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Has anyone used these? Many out there and all seem to be of similar design and capacity but prices all over the map. I want to flange some material which is too long for my sheet metal brake.

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I love mine and use it for all sorts of sheet metal projects. A rolled in bead or step takes only moments and makes the most humble piece of work look quite professional. People look at pieces on my pickups and ask how I ever got those beads in the metal. Its almost embarassing to tell them how easy it goes, and how cheap the machine was.

If you end up using it a lot, you will want to trash the crank and replace it with a large handwheel, or even an old Packard steering wheel. My machine is now mounted on a stand consisting of a pipe upright welded to an old Packard wheel filled with concrete.

Quote:Ross,

Any chance of a pic?

That picture is a woodward fab. or HF bead roller. These work so-so as is, but with a little modification can be much better. The first thing is that there is to much flex in the plate steel under pressure. I welded square tubbing to mine to stiffen it up and works much better. I also made a tipping wheel for mine and as Ross said get rid of the crank handle and put a steering wheel on it. I used a steering wheel of of an old cub cadet and works well. The problem with the crank is, that if you end your bead, flange or whatever with the crank handle in the upright possition, the weight of it wants to bring it down to the 6 o'clock position with gravity, and makes it hard to control with only one person on some parts your trying to make. All in all, this tool is a must have in my shop.

Thanks all, for the feedback. I think I'll spring for this inexpensive one. I don't expect to use it for more than one or two jobs so it should hopefully get thru those. I'll take the advice and see about making the changes. With luck it might even work for three pieces--which is probably how long it will take to figure it out and get one that is serviceable.

Here's a pic, as per request. Mine came from Horrible Freight. I also added a movable fence for longer runs as I am hopeless holding anything straight. The machine has WAY paid for itself.

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for the pic Ross. Presume it was used in fabricating panels for the Packup in the background?

Here is mine

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AS-IS the HF bead rollers are horrible. They flex way too much. But they are a good basis for modifying by srengthening.