Hey guys Someone mentioned having a home made bead roller for sheet metal - got any plans or pics? Any help much appreciated Steve
Steve, I got my beadroller from a bloke in Ballarat Vic. Sorry I have lost his contact details. I have posted a link to an oz hot rod forum, one of the members of this board put me onto the beadroller and arranged to send it by train to me, he may be able to help. Heres the link- http://www.hot-rod.com.au/benchracing/index.php
The common design sold by Harbor Freight,Eastwood,Kenco, and others is so simple you should be able to copy what you need from pictures. Just make the frame stiffer.
I wonder if you couldnt use a v groove pulley off of an alternator and a rouned off cylindrical shaped anvil from an english wheel an make one? The frame, handle... gears an engineering time might make it cost effective to pickup a cheapie though!
In 1994, while writing for the original American Rodder, I was party to the building of a really substantial bead roller that was designed to use readily available dies and other hardware from PEXTO, king of the bead-roller manufacturers. We built the tool for about $350 which included about $240 worth of PEXTO pieces. A manufactured bead roller with the capability of this heavy-duty beast would set you back better than a thou. This roller routinely handles 16-gauge steel, and it does 18-gauge like it was aluminum. It accepts the full range of PEXTO dies as well as custom contours of your own devising. The full article was a six-pager, much too dense to post in its entirety. I'll post the detailed drawings, however, so you can see if you're interested. The article appeared in American Rodder, issue No. 62, July 1994. I have no idea if back issues are available from the current publisher, Buckaroo Communications, 701 Arcturus Ave., Oxnard, CA 93033. If they are not, I'll scan and e-mail the pages to TRULY INTERESTED folks. I don't want to sound like a pissant about this, but it takes time to answer each request, and while I love you all, I do have a life other than the HAMB. So, here are dimensioned and construction drawings for you to determine if this is something you want to build.
the hambs jason aka "killer" showed pictures of how he strengthened his in order to make it much better, ill attach a few here.
Just finished scanning and sizing the pages of the bead-roller article, then road-tested them to see how well they print out. The news is good, particularly if you have a high-speed connection. Dial-up will take several minutes for you to get the package, but it's complete and readable.
Mike:I'd be eturnally grateful if you could please send a set of those drawings to me at : canadiantoolmaker@lycos.com Thanks in advance.
Keep an eye open for Heating and AC Shops that are going out of Business. Most use Pexto equipment and a lot of times they will have them stashed in a corner somewhere because they quit using them. I know for a fact that the shop I work in has three of them, two of which have not been used in the 8 years that I have been there. They started buying their Elbows and other Standard Fittings instead of making them, and those two Bead rollers have not been used since.
I just purchased the Harbor Freight 18" throat. Would not work at all without the stiffening. Did that with box tube and it works great. clamped in my bench vice and rolled beads in a complete set of floor pans for the 39. Make up a guide fence-get alot straighter beads that way. Used the stepping dies--also good. I would suggest adapting a large truck steering wheel instead of the hand crank. This would make for smoother one-man operation. Best 150.00 spent. Made some of it back on friends work already!!
Mike, if you don't mind, I would like a copy. Roothawg1@cox.net Only if ya have time. It looks like an awesome setup.
Do you guys have some examples of the homemade work you have done using a bead roller? Some nice examples might be of inspiration to others. Thanks, don
A while ago some one helped me get a bead roller from some one who made them (from Ballarat Vic.) I have lost the contact info. Could the person who helped me (Dave Szkilnyk I think?) please post the contact info or email me, as Im trying to help some get there hands on one.
All those that got a copy of off av8, lighten his load and send it on. To me for starters: crusty@loudmufflers.com
If someone recvd a copy from Mike and could p*** it to me.Thanks gordonb@broadcom.com I will in turn do the same.
If someone could forward a copy, it would be greatly appreciated. Been trying to figure how to make one for a while now. No Harbour Freight in this neck of the woods. Thanks guys. Jim (Canuck) Manitoba Canada hotmetal@shaw.ca
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