Tricked out Harbor Freight bead roller of awesomeness.

[bobs409]

Something I built this past summer. It works GREAT! It's made from a Harbor Freight bead roller, HF drill and many parts cannibalized from a Craftsman snow blower!



Harbor Freight bead roller modifications:

• 2' X 2' X 1/4" angle iron added top and bottom to stiffen main body of roller assembly

• Spreader bar that mounts between slot to hold top & bottom from moving (from video posted in a reply below)

• Adjustable fence that can be moved all the way up to the rollers (from video posted in a reply below)

• Top roller modified so it moves in/out which allows for more custom settings (from video posted in a reply below)

• Custom crank added with a 4 speed truck shifter knob to replace the bolt that this had.

• Spring added to top roller so it automatically lifts when you loosen the crank handle.

• Grease fittings installed in all 4 roller blocks.

• Mounted on a thick 2-3/8" pipe that is bolted to an 11 inch flywheel.

• 3 position foot rest with custom "gas pedal" hinged diamond plate floor behind it. Pressing on the floor section allows you to operate the machines variable speed while standing at the left, center or right side of bead dies. Variable speed is smooth from a crawl to full out!

• Custom hand made chain guard with fine mesh insert allows viewing of all the moving parts.

• Chain tensioner keeps the chain lightly snug so no adjustments are ever needed.

Finish colors are Rustoleum "Sail Blue" and Rustoleum "Hammered Gray."

Power/drivetrain specs:

• Harbor Freight 1/2" variable speed reversible drill provides gobs of power/torque and forward/backward rotation.

• Assorted parts canabalized from an old Craftsman snow blower including; 11:1 auger transmission, (2) #40 chains put together, 8 tooth drive sprocket, 35 tooth driven sprocket & chain tensioner.

• Custom throttle linkage is moved by a 1/8" wire cable (Lowes) that runs through a piece of 5/16" brake line tubing down to the moveable hinged diamond plate floor which is the throttle pedal. (turn buckle allows for those fine adjustments) Designed to be comfortable and functions very smoothly from a 0 to full speed.

[DIYer]

Thanks bobs409! We've added your Bead Roller Modification to our Bead Rollers category,
as well as to your builder page: bobs409's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Bead Roller Modification by bobs409

tags: bead roller, drill, modification

[Thimet]

@bobs409, Great build!
You mentioned many times "From Video", What video are you referring to? Is there a Web Address you can give us? Very interested in watching and making these modifications myself!
Thimet

[bobs409]

@bobs409, Great build!
You mentioned many times "From Video", What video are you referring to? Is there a Web Address you can give us? Very interested in watching and making these modifications myself!
Thimet

Hi, sorry about that. I got the idea of the fence from this video on youtube:

Most of the other was just trial and error from snow blower parts I had.

[Jon]

Congratulations bobs409 - your Bead Roller is the Tool of the Week!

It's tough to win this award with a Bead Roller; we have 90 builds listed in our Bead Rollers category. It's also tough to win with a modification of a commercial tool, as opposed to a scratch-built one. Nevertheless, this is an unusually excellent example of such a build. It looks like a joy to use.

Other nice entries this week included a 220 Volt Terminal by rep, a Faceplate Balancing Fixture by Metaler, a Taper Measuring Technique by mklotz, a Mandrel Dividing Tool by olderdan, Palm Bit Holders by morsa, a Drill Press Morse Taper by tonyfoale, as well as a clever method for inverting a hydraulic jack for this Workshop Press by tonyfoale.

bobs409 - you'll be receiving one of our official HomemadeTools.net T-shirts:


Please PM me a mailing address, black/white color choice, and size preference, and I'll get it mailed out shortly.

And, we've added the wrench-on-pedestal award to the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:




Congrats again and nice job!

[bobs409]

Thank you VERY much! I really appreciate it!

Bob

[thehomeengineer]

Great video thank you for posting
The Home Engineer