Bead Rollers

[ProTouringCuda]

OK - looking into a bead roller. What's recommended? Eastwood? Woodward Fab? Irvan Smith?

What do you have, and what do you like don't like about it?



Thanks in advance for the help.

[wiedemab]

I have an older version of the Pro-Tools. I'm pretty happy with it. If I were going to do a ton of bead rolling I would probably look into the Mittler Bros with the foot pedal control.

[DynoDon]

I have a Harbor Freight and it's a piece of crap! It deflects under the pressure of the dies and causes the bead to wander.

[John Wright]

http://trick-tools.vansantent.com/tools/Bead%20Roller

[fletcherscustoms]

have this one and love it so far.
http://vansantent.com/sheet_metal_ma...ead_roller.htm

[edog1]

I have an older version of the Pro-Tools. I'm pretty happy with it. If I were going to do a ton of bead rolling I would probably look into the Mittler Bros with the foot pedal control.

X2 or if work by yourself

[fordsbyjay]

have this one and love it so far.
http://vansantent.com/sheet_metal_ma...ead_roller.htm

x2 for me as well. I also have a HF one and it is a real POS. If you search youtube there is some good videos to help you learn. You can also see how to beef up the HF unit and add a drill for power if you are on a budget.

[chassisguy]

Baileigh sells a nice one that is variable speed heres a little of my work....

[chassisguy]

Bailiegh Industries

[gearheads78]

Bailiegh Industries

That is the one I have been eyeballing myself.

[coolwelder62]

I have a mitler's bros. std. model 24 inch,power w/foot pedal.Work's great, I would like to upgrade to a 36 inch w/ HD. motor so I could bead roll 16ga. Roll's 18ga. great . So if any one would like a good deal on a 24 in. power MB. give me a call day's 785.594.7481,eves 785.594.3299.Thank's Scott.

[ProTouringCuda]

Baileigh sells a nice one that is variable speed heres a little of my work....

Ok - now for a newby question: looking at the SVT panel - is the "SVT" logo actually raised, or is the outline a bead? If it's all raised - how did you do that?

[BAILEIGH INC]

Check it out! http://www.bii1.com/videos/bead-roller-br18E.php

[parsonsj]

Sigh. I would love to have such equipment... my $90 bead roller is a piece of crap. It takes two people to use it (1 to turn the crank, 1 to feed material).

Though it did have its fun: my wife wouldn't help me anymore since I had a tendency to raise my voice when she didn't understand what I wanted her to do. So I invited the hot neighbor lady to come over and turn my crank.

jp

[BAILEIGH INC]

[wellis77]

Since cost is an issue for me. I'll probably be buying the Woodward. Found a couple links that talk about reinforcing them to eliminate flex. This link shows adding an electric motor as well. Afterward he was able to bead 16ga. http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/...ead.php?t=3403

Another one on the hamb: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=85823

If nothing else it's an option that will do the job and not break the bank.

Surprised you haven't gone down this road with yours JP.

[parsonsj]

It's not that mine flexes (that I've noticed). All the threads are suspect in the carrying blocks, there's a lot of end play, the shear doesn't work, and the dies aren't smooth. But the biggest problem is that the motor doesn't move smoothly, because it's human-operated. Adding a motor to it, fixing the dies, etc. would be polishing a chunk of coal and wanting a diamond.

One of these days...

jp

[wellis77]

What brand is your roller jp?

[parsonsj]

What brand is your roller jp?

It's from Harbor Freight.

[Dave Maxwell]

I have the mittler power drive 24 and I am very happy with it. Still learning though