Who has a bead roller, what brand do you have, and how do you like it ??? This is a little after the fact 'cuz I just bought one. But, your input will be go to know! I am only talking about the "less than $250" type !!! Thanks Guys!
I've got an Eastwood bead roller. It's done everything I've tried so far. I'm working on 18 gauge floorpans, and it's doing fine.
I had a Harbour Freight one. It was ok. I found it a bit difficult to do things by myself with it (which is how I usually work) especially larger pieces. I bought a powered Mittler Bros one and there is zero comparision. I love it but there is no comparison in price either.
X2 on what Lucky and K13 said, hard to manage even an average piece by yourself, but Im to tight to spend the money on a Mittler powered roller, since I only use for myself, generally, but then I spend stupid money on other stuff, go figure. I guess you, and me, have basically the same priorities...If you fight it long enough and use it a lot, youll probably move up to a powered roller...
I just beefed up a HF roller then bought one of there power threader and foot control ! A power roller ! Not my idea guys stole it of u tube !,, it works great !
2011 06 03 002 006 by JOECOOL posted Jun 3, 2011 at 3:04 PM I made this from an old table saw,worked great.
I have a small Woodward fab 18" throat bead roller. I use it on 18 ga mostly and it works alright. At some point I'd like to stiffen up the frame and make it powered. Trying to run a nice straight bead and turning the crank is a pain in the ass to say the least. -Chris Sent from my flip phone.
Here's some reading material... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/tool-tech-another-hf-bead-roller-stand.118726/
For the guys using their beader with a crank handle, I found replacing the handle with an old steering wheel made it a lot easier to use.
I have Woodward which I have only used on Aluminum. However we have done 14GA but annealed it first. Worked with no problem other it needs 2 people to operate. One guiding and one crankimg.
I mounted my Pro tool bead roller kit on to a metal door. I don't have a motor drive on it yet so I just use a socket and ratchet on the nut for the top roller.
THAT is great, any more pics? I have a harbor freight one I mounted on a stand and reinforced with 2x2 square steel, works great, but a table and the cheap power feed are now next on my agenda.
I have the Woodward Fab unit as well and to me it looks exactly the same as the HF one. It would be interesting to do a side by side comparison, i bet they are identical just re-badged. -Chris
I have a harbor freight one! About 15 years old, I adapted a motor on it with a foot pedal. Its a one man operation! Works for almost everything I want to do? I bought some other dies, this also helps. I did buy a louvering die, but it distorts the metal like crazy? Doesn't work to go for me!
HAMB rocks! Thank you all for your input/advise! I bought a Woodward Fab roller from Summit. So far it is still in the box. We bought a house and will be moving soon, so I am going to wait to set it up. I have gathered a few parts to convert it to a powered unit. If it works I will let you know! haha I really like the ideas of the old table saw, and the metal door. Great ideas. Thanks you guys! Much appreciated! I also bought a JD2 tubing bender, and I will be converting that to hydraulic operation. I have most of the parts, but again, waiting until I get moved into my shop to finish that up. If I can make that work, I'll show how I did it if anyone wants to see. Thanks again Guys!
I made a heavy stand for my Eastwood roller, and made it so the bottom roller is at the same height as my table saw and work benches. For big sheets like body parts it works good, takes two people, of course. Made my break stand the same height too.
eastwood here. it's ok. I'd really like to have a power one. it's hard to crank the wheel and feed it through by yourself. it does the job, though.
if you are going to do alot of metalwork, get the mittler with the industrial motor and dont look back. if its a once in a blue moon thing, the HF will do ya fine after you reinforce it and get a buddy to crank it.
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