Bead rolling?

[INTMD8]

Just wondering if you guys have had better luck with certain types of dies vs metal warpage?

I cut out an 18 gauge steel one piece trunk floor for my Cadillac, put quite a few patterns into it with an 1/8 step die and warped the hell out of it.

I was cranking it down rather tight, maybe that is my problem?

Or is everyone pre-stretching with an english wheel? (which I don't have).

I may have just put too many beads into this thing but trying to avoid the next one being a taco as well.

[Ketzer]

I'm strictly novice, but run into the same problems as you.
I'm sure you've watched a few of the Lazze videos on youtube where he talks about it, he pre shrinks or stretches and it still looks like it has some warp in it to me....

But then look at some of the Jamey Jordan stuff and his panels still look as flat as new stock after he has just beadrolled the Mona Lisa in to a panel... wow.


Jeff-

[renegade6]

I had the same problem. Try not cranking down so tight or, use a english wheel to pre-stretch it.

[67goatman455]

you guys are scaring me. i was going to go buy one of those sweet harbor freight ones to do my entire floor LOL

[67zo6Camaro]

Yea I have run into that problem also. Sometimes I have to English Wheel out the middle flat area after I bead roll. It still has some warping to it. I have found that if you build a flat catch table front and rear of the bead roller it helps keep the metal flat as it's pinched between the die. Less up and down motion during rolling. Also as noted above, smaller bites.... I mean less pressure between passes. I do multiple passes to ease the metal into shape. However, it makes it hard to pass directly over the prior line. That's where the catch table comes in handy. Also try raising the bead roller up to eye level... which helps visibility during the multiple passes.

For those amazing panels that seem to come out perfectly flat, I think the pros are using an annealed thinner metal than 18G.

That's my 3cents. lol

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Yep, it's how you hold, support the metal, the type of metal and die you use. Experiment a little and you'll learn what works with what.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by INTMD8

Just wondering if you guys have had better luck with certain types of dies vs metal warpage?

I cut out an 18 gauge steel one piece trunk floor for my Cadillac, put quite a few patterns into it with an 1/8 step die and warped the hell out of it.

I was cranking it down rather tight, maybe that is my problem?

Or is everyone pre-stretching with an english wheel? (which I don't have).

I may have just put too many beads into this thing but trying to avoid the next one being a taco as well.

I'm sorry -- I got a good chuckle out of your misery.... and it's not because of you personally doing something... but how many times I read or see people thinking that what they see on the internet (like the builds on here) -- is just --- Get a machine and start makin' stuff! Welding -- fab -- bending -- English wheel -- whatever.....

I don't have, nor have I ever used, a bead roller - but I KNOW it's not nearly as simple as the people that can do it, make it look. I remember the tailgate for the Craftsman truck that was made at The RS... and thinking WOW!! That dude has some serious skills 'cause I can't even figure out how he made that thing!!

[SuperB70]

About the Craftsman truck tail gate, I mae remember wrong but didnt RS stamped that text?

And about bead rollers, there are cheap one and there is good ones.

Internet is full of info how to make HF roller stiffer but none about hot to stiffing Mittler Bros, Lazze's or JS-tools.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I'm sorry -- I got a good chuckle out of your misery.... and it's not because of you personally doing something... but how many times I read or see people thinking that what they see on the internet (like the builds on here) -- is just --- Get a machine and start makin' stuff! Welding -- fab -- bending -- English wheel -- whatever.....

I don't have, nor have I ever used, a bead roller - but I KNOW it's not nearly as simple as the people that can do it, make it look. I remember the tailgate for the Craftsman truck that was made at The RS... and thinking WOW!! That dude has some serious skills 'cause I can't even figure out how he made that thing!!

can't learn if you don't try. Some people are just naturals and others have to be shown. You should know this man.

Reminds me of when I was young. I love fish so I decided to build a boat. My dad wouldn't help so I bought some wood, tar, nails and rope. 3 weeks later I drug that thing out to the lake down by the golf course. Put it in the water and that sucker sank faster than I could say "crap". Lessons learned that day, too much tar and too many gaps makes a bad boat. I figured it made a nice habitat for the local fish in the lake. Did I mention that I like fish?

[INTMD8]

Good idea on the table guys. The piece I'm working with is roughly 48x32 and I can hold it level while rolling the bead but my right shoulder nearly burst into flames.

Greg, getting machines and start making stuff, exactly!

Yeah I 'might' have a $45 sheet of steel ready for the dumpster because it's so warped, and I 'might' have freaked out and went ballistic on the second one and put 15 holes in it with a hammer, and 'maybe' the 3rd one will work out. (seems like it will lay out fairly good, if I tack weld it from the inside out).

With persistence I will gain experience.