Bead Roller

[lcfman]

I am looking to buy a manual bench top bead roller and would like to get some recommendations on which ones are the best value for the money and are there any to stray away from.

 

[finn]

I have the HF, but I heard they don’t offer it anymore. After beefing it up, it sort of works, but if I had to do it over again I would bite the bullet and get a powered bead roller from Baileigh.

Eastwood sells a unit similar to my HF, as well as a power drive units.

I am contemplating buying a Baileigh. (Not sure on the spelling)

 

[Stooge]

I have this one from Eastwood https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-metal-bead-roller.html 19" throat I think, and I got a 4 spoke handle to make it a little easier to turn over the regular included handle. Works good for the 18ga I run through it, and even better when if I use it with anything thinner. I use it for simple'ish floor pans and panels with steps, and I've cheated my way through some body lines with it. If it was something I was going to be using all the time, I would probably go with a powered unit from mittler bros, but for the occasional use, and I used my HAMB alliance to get a discount, it was a good buy to me and in my opinion, paid for itself the first time I used it.

 

[txvwnut]

I’ve got a Woodward fab manual bead roller and so far it has been a good unit. The heaviest I’ve run through it has been 18ga and it’s always made good crisp beads.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have one from the usual suspects.... Either old HF or Eastwood etc, dunno for sure.

But there's a ton of how tos on adding either a 1/2” or 5/8" plate to it to make it beefcake. I haven't got around to doing mine yet, but it's on the long term list.

I got mine off of Craigslist with a three gallon bucket full of name brand dies for $100.... Screaming deal... If you can find a deal like that with all the dies you're money ahead

 

[HMCFab9]

Baileigh

 

[Stooge]

Nothing against Baileigh, but unless its one of their higher end lines of stuff, it certainly seems like they buy from the same Chinese suppliers as the other places and can probably save a few bucks if you look

https://www.baileigh.com/metalworking/forming-shaping/bead-rollers

https://www.ttmc.cn/category/shaping-forming/bead-roller/

 

[zmotorsports]

Best benchtop one? I would say find a used Pexto/Roper Whitney. I loved mine and it worked great. Ended up selling to a friend when I bought my larger Mitler Bros. powered bead roller.

 

[lilredex]

I have the usual 18" HF style and it is OK. Never had an issue with twisting like a lot of reports out there. It just sits there quietly, out of the way until needed. It can be quickly repositioned to another location if needed, for bigger work pieces.

 

[wayne55]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get the steering wheel?

For me, just using the original handle makes it a 2 man job to operate.

 

[lilredex]

Not at all.....it is really the foot rail from a bar stool. Add some spokes and the appropriate hub (Princess Auto) and you have the wheel. Have also thought about the alternate arrangement pictured, for a more user friendly operation.

 

[Graham08]

Mittler Brothers makes a manual version of their 24" throat model. It uses all the same dies and can be easily upgraded to power later. I think Pro Tools does the same. I have a Pro Tools power bead roller and wish I would have spent the small amount of extra money on a Mittler Brothers. The MB machine is just better thought out and more refined.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mittler Brothers makes a manual version of their 24" throat model. It uses all the same dies and can be easily upgraded to power later. I think Pro Tools does the same. I have a Pro Tools power bead roller and wish I would have spent the small amount of extra money on a Mittler Brothers. The MB machine is just better thought out and more refined.

Funny you mention that Graham. When I bought mine I was doing a lot of sand rail fabrication and I waffled on the manual vs. power for quite a while. Ultimately my wife just told me to get the one I wanted and be done with it. Glad I did. Although I don't use it as much these days it sure is nice to use when I do as it is a very well built unit.