Harbor Freight tube roller

[akendall1966]

Any one got experience of one of these? Nearest equivalent I can see in the UK is circa £800 which is a bit expensive for the occasional use I'll make of it.

Assumes they will ship it over economically, and of course I'll get screwed for import duty too :roll:  :roll:


http://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-roller-99736.html

[JetdocX]

My experience with HF tools is you get what you pay for.

[Bixxer Bob]

AK, that doesn't look hard to make.  

What are you thinking of fabricating (that'll govern how robust this thing is going to need to be).

I'll cost up a few materials and see what sort of ball-park figure comes out...

Are you in any hurry?

[akendall1966]

Hi BB

that doesn't look hard to make

I guess not, but hard enough to find the time to make the bits let alone make the tools to make the bits as well... plus the only machine tools I currently have is a lathe and pillar drill, would really need a mill to make decent job of a home made one.

Main imperative is too make the mud guard stays and a seat frame for the Greeves, so small dia stuff 3/8 1/2. The dies that come with that HF model are too big so I would have to turn up so dies

After that maybee a set of crash bars for the steamer.

PS you about this WE? I'll drop the gauges back if you are.

[KuzzinKenny]

Hey akendall1966 !! what aboot somethin like this.........

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-12-Ton-Hydrau ... 2eb211d8cc

or checkout yer local Machinemart !!

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/

have fun !!

KK

[akendall1966]

Hey akendall1966 !! what aboot somethin like this.........

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-12-Ton-Hydrau ... 2eb211d8cc

or checkout yer local Machinemart !!

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/

have fun !!

KK

Thanks KK - have been hitting ebay and the like of machine mart, no one in the UK does a cheapish one like the HF model. I like the idea of a roller as you get an infinite number radius you can form, with a pipe bender you stuck with the rad of the dies you have got.

There is this one too http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Ring-Roller-bender-Flat-round-pipe-box-section-/270702000166?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f0718b826

Still a bit pricey though...

[KuzzinKenny]

Aha !! i get it now  :roll:

 :D

KK

ps ya got me thinkin now ( thats aaaaaaalways a bad thing )  :shock:

different sizes of car wheels on hubs ..........

[Bixxer Bob]

Hi BB

that doesn't look hard to make

I guess not, but hard enough to find the time to make the bits let alone make the tools to make the bits as well... plus the only machine tools I currently have is a lathe and pillar drill, would really need a mill to make decent job of a home made one.

Main imperative is too make the mud guard stays and a seat frame for the Greeves, so small dia stuff 3/8 1/2. The dies that come with that HF model are too big so I would have to turn up so dies

After that maybee a set of crash bars for the steamer.

PS you about this WE? I'll drop the gauges back if you are.

Going to Uppingham Harley ( :shock: ) tomorrow early afternoon, but should be in Sunday, just ring first.

A roller that could make crash bars would soon pay for itself methinks... :roll:

[JetdocX]

I don't know what your experience with HF tools is, but given the size of the tubing this thing is supposed to bend, I call BS.  That cheap cast iron will shatter under the load.  The dude in China who under built it doesn't care if you lose an eye or get lead poisoning from the paint once it enters your body at high velocity.

Steer clear of this one. :roll:

[BruKen]

I have been down the cheap route with pipe benders. They crumple and deform the tube. Complete waste of time.

[Bixxer Bob]

I agree about "cheap" Ken, and I know what you mean about them crushing the pipe.  But this is a roller not a bender so I'm curious and keeping an open mind.  I've rolled sheet and wire edged sheet, but can't recall rolling tube before so not saying you're wrong, just would like to see it done.

And if I was to build one, I'd use 6mm sheet for the sidewalls (that looks like 3mm at best with swages for stiffening) good bearings for the rollers and welded in bushes for the bearing carriers.  The tapped top plate needs to be 12mm I think, and I'd use more than 2 or 3 screws to hold it together.  Probably weld it .... :roll:

[akendall1966]

Seems to work for this guy.... see post 7.

http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19336