HAHA! I don't know if HF ships to Scotland??

Ian

 

Here is my take:


I picked up the motor on Ebay for 60.00. It works excellent, I've done up to 14 Ga Stainless with it

Even added a foot control (another Ebay find 20.00):


I actually completely boxed mine (Only because I got the 1/2" by 6" plate for free):

 

You all make me ill.

 

MurfMan, THAT IS BITCHIN'!!! WOW!!

Ian

 

I was in HF the other day to pick up some misc grinding wheels and more of the butt-weld clamps and was staring at the bead roller for a while considering buying it. I think I'll pick one up next week and modify it like you guys have done.

Ian, does the HF Roller come with all those dies you have pictured? If so it looks like a good deal, how well do the shearing dies work?

Murf, what's the specs on that motor? Does is go forward & reverse? The foot control & motor seems like a great idea for easy one-man operation.

 

Necessity is the mother of invention. Good work from both you guys. Usually junk is junk no matter how it's reworked, but you both turned the sows ear into a silk purse. Great mods. The FOGGER

 

Nice work guys!

I can field this one!

It does come with all the dies. I have been toying with the idea of just remaking the frame out of square tubing. So far, I've gotten away with drilling a couple holes in the frame and bolting on a piece of angle iron.

 

Nice work.

Here's my version...



And the build thread...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137858

Neal

 

i have one in my garage and its been sitting because it sucks! I am gonna get some plate and beef it up now, Would love to know the specs on that motor, I really like that idea

 

Beautiful!!

Ian

Let's see everybody's different mods that have been done to it!! It's fun!!

 

I like how you went through the trouble to drill all of the trick 'lightening holes' in the gussets too!

Now if you can come up with a way to beef up the tollorances in the arbor of my HF drill press so the bit doesn't walk all over the place...

 

Hey Cleatus, I wish i could take credit for all the holes but IMS in Sun Valley sell these gussets pre-drilled 2$ to 3$ a piece.

Ian

 

hmmm. . . I though I did a post when I modified mine... but I cant find it. Here is the pic anywho,,,




looking back I wish I had welded the legs of the angle to the plate, instead of putting one side up against it, but oh well, its still WAY better than it came.

 

Bitchin' man!! If you put a wheel instead of the arm it makes a HUGE difference in controlling your lines.

Ian

 

yeah, I know. . .I keep telling myself I'm going to get a gearmotor for it, but you know how that works. I don't use it that often any way. One of these days...

 

I bought one of those a few years back specifically for the shearing dies. didn't shear shit. made a nice step though. I took it back the same day.

shit I got a welder and a bunch of steel. where was the HAMB then?

just by luck I bought a 3 foot roller, a nice box and pan brake, a corner notcher and a broken HF shear, press brake, roller, all with a nice rolling table and the guy threw in his HF bead roller.

anybody see the guy who rolled flames into the fenders of his 46-ish Ford?

 

Here is one that I need to finish someday.



The construction is pretty simple. It uses a couple of 1-1/2" x .188 wall DOM tube with bushings in each end for the shafts to ride in. It would probably be better if the side plates were a little longer as the adjuster and the spring would be closer to the force being exerted on them. The gearmotor just needs a torque strap to prevent its rotation. I like the idea of centering the forces on the machine instead of hanging it off to the side like the LowBuck type.

I doubt that it would work real well for rolling beads in 14 ga. stainless but should be fine for aluminum up to .060"

 

what are you guys using for the turning wheels?

 

A '60's hotrod steering wheel would look cool!

 

Looks like Ian is using the remains of a bar stool.

I think my shop bar stool is starting to get scared, between the thread where the guy made a steering wheel, and this one,,, I need to find a cheep one I can sacrifice