Harbor Freight bead roller, Good or Garbage?

I bought this off shore bead roller for $150 from ebay. it is sold under lots of different names but all appear to be the same one. lets take it out of the box and see how it does. then in part 2 we will make it power and build a stand.

[@901ronnie]

In the 60’s to power it up you take one medium size child (me) and he responded to voice commands - forward, backward and stop. Your “motor” could be switched out to do a lot of other manual tools - jacks, chain hoist, and could even be taught to fetch. “Get me a Phillips screw driver” etc. could even use a medium sized grandchild if previous “motor” got to big and moved out.

[@901ronnie]

paulg did you have a camera there? Bad news about kid power supplies as they grow older they leave.

[@markarrington3869]

Thats exactly how I learned tool and die and Jig and fixture.

[@donaldstewart9873]

😂🤣😂 👍

[@bluepvp900]

@@901ronnie Not sure that's a bad thing, really.

[@kalleklp7291]

Yup! Sometimes they even responded to the command "Beer"..and fetched a cold one from the fridge.

[@thomasweatherford5125]

Craigslist ad: Looking for someone to turn a handle on a bead roller. Must also be willing to hold a GoPro steady and avoid stepping on old shop dog. Pay will be made in icee-pops. Come to town and ask for a guy named Mustie1... they’ll know who I am.

[@fveggerby]

This must be the 1st video you've seen. (not amused)

[@eugenerob8492]

And someone is a sore arse

[@Eremon1]

@@fveggerby I thought is was funny.

[@thomasweatherford5125]

Eremon1, thank you for understanding how this was meant to be taken... as a joke.

[@eugenerob8492]

Yes someone is crabby it happens enjoy these awesome vids

[@comfort_in_discomfort]

I've seen some pretty good setups using this set and a window motor from a car (or wiper motor). They both have a serious gear reduction and are worm drive. Lots of torque, DC, and cheap.

[@Hyratel]

you do NOT want a window motor for sustained loads. they don't have the cooling size for it. now where it's at is Wiper motors, which are specced for 100% Duty for extended periods

[@jarredsegal6842]

I used a wiper motor great torque and easily reversible

[@tiporari]

Use a winch motor. Forward reverse, gear reduction, easy to adapt the drive coupling. Runs off batteries, has a controller. Etc. Make a fence you can clamp/adjust to keep your runs nice and straight.

[@johnpossum556]

I like this idea a lot.

[@5150mxVW]

cool to see you learn new skills and share 👍

[@dougtaylor6410]

I used a milling machine Serov motor with a footswitch to control the speed and direction on my Harbor Freight bead roller. Then added adjustable guides into the C part of the frame. Now I can use both hands to help guide on curves or use the C guide for super straight lines.

[@helicopterjohns]

I agree with your ideas.

[@CajunGreenMan]

Do you have a model number for that please? I can't find a bead roller on HF's website. Perhaps they no longer sell it?

[@dougtaylor6410]

@@CajunGreenMan Try Amazon and or eBay for similar rollers, I can no longer find it on the Harbor Freight site either.

[@CajunGreenMan]

@@dougtaylor6410 Thanks so much!

[@jonathanw4942]

World of difference with a motor! I couldn't imagine trying to crank mine while I was holding the sheet metal. Well worth the time to set up a motor and remember you can not make it turn too slow.

[@eugenerob8492]

Hey Jonathan your definitely right about going slow

[@jonnycando]

Eugene Rob AC motors can be made to operate down a stall, it won’t hurt them if you don’t overheat them.

[@burninpwder76]

I would retrofit it with a treadmill motor. good hp infinite speed control. and easy and cheap to find

[@dublindave5795]

How would you reverse that?

[@TinShackVideos]

That's what I did also, and wired in a reverse switch and a foot pedal. #25 chain drive.

[@markarrington3869]

Why not a 12 cylinder diesel motor?

[@johnscott2849]

Any treadmill motor I have would be way to fast. You slow them down over half way and they lose a lot of power. Take a lot of pulleys or sprockets to get them slow enough for a bead roller. 2 of them 5000 rpm other 2 4000 rpm.

[@gertraba4484]

NEEDS A HEMI

[@SuperCidermonkey]

It's an oversized pasta maker! Bonus extra Mustie vid, thank you!

[@helicopterjohns]

Thanks for sharing! Typical Chinese Junk! They have an idea but have no idea how to properly implement it. The engineer must have been at lunch when this was designed. Example: Not properly finishing the rollers leaving marks on your finished part! Some items that could possibly improve it. 1: Adapt some type of removable/adjustable guide for making straight or possibly angled lines. 2: Don't know what ratio they have on hand crank but if electric power is utilized it could be modified and possibly add a VFD or other device so the speed can be adjusted and of course some type of foot pedal operation as you mentioned. 3: Remove the depth control bolt and replace it with some type of handwheel. It would make it easier adjust the depth

[@RobinWilkinson]

If you are using the round bead dies, and you want to overlap 2 beads, like if you wanted to make an "X" for example, you can swap out the lower (female) die with a skateboard wheel. You'll still get the shape of the bead, but the skateboard wheel has some give to it so you can cross over the center of the "X" without leaving marks on the first bead.

[@rollerdragon]

always wondered about this tool... now i know it needs a variable speed motor with potientiomiter foot pedal

[@Blazer02LS]

Power makes them so much nicer. I used a manual for years, then found a nice powered unit with a ton of dies. Made it so much easier. Mustie hasn't discovered that there is also one of those die sets that is a shear. Or that you can use a lathe to make custom dies

[@gertraba4484]

HOOK A SURPLUS vw ENGINE ON IT WITH A TRANSAXLE THAT WILL GET THE JOB DONE PRONTO

[@Bugdriver49]

@@gertraba4484 lol

[@brianpinn7667]

Have you thought of a sewing machine motor and foot peddle with a reversing switch?

[@vinylvarieties4515]

That wast thought also.

[@gertraba4484]

not enuff torque

[@willtricks9432]

@@gertraba4484 Been dealing with big sewing machines and they have a bit of grunt behind them. Cheers

[@kellysrestorations.7397]

I did some modifications to mine and a friends. I have posted a KZbin video. You may find them useful. Makes a budget bead roller much better.

[@CajunGreenMan]

Eastwood warns that tightening that bolt on the top die too much will strip it out. Look forward to seeing what you do with this!

[@kevinhamling1963]

G'day Kevin here from Australia. Looks promising especially the electric motor idea. Owe and I'm loving your new security system. (The big hunting knife hanging off your belt) 🤣 ✌ Peace man

[@kcraig51]

"Now THAT'S a knife..." - Crocodile Dundee

[@kcraig51]

OOPS...MISQUOTE!

[@snowboard_coach]

How much does the handle turning gig pay? Do we get to drive the go kart?

[@JimsNBHomestead]

Only run the bead roller on a single pass. If you go back and forth weird things happen to the metal. We had the exact same bead roller and built a few dozen race car interiors. .

[@dennishudson9723]

Always a good day when I can get up in the morning get my coffee ready sit down and relax and watch a mustie video to get my day going!

[@Ajaxaxxess]

Agreed man!

[@hansvs2813]

Came home today feeling a little sick warmed up my meal from the freezer. Landed on the couch. And what do you know......a midweek release of Mustie. YES right time, right place. Always interesting, educative and foremost cosie. Thanks again mustie. Keep up the good work 😉👍

[@jamestobler8473]

Watching metal bending and paint dry are my idea of a good time.

[@gertraba4484]

I ALSO PREFER THE SQUIRTY BOTTLE AND A BALL PEEN HAMMER

[@kingspanky2794]

@@gertraba4484 Don't forget the coffee cup......

[@SaberToothLawnTigers]

To get rid of the distortion you have to pre-stretch the area where you will roll the bead

[@BilgemasterBill]

Unless those center roller bars can be used for something, I don't understand why they made it so long. Like you said, it's hard to keep your eye on the work with that crank handle way over there.

[@zekezeke3484]

The old fashioned versions of this tool, that I have seen, don't have the center bars at all. The crank is right along side the dies.

[@BilgemasterBill]

Thanks @@ruben_balea​, I'd totally missed that cutout. Now that length makes sense. The rollers would also provide a bit of support to the piece being worked. I suppose our man, Mustie1, would have done better to feed the piece through the rollers instead of "way outboard" like he did.

[@waynep343]

On the tension bolt. A socket with an old school tee handle that just lives there

[@throttlebottle5906]

just weld a piece of steel bar on the bolt, or a bolt across it. surely he has scrap laying around :) ** better yet, just weld an old wrench on at an angle like he was using it :))

[@28YorkshireRose12]

And paint one end red, the other end black, to make turns count easier to keep accurate, especially if there are distractions that can lead you astray in mid turn.

[@chrisrage5836]

I make all my t handles out of #4 rebar. It fits nicely in your hand and the texture gives you grip

[@gmanshackshack6822]

I had one of those. Welded a 1/4" rod bent into an "L" shape to the tensioning bolt and some angle iron to the frame to stiffen it.

[@commanderquaalude1312]

Harbor freight. Damaged dies? Broken grease zirt? I guess you get what you pay for. Love your videos though Mustie.

[@sewing1243]

It appears at the end of the video that "somebody" broke off a grease fitting.

[@KubotaManDan]

Good eye 31:07 wonder how that happened and what's next to break?

[@Perkelenaattori]

Harbor Freight. Only the finest chinesium.

[@joecat101]

I saw that too, you could see the spring inside. Wonder if they use a standard 1/8th pipe thread or is it some metric threaded grease fitting?

[@gertraba4484]

@@Perkelenaattori those CHI COMMS make the best junk in the world, hence the moniker for boats CHINESE JUNKS

[@Darwinpasta]

Hopefully not with his knuckles!

[@bevanson]

“A big Chinaman tightened that!” Love it

[@blackholeman]

I thought I heard that! Great!

[@steeltree-fabricatingandcu3796]

I make my own dies in my lathe I use delren plastic You can source it online Hf has pedal You can also use their router speed control it comes with plugs no wiring Don’t go back and forth with go one direction One pass when possible

[@stu-j]

When I was an apprentice if I'd put a spanner on the Allen key the fitter would have slapped me silly hahaha... I can still hear him shouting 30 years later use the right tool for the job numb nuts!!!

[@fredhart7904]

Stu Jobling we had a maintenance Forman at a place I was a production supervisor, I can remember him taking vice grips and channel lock pliers away from mechanics if he ever saw them in a tool box, He demanded they use the proper tool wrench when making adjustments to the machines, He knew those type pliers would round off or deform the adjustment bolts/nuts on the glass making machines,

[@stu-j]

@@fredhart7904 using adjustable scanners was a big no no and he would go mad seeing them in my tool roll! But it's worked great over the years and I teach my apprentices the same ways as he did. It was even worse for us in the 80s in the uk as we had so many different sizes to contend with as older stuff was still in British standard whitworth and AF size and then metric so my tool box was actually 3 tool boxes with different spanners and sockets! Not much use for them now and ended up selling them to a guy who has vintage British sports cars!

[@lornehornby5110]

Q/A What is it about caring around the bowie knife on your hip? Snakes or just those darn rats n mice...? ;-)

[@MnPaul1]

Make a fence on the backside with angle iron for the straight bends.

[@whataboutbob9326]

now, THATS a knife :)

[@iamdead3y3s47]

Ikr! lol curious about it too!

[@parttroll1]

Mustie1's over engineered tool! ;-)

[@DuckmanCycles]

Good question in the headline.... I always wanted to know!

[@MasteringTheModel]

This is where you need an english wheel to pre-stretch the metal before rolling your bead. Pre-stretching on your lines would have kept it from warping like it did.

[@charlesgerlach7059]

great way to start the day, coffee with Mustie

[@gertraba4484]

I ADD THE BIG BREAKFAST

[@SaberToothLawnTigers]

Damn just a couple of days late, that bead roller would have been ideal for doing the bed floor on the truck.🤦‍♂️

[@docholiday6421]

Wonder hussy works on cars to dam I got to check her oil ..🎯👌👌👌👍

[@planetrob555]

Did you already bust off a grease fitting? Ha. Can't wait to see what motor you hooked up to it.

[@Redf322]

Really enjoying this van. Have a look at Trevs blog. He is a great metalworker. Also Macromachines. Keep up the good video work. Thanks.

[@peteledwidge3631]

Hi Mustie, I'm really looking forward to seeing how you've powered this, as that's the main reason I haven't bought 1. I'm about to restore a '69 Bug over here in England, where they rot almost beyond recognition, so I'll be fabricating MANY panels! 🤣 Subbed, your content is always excellent. 😎

[@gertraba4484]

add a HEMI or a small gasoline motor

[@peteledwidge3631]

@@gertraba4484 Bit overkill for a bead roller! 😉😂🤣😂

[@michaelkenefick]

From other video, they sell almost every part you want to restore bugs, of almost any years. No need to fabricate parts unless you really, really want to.

[@peteledwidge3631]

I really want to do some of it myself, I'm aware of the excellent aftermarket of parts, but feel like trying my hand. 😀 Plus, there are cost implications, if I buy every panel required I'll go bankrupt! 🤣

[@chrisrage5836]

Just a heads up you can pretty much buy a Volkswagen just in panels and assemble it yourself. They reproduce I would guess just about every part for the bug. I’m willing to guess that’s the most produced car of all time Edit: yeah I just read the rest of the comments. If you want to make your own I would say get your welding gear in order first bc you have to attach the things you make. A torch is invaluable as well

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing. Very nice.

[@802Garage]

Looks near identical to my Woodward Fab I was lucky enough to get for a song. Used it to put beads in the end of boost pipes for silicone couplers. Worked well enough, but I do have one massive issue with it. The hex key grub screws are 100% frozen solid in both the dies and the gear stops. One stop is slightly offset too, so there is tons of slop in the whole system. Really need to figure out how to get those buggers unstuck! I let them soak in penetrant for weeks multiple times. Actually, while writing this, I think I figured it out. Time for a torch!

[@artifacts78]

You look like a slightly younger David Gilmore from Pink Floyd. I love your channel, keep up the good work.

[@Scodiddly]

There’s a KZbinr named Jeremy Fielding, he’s done videos about using salvaged motors, speed control, etc.

[@k1ckyscotland988]

A bonus video from Mustie,gotta love it!.

[@chriswills9530]

I was a bit concerned when you said you were going to put a bead in your junk ... but turned out to be junk steel. Phew. That's a whole different category of vid.

[@lancpudn]

You've got to love new tools, that looks like a nice piece of kit. Is there something on those electric motorcycles you acquired that can be adapted to make an electric drive for it?

[@gertraba4484]

VW MOTORS

[@brucehutcheson5371]

Mustie1, Being a child of the 60's, we always had rock music as a giant inspiration to who we were. You are truly a rock star to all of us DIYer's from shade tree mechanics to highly skilled craftsmen out there. Every show you do is like a rock concert. Thanks !

[@TheDaf95xf]

Hi Mustie 😄 Love your new tool lol 😆 Great if you get a motor to work as it’ll make a great video 🤣🤣

[@Notorious3356]

Looks like a great addition to your shop. If you put the positive die on top, you can follow your line much easier!

[@richardwarnock2789]

Nicely done Mustie!!, Brian would like too play with it too I bet!!!; )

[@MrTrollHunter]

You need to motorize that one, with a foot pedal to control speed and direction.. And You also need to comment on the big knife

[@tkskagen]

Nice addition to your Fabrication Arsenal! Take care, 🤓 -Thomas Western Washington State

[@bcgrittner]

Not a bad tool for the money. Looking forward to the power conversion. Either that, or get Mrs. to turn the handle for you.

[@user-MRG1130]

That’s my kind of Xmas wrap job. Add a bow and it’s perfecto! LoL

[@mjmcomputers]

JonathanW put a motor on one and it turned out well. I’ll see if I can find the video.

[@blairfright9622]

Morning Mustie! There always as good as the person who uses them!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Seems like it works ok, depending on the quality that you want.

[@vwbusguy]

The panel is stretching when you roll beads. If you "prestretch" the metal along the bead line before you roll the bead in the opposite way it wont warp.

[@Ingvehetland]

The longer the mustie video last the happier i get. Even if it's just me sitting there watching you weld or grind or what ever. I've learned a lot from you^^

[@robstone370]

a 12 or 24v windscreen wiper motor geared down to a nice slow speed would have enough torque and work well to power the rollers, and being designed for more continuous use would probably last much longer ! Great video !

[@yelwing]

I put a wheelchair motor on mine with a scooter speed controller and a car battery. I rigged up a foot switch so I could use both hands to guide the metal. Works very well

[@markbrown6236]

Looking forward to part 2.

[@tomthumb1941]

Great addition to the shop Mustie, I KNOW you will find a way to motorize it.

[@Inisfad]

Posters are talking about a drill motor, sewing machine motor, etc., but it looks to me like Mustie is putting a substantial bit of effort into turning that lever. I’m wondering about the power needed to motorize this.

[@TheBrokenLife]

I've got a treadmill that would make a wicked motor setup for that thing... Only about 1,000 miles away. It's yours!

[@handsonwithblg4949]

What that thing needs is MORE POWER !!! Slap a VW engine on that puppy Man !! I do agree with electric motor too. Speed would be easy to control . Maybe an old electric bike motor ?

[@2LateIWon]

A good free source of of sheet metal is old water heater shells

[@Gopherdave1]

Bonus video! Awesome!

[@russellharris5072]

Mustie1,nice hunting knife but remember always to cut away from yourself and towards a friend (us)....................

[@davidwaskiewicz3289]

I’ve seen guys use a variable speed drill motor and make a pedal out of the trigger, seemed to work pretty good👍🏻

[@MrKubbler]

Right angle hole hawg.

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

That tool will be handy for making beads but also for bends with curves. One thing I can think of is hoods, door panels, trim parts ect...

[@shaunsautorepairs5410]

You will find the more pressure you put on the dies the more the arms will flex back and forth due to there length.. Ive seen a couple of guys weld angle iron along the back side of the arms to increase rigidity. Other than than that practise makes perfect

[@DavoShed]

Love your box cutter. I have one just like it. It my only justification to have a big knife. And I made it myself :)

[@gertraba4484]

uhh add a cheeep HARBOR FREIGHT LASER to act as a line guide for the rollers . use blocks to space the metal as straight line s................the cranking motion causes you to wander off the course and creates wavy beads

[@marygarner5249]

MUSTIE POWERS ACTVATE 😉

[@bryduhbikeguy]

Great addition to the shop.I wondered how well they'd work.A Car Window Motor and rheostat to adjust speed will work very well.

[@markwhitfield5412]

Moblity scooter controller 4 OR 8 MPH WILL DO, Medical lift motor, works a treat...MOTOR SPECS Parvalux DC24v max amps8.0 watts output 120 RPM 2800, Nm62 output shaft 8RPM, ref pm 3d LWS/642543/03A i got mine from a scrap yard, not the bead roller just the scooter and lift motor...

[@colinhyde1951]

Eastwood sells a drive kit that fits this bead roller. I have a reinforced version of what you just bought plus the drive...............works great!

[@rtechlab6254]

Generic 40a or larger dc speed controller, simple and resilient and drive your starter from that. Most will give you fwd and reverse

[@Jim-ie6uf]

Practice makes perfect, he says, as he starts taking the tin off the building.

[@chaunceywilliams2614]

I recommend you to Cleetus McFarland to fix their VW powered pace car!!! They just bought DeSoto Speedway its an old track in Manatee County Florida! And they have an old rail buggy pace car! Just sayin...Road Trip!

[@scottdavis3750]

Dude .... Give that to Brian, Get off some of that KZbin Money and get the motorized one from Eastwood with the Stand .... You'll Thank me Later...

[@TreyCook21]

0:52 In today's episode, Crocodile Dundee opens a box! "That's not a knife! THIS... is a knife!".

[@rarbiart]

The unboxing and assembley part of the video sounded a bit like from the "empire of dirt"...

[@bcgrittner]

There are a number of KZbinrs that have modified their bead rollers. TSR Garage did quite a power conversion. Check out his mods and others. There are some clever things out there.

[@Mark-xl8gg]

Excellent Query 17.00 not ? Terrible :0) Flippancy apart your learning curve is very impressive the dexterity is coming really fast Don’t think I could manage

[@Inisfad]

Before watching, my bet is.....garbage??? Let’s see. Edit: big biceps needed....lol

[@WayneEarls]

I can't even find them on HF website.

[@starpuss]

Installing a motor will be a cool video

[@citylockusa]

I would add some artificial scars and rust to the VW. Sure, with better brakes, upgraded underpinnings.... and luxuriate it a bit with the upgrade from the 2" oscillating fan to the deluxe 6" model...

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

Hey, unboxing with great Mustie1! 👍👌👏 For that inexpensive price this item is not bad, really not bad at all! I would like to own one too definitely. Now what's next? English wheel probably? Can hardly wait to see how a stabil stand is fabricated. Hope it will be made out of reclaimed material and maybe designed like your fantastic fantasy bikes and scrap art stuff.

[@geoffbourne7180]

Greetings from Saskatchewan, cool tool. Seems to me to light benefit from some woodworking tips . Guides with fences ,circle cutting jigs, etc. Maybe check out Stumpy Nubs channel ( not promoting it or anything, chuckle. ).

[@rustyedmoore]

With heavier material mine seamed to want to push the top and bottom support apart horizontally. I welded some scrap iron to brace the arms right over each other.

[@ImTheJoker4u]

I see no reason for the noise apology. It’s a shop. There’s HVAC running, compressor, tools, neighbors. You’re not on a sound stage doing a film production with professional ADR and audio technicians. Shops are noisy. Deal with it or watch some fake ass shit on TV. ✌️ I suspect the majority of the people that watch your channel have been in a shop before and understand why it’s noisy. And those who have never been in a shop will learn quick.

[@axxxxman]

Looks like he got a new knife for christmas. He is already dreaming up things to do with this bead roller.

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Amazon has tons of 12v high torque variable speed DC motors. Some with gear reduction. CHEAP

[@JDLarge]

Eastwood makes a motor for that but it’s not cheap... $425.00+ I don’t see you getting one when you can fab your own. For the time being maybe throw a steering wheel on it instead of that crank so you can at least turn it without reaching so much? You’ve probably already thought of that too lol. That would be awesome to make an old fashioned tin kitchen ceiling with... So many ideas!!!🤪

[@Gordonseries385]

Very interesting