Bead Former For Tubing.....

[Shox Dr]

Note to self; Must keep gob shut

 

[gaz_moose]

the one that i had to go in the lathe was quite simple
i turned the shape of the male former (the smaller one on yours) onto a piece of bar, this then went into the chuck.
then i made a wheel with the female former shape which i then bolted to bit of square bar that mounted into the tool post.

you could slide the male former in and out of the chuck to set where you wanted the bead then wind the other wheel in on the tool post slowly till the bead was formed i used to set the speed to 40 or something like that. my lathe had a slidey drill post and you could use the chuck on that to guide/steady the other end of the tube.

i always wanted to make a propper one like the one in you picture but never found the time as with my method i could not bead angled tubes as they would hit the bed of the lathe

 

[hotrodder]

Gotcha. I normally roll the beads before firing up the welder as it can still be a bit cumbersome with a bunch of tube flapping around. I prefer the Parker tools style that Shox Dr posted but they're a lot more work to replicate (wish i'd just bought a set last year when the exchange rate was good, would have paid for themselves by now!)

 

[500e]

Some interesting stuff here


And the UK manufacturers here

3 balls & a cam

 

[whensparksfly]

i made die for my bead roller took 20min and work great just like the tool at the start of thread one large and one small for the inside of tube

 

[Brad93]

Sorry to dig up an old thread.

I need to bead roll some small aluminium tubing of ⅜” and 5/8”.

The earls bead rollers are very expensive for what they are and have mixed reviews.

This set is £166+VAT.
https://www.lasaero.com/products/article/Z02SN9NKL

Anyone got any other solutions?

 

[hotponyshoes]

For small tubing I have used a crimping tool to reduce the radius twice on the end of the tube.
So the bit of original o/d inbetween is the new bead if you see what I mean..

Might have to put a couple of crimps on the inner side if you are using a wide band clamp

 

[Shox Dr]

Sorry to dig up an old thread.

I need to bead roll some small aluminium tubing of ⅜” and 5/8”.

The earls bead rollers are very expensive for what they are and have mixed reviews.

This set is £166+VAT.
https://www.lasaero.com/products/article/Z02SN9NKL

Anyone got any other solutions?

Flare it with a shaft clamp and die.

 

[Brad93]

Flare it with a shaft clamp and die.

Come again?

 

[Shox Dr]

These are for different purpose, but show you the bits

 

[8ob]

Sorry to dig up an old thread.

I need to bead roll some small aluminium tubing of ⅜” and 5/8”.

The earls bead rollers are very expensive for what they are and have mixed reviews.

This set is £166+VAT.
https://www.lasaero.com/products/article/Z02SN9NKL

Anyone got any other solutions?

You could slide an olive on the pipe and solder it in place brad , this gear will solder brass to Ali https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-X-ALUM...q1zGTHQRjpclyq+Bwru1x/mB0xUjeX&frcectupt=true

Bob

 

[optima21]

get an imperial brake pipe flaring kit, although the really cheap ones will mark the tube where they clamp it, so might be too rough and ready for your purposes

 

[Ton-up]

Google 'mole grip bead roller'

Also, this came up a while back....

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bead-roll-in-2mm-walled-stainless-pipe.64841/

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/bead-former-for-tubing.5553/

 

[Brad93]

Mole grips probably won’t fit in ⅜ tube

 

[Ton-up]

But a welded on extension would.

 

[8ob]

Mole grips probably won’t fit in ⅜ tube

I have the beading set the same as the one @Shox Dr illustrated Brad if you want to pop in and use it you are more than welcome, it goes right down to 1/8".

 

[Shox Dr]

I have the beading set the same as the one @Shox Dr illustrated Brad if you want to pop in and use it you are more than welcome, it goes right down to 1/8".

I wish I hd that set @8ob

 

[Brad93]

I wish I hd that set @8ob

Where abouts are you at 8ob?

 

[AndersK]

How long are the pieces @Brad93 ?

I have a simple way of doing it but can't show right now

 

[Brad93]

How long are the pieces @Brad93 ?

I have a simple way of doing it but can't show right now

They’re to weld onto a radiator so 50mm long or so