Cheap Bead Roller - is it worth buying

We bought a cheap bead roller for the shop and even though I wasn't expecting a lot from it I was a bit disappointed. However, I tried some improvements. Did they help though....?

[@robertanon1910]

thank you for showing the actual use of this tool, and now I can make a better decision about buying one.

[@paulz5531]

I don't know if anyone has said it yet. But if you flip your shafts top to bottom it puts your drive handle on the top and it's way easier to turn when you can push down on the spokes rather than pull up on them. That's how I have mine set up and it works way better.

[@waynespyker5731]

I like the shaft reversal. Liked the spoked wheel (like adding a ring). A no weld solution if you don't always use full throat depth is to sandwich the frame with (2) 3/8" x 4" x 5" plates. Drill and tap for (2) 3/8 bolts slightly below the plate center to elevate the clamp's elevation when loose for throat depth adjustment. This movable clamp can be used as a fence or stop.

[@Openairgarage]

Nice work, you could swap the handle for a steering wheel type and you have to sneak up on the final shape and depth, it’s not made to go that deep and tight all at once. Cheers!

[@felixcat9318]

Good, logical, methodical fault diagnosis and upgrading to hugely improve the performance of this tool. Excellent point about the dangers of finger entrapment, that would be horrific.

[@phillyoung5126]

Hi Erin Those dies you are using in the video are designed for shearing/cutting the sheet!... You'll find it much easier to use the step dies as they don't mark the material as much......they also control the distortion a little better👍🏻

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Hey Elin, thanks for posting that as I learnt so much. I just bought a similar machine and have seen others strengthened like you did but didn’t know why. I can brace it now before I use it and save myself some headaches. I am going to fit a spring to lift the roller clear and motorize it because I am usually working alone and want good control. Cheers mate, Stuart 🇦🇺

[@OldJoe212]

Good, honest reviews are hard to come by. Thanks you for posting. Now I know the direction I'll take.

[@T3glider]

I have an 8” bead roller from Princess Auto. At 8” flex on the plate is not an issue especially because the plate is thicker than the one they used to sell on the 16” model, the tension adjuster is not just a bolt but rather has a built in handle, the crank is like yours with 4 arms, and being only 8” it is a very short reach to the crank so much easier to use by yourself. Everyone buys the 16” bead roller but very few of us need that throat depth.

[@gbhoday7160]

Very useful! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@jamesdonnelly2352]

Great work, inspiring and useful, thanks.

[@freezztyl2308]

steering wheel would be nice but instead placing it in your right side convert it lying on top of your bead roller by using angle gears

[@robertthornhill4379]

elin hi just watched the video on tye bead roller toyed with the thought of buying one think I will for my next project. just finished a beetle so will buy one like yours and do the same straight away Bob

[@indyme2]

Great info, Elin. I have one of these and found it not very good. With your modifications I think I will like it much better. Thanks.

[@JeffKogut]

How about an old steering wheel to replace the lever?

[@BruceBoschek]

My first thought was a TR4 steering wheel! :-)

[@landzender]

I think you could weld a T-piece to the top of the new long bolt that adjusts to depth of the bear created.

[@jamesfenimore8895]

An old wrench would work.

[@0richbike]

+1 for the steering wheel idea. Get a big one off a truck. And tack that little 4 spoke on the adjuster.

[@fernandogutierrez7053]

Thanks, good review of the roller.

[@rolliekelly6783]

All Harbor Freight purchases should be considered as kits of parts. Have a rod rolled into a ring and make the spoked hub into a wheel. Also put a wheel on your pressure adjuster so you won't need a wrench.

[@RustyBeauties]

Yep. Good ideas, thanks!

[@cheftush]

Where were you and your bead roller when I was struggling with the trunk floor in my 59 TR3A?

[@RustyBeauties]

I was watching carefully, taking notes and coming up with ideas :)

[@moptop85]

Weld a piece of angle iron on that top bolt so you dont have to keep using a wrench. The best price on a large diameter steering wheel, to replace the hand crank, was for a farm tractor.

[@iman80skid91]

But good work though I'm glad to see you getting on with it.

[@MrAbowker]

Have a look at the bead roller on Project Binky, it's had a wiper motor added with a floor switch to make it electric. Might work will on your bead roller.

[@iman80skid91]

As people have said already make more passes with a lighter pressure... I use a electric foot operated one and I still have to do this on a professional machine.

[@tommytate5146]

How about a wheel instead of a handle to crank?

[@migueltabares7912]

My solution reinforce the upper platle , an use a rachet and turn the handle to you're side closest to you so you don't have to stretch you're arm so much

[@JudoGingerNinja]

that's a very simple fix you know! Piss the handle off and fit a hex nut at both ends of the top shaft and then you may use a suitable sized rachet. That will provide minimum effort with maximum efficiency, better than even motorised could ever deliver.

[@TheUlrikkaul]

Have i tried the same? Yes. Actually i'm in the process of improving my bead roller, something like Jere Kirkpatrick witch include an electric motor. I bought my bead roller when i had to recreate the profiles in the rear deck pan over the rear axle.

[@RustyBeauties]

I will have to check those Jere Kirkpatrick improvements. Eugene mentioned them too.

[@DavidPlass]

Thanks for posting this. Now I know what not to buy, lol.

[@holger5555]

A little bit more welding and painted and it looks new and original.

[@1chish]

Why not use a T Bar and socket and use the original bolt? Nice tool and even better with the Elin Mk II version ...!

[@RustyBeauties]

Yes, I could do that too. But having the bolt longer gives me more options. That was the smallest issues of all anyway

[@Electrolab28Ag]

Elin, you are taking too much in one bite, You have to go little at a time till you get your final shape. I did the same when I got my first bead roller and I eventually learn. Little at a time goes a long way.

[@MrPanchoak]

I think ill just build one from scratch. But i like your video.

[@pdufusc]

absolute sign ..... you get what you pay for!

[@rottenbot]

Put a geared motor on it, with a foot peddle switch, that's the plan with mine🙂

[@Electrolab28Ag]

Elin you are taking too much in one bite, You have to go little at a time till you get your final shape. I did the same when I got my first bead roller and I eventually learn. Little at a time goes a long way.

[@johnhartley3596]

I’d drill holes in golf balls and super glue to the ends of the new handles.

[@RustyBeauties]

Yes, I was thinking of something like that. But I think I will have to extend the handles a bit first. Luckily KJ used bolts so I can just use the threads and bolt extensions :)

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Thanks for posting. Like the comments below.

[@joshonthetube]

I made similar bracing for mine. I also changed the tension bolt out for a small handwheel (www.mcmaster.com/6403K42), so you don't need the wrench. I like what you did with the handle- I actually bought a small go-kart steering wheel to use for mine but never did get around to adapting it to fit.. next project I need the bead roller for, I figure I'll take care of that..

[@dawidoszkiewicz5607]

Motorize the bloody thing!

[@ThePobolycwm]

2nd

[@TherealMandingo]

Change the handle for a ratchet problem solved

[@MrMac1986]

1st

[@Electrolab28Ag]

Elin you are taking too much in one bite, You have to go little at a time till you get your final shape. I did the same when I got my first bead roller and I eventually learn. Little at a time goes a long way.