Bead roller,swager,joggler call it what you will

[DrNik]

After selling the bead roller i bought (and should have kept) ive been busy building another, ive taken inspiration from "Lazze" and made my own from scratch, everthing was scrap, 2 X smart cam and chains, a stannah stairlift motor, some 20mm bright bar, a couple of legs off a stillage, the only things i had to buy were some needle bearings,
and even with my metal butcher skills it works and looks quite good, does 9 rpm,
so if anyone wants to come and use it your very welcome,
BUT I AM LOOKING FOR ANY SPARE DIES (made some but very slow on the lathe)





my test piece

 

[Shox Dr]

you're a dark horse. where's the write up

 

[DrNik]

I'm a maker not just a talker, I didn't take any pictures, it just happened......

 

[mike 109444]

Now you have gone and made me jealous. Did you use shafts that are a common size to most bead rollers? (20mm) When I contacted one of the suppliers of the ebay machines about other rollers they said that they only do the ones that came with it (aka box mover) and that was one of the main names in panel work. Was hoping to make my own machine and buy in rollers but the few that are on ebay are pricey and no access to a lath. You should be making your own, where's the problem with that Nik?
Stanner stair lift motor....
How you getting up stairs now

 

[T0rnado69]

Stanner stair lift motor....
How you getting up stairs now

proberly using the redundant electric host that wasnt getting used LOL



thats first class bead roller there drnik.

its amazing what you can make from bits and pieces laying about.

im in the process of making something.
just getting all the bits together before i start.
tring to source a knackered gearbox... thats local.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Really nice job Nik. Will last a lifetime and be very useful. Did you see the Lazze video using a skateboard wheel as the bottom roller?

 

[Burdekin]

Nice work Nik.

I haven't got any spare but these guys apparently will make them for you: http://www.kee.co.uk/

I bought my tipping dies from the US, lovely but not cheap: http://hoosierprofiles.com/Bead_Roller_Dies.html

Can't tell from the pics but if your top shaft hasn't got a spring return you can just fit a collar to the top shaft and support it via a spring on top.

 

[Shox Dr]

Pro Tools in the states make a variety of bead roller profiles. I'd give Matt at Staksys a call, they import their stuff

 

[Burdekin]

Pro Tools in the states make a variety of bead roller profiles. I'd give Matt at Staksys a call, they import their stuff

I've spoken to Matt recently, they only sell the dies with the bead rollers.

Also this guy on ebay sells some and will get them made for you: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/tanan73?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

[Shox Dr]

I've spoken to Matt recently, they only sell the dies with the bead rollers.

really, I wonder why. Pro Tools used to make a kit to build your own. They make loads of different dies, I can't see why they wouldn't do any of the none standard.

There are others that import Pro Tools, that or contact them directly, it wouldn't cost much to send a few over

 

[Burdekin]

Did you use shafts that are a common size to most bead rollers? (20mm)

The Harbour Freight style ones are 22mm, and are a good source of cheap half decent dies.

 

[Burdekin]

really, I wonder why. Pro Tools used to make a kit to build your own. They make loads of different dies, I can't see why they wouldn't do any of the none standard.

There are others that import Pro Tools, that or contact them directly, it wouldn't cost much to send a few over

I previously couldn't find anyone who just sold them off the shelf, you think someone would over here. The HF style I have also doesn't come with tipping dies which is the main one that I wanted which I thought was also strange as I thought that would be one of the main dies folk would use.

Maybe weldquip should get into metal shaping tooling as well. ;-)

 

[DrNik]

Answers,answers,

Shafts are 20mm bright bar, with 20/26mm needle bearings,
I could make the dies but I'm a metal butcher, Ive been welding bits back on after I've turned them off,
I did see Lazze go with the skateboard wheels, I will wait till I find one at a carboot,or at the scrapyard, then make a sleeve.
No collar yet for the spring return thingy, was looking at putting a spring on it to make life easier
I've rang around a few companies about the dies, no one wants to sell them as they want to sell you the machine.......
Spoke to James at Pro-tools in USA, very helpful and knowledgeable, I've bought a tube bender from him and having it put in a container to ship it over, but looking for some cheap rusty ones I can clean up, £70 a pair is way outta my league and spoils the keep it cheap mentality,
If anyone needs a little help or dimensions I'd be happy to help

 

[Wallace]

Nice one Dr Nik, Mr Heath and Mr Robinson would be proud of you! My POS one from EBay is still sat awaiting attention, most of the rollers are eccentric and not heat treated.

 

[chunkolini]

Damn fine device and creative use of resources. And of course cheap.
Nice work.
A thought, if you had a removeable slave roller could it be adapted for rolling curves in strip and tube?

 

[langy]

Pro Tools in the states make a variety of bead roller profiles. I'd give Matt at Staksys a call, they import their stuff

I can get those dies as well.

 

[Big Mick]

Possible UK source of bead roller dies.

Give my mate Roland a call and see if he can help.
http://www.dormanengineering.co.uk/

Cheers, Mick.

 

[outofthefire]

One of these has been on my to do list for quite a while after I saw a video of Lazze using one with the skateboard wheel.

 

[DrNik]

might have a lead on a box of dies, should work out less than £20 per pair, if so i'll get as many as i can, if i have multiples i'll pass them on, thanks for all the kind and positive wornds, next i want to get a shrinker and stretcher, either buy at the next two classic car shows or make some

 

[mike 109444]

On a related note Was looking round the web at prices for one and stumbled on these two sites
http://www.metztools.com/swagers.htm
http://www.canyontrailtools.com/swagers.htm
It appears to be same company location but different names AND very different price for SAME tool (bench top swager machine) Or am I missing something........