Hot Rods Bead roller ends

I just rolled some 1/2 wide beads in the inner fender wells and would like to finish the start and stop ends better - is anyone doing this by making a die or is there an easier way? It's just one of those things that bugs me with the bead roller.

 

I drilled a half inch hole in some plate 1/4" then cut a half notch up to it . then made a round headed puch out of half inch steel and finished the ends by hand

 

On some of the metal shaping forums, I've read that some use an open ended wrench with a jaw matching the width of your bead and a flat dolly. Most wrenches have a radius between the jaw flats, you can use this as a "die" of sorts to put a more finished look on the end of the bead. Place the wrench against the end of the bead so that the radius between the jaw flats will define the start/stop op your bead, support the panel with a flat dolly and smack the wrench with the hammer and done!

I've also seen re-purposed gasket hole punches ground in half to make a half moon shaped punch, as well as one off dies.

good luck.

 

bct and spearodude, thanks for the ideas - i'll give them a try. I thought about using a 1/2' ball end mill and cutting a groove in some thick plate ending in the shape I'm after, welding a 1/2" ball bearing on the end of a piece of chromoly and using that with an appropriately sized hammer. Of course I sold my mill some time ago, but somebody's got one around here.
While I was messing around with the bead roller I came across another little problem that needed a solution- my shop has high bay lights and they cast a lot of shadows. Since I couldn't use a fixed guide on the roller and had to freehand the beads I needed all the light I could get on the subject area so I made up a little fixture for my Maglite. Works pretty good and now I can clearly see the layout lines. I know you can buy a flexy mag base light but I've already got the Maglite (and the $30 it would cost for the other)

 

Buy this set,
http://m.harborfreight.com/9-piece-hollow-punch-set-3838.html
Then modify the sizes you need to finish the ends of your beads. Simple & inexpensive. Post your results & work.

 

Here is a video by Lazze showing the use of the punches like username showed.

 

K13 that was good,thanx.

 

K13 & username - exactly what I had in mind - my bead roller started out as a Woodward Fab vice held one that I reinforced and built a stand and motorized with a Grainger gear head motor - I'll post a couple pictures and one of the Maglite mod as well. Thanks again

 

Here's the maglite mod and an overall view of the beader.

 

Lazze also has another vid up where he reduces distortion by using a wide female die instead of the matched set. It also makes nicer ends on the beads.
You have to play with it a little but it works well.