Harbor Freight bead roller upgrade

[Eljorger]

Here's my nearly completed motorized bead roller from H.F. I used a motor from a motorized stair climbing hand truck(dolly) and a 5 volt/15 amp power supply also added a foot pedal and wired in a single pole double throw switch to reverse the polarities and motor direction. works pretty well, but may have to upgrade the toggle switch.

[Double J Creations]

Very nice work, just bought one to repair aircraft aluminum ducts. Will have to modify it as well and make smaller bead die rollers. Have already made an adjustable width guide stop. Once finished this will come in handy for many different jobs.

[DIYer]

Thanks Eljorger! We've added your Bead Roller Upgrade to our Bead Rollers category,
as well as to your builder page: Eljorger's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Bead Roller Upgrade by Eljorger

tags: bead roller, modification

[jts1012]

any photos of the power drive ?

[Mi Tasol]

Given that there are many different mods to the HF unit it appears their frame is lacking. I have a beautiful 70 year old cast iron bead roller that I cannot get rollers for and I do not have the tooling to make new ones. Are the HF rollers any good and if so what size shafts does HF use as that may solve my problems.

[11thhourfabrication]

Given that there are many different mods to the HF unit it appears their frame is lacking. I have a beautiful 70 year old cast iron bead roller that I cannot get rollers for and I do not have the tooling to make new ones. Are the HF rollers any good and if so what size shafts does HF use as that may solve my problems.

Harbor freight dies have a ID of 22mm. They are a soft steel and not the best units around but work in a pinch if used with respect. Hoosier profiles will make dies with any size ID you need and their products are top notch. Do you have any pictures of your bead roller to see if it can be identified.

[Mi Tasol]

Harbor freight dies have a ID of 22mm. They are a soft steel and not the best units around but work in a pinch if used with respect. Hoosier profiles will make dies with any size ID you need and their products are top notch. Do you have any pictures of your bead roller to see if it can be identified.

Thanks for that information 11thhourfabrication.

What I have is a John Heine model 43J from ww2. My apologies for the photos - not my best and too late in the day to reshoot them.
I will have to remove the wheels and check the dimensions but the shafts are about 25mm from memory. I works perfectly and all I have done is a strip, clean, repaint and lube.

[Troll Hunter]

I've been wanting a bead roller for some time, but haven't seen them on HF. A search only throws up a Bead Breaker and other nonsense. Are they still available, perhaps under a different name?

Mike

[Toolmaker51]

I've been wanting a bead roller for some time, but haven't seen them on HF. A search only throws up a Bead Breaker and other nonsense. Are they still available, perhaps under a different name?

Mike

Their Beading Rollers are mysteriously difficult to locate in searching HF site and print listings. As this was a mainstay at HF, I reverted to googling the same term with many returns. Site offerings and images reveal sets of identical appearance; pricing looks to be in parallel with what HF [use to?] carry.
I don't know "Troll Hunter's" location, but my guess importers might have these worldwide.

[Troll Hunter]

Thanks for your reply, Toolmaker51, and for pointing out that I hadn't included my location in my profile, now updated. I guess I'll look on ebay, etc for a bead roller.

Mike