Poor man's bead roller?!?

[johnny1290]

I'm trying to cover my existing driver's side front floor pan....maybe 3 feet long and 2 feet wide, give or take. I've got the metal, but I'd like to put some beads in it for strength. I'm just going to cover the existing pan and weld it over the top of the old pan(like I said its not all that bad just below the driver's feet it's thin and got some holes, the rest is solid...this is just a driver, not a show car, I just need the floor here to keep water from splashing on my feet and junk from falling out :) I don't step on it or anything) So I could get by without beading it I'm sure but it couldn't hurt.

Is there anyway to get a bead or 3 in this thin gauge metal *without* buying a bead roller?

Some trick that may be unsightly but functional? Some old racer's trick or something?

I'm just gonna cover it up with carpet anyway so I don't care what it looks like.

Here's what I'm going for, some guy on ebay is selling this for $90 and all it is is the same $15 sheetmetal I bought with some beads

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/johnny1290/pan.jpg

I figure if anybody knows, it's y'all! Thanks in advance!

[brianpgriset]

You might be able to make a hammerform. You'd need to have some way to cut the slot in wood.

What size bead? 1/2"?

[johnny1290]

are you suggesting putting it over a pipe and using a bfh on it? Good idea!
Half inch sounds about right.

[brianpgriset]

are you suggesting putting it over a pipe and using a bfh on it? Good idea!
Half inch sounds about right.

Thats the basic premise. Usually hammer forms are made out of wood. What I was thinking is getting a 1/2" thick piece of plywood, and cut a slot 1/2" wide, and 3' long (the size of your desired bead). then lay your sheet metal over top of this ''female" die. Then get a 1/2" piece of steel rod, set it on your metal panel, over top of the slot you cut, and slowly work the rod into the sheetmetal with a bfh. Here are some pics from the metal meet forums I frequent. You might want to go over there and sing up if you have any more questions. Alot of smart people there.

Oh and the slot you cut in the wood would actually have to be a bit wider than 1/2" to allow for the thickness of the metal.

http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/500/medium/metal_work_006.jpg
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/500/medium/metal_work_005.jpg
http://www.metalmeet.com/photopost/data/500/medium/metal_work_004.jpg

[brianpgriset]

And you can grind the ends of the rods round to give the radius on the ends of the beads you desire.

[Daves 41]

Check out the site www.metalmeet.com post your picture there, they will have ideas

Dave C

[goodfellow]

Brian has the right idea. I'd make a cheap hammer form. Take a router, a 2x4 and a 1x4. Cut the 2x4 and 1x4 a few inches longer that your expected beads. Route a 5/8" or 3/4" channel in both pieces of wood. Sandwich the metal between the boards (1x4 on top of the 2x4) and clamp or screw the wood forms together. Now form the channel. You can lay a piece of round bar in the channel and pound it in, or use a piece of hardwood, or an old chisel. Whatever will let you stretch the metal down into the form. It won't be perfect, but will make a bead.

[russlaferrera]

Why go thru all the trouble? If most of the floor is sound. Add 2 extra pieces of metal on the left and right floor panels. That will be enough re enforcement.