Bead roller advice needed.

[submariner]

this might have been answered here before, but i am looking for a bead roller, to replicate the corners of some of the exterior sheet metal.. especially the conrner around the old style entry door (the one with door in door).

has anybody done this here and have some advice as to what type of bead roller to use or where to find one?

im also having to rebuild some of the window rain gutters.. any advice?

thanks

[Silverflames]

You might want to PM aerowood. He does aircraft repairs for a living. He seems to know his stuff.

In stead of making new pieces, you can buy many body panels from Inland RV or Outdoors Mart. Also try Vintage trailer supply.

[submariner]

well. buying replacement panels is out of the questions, as i am working on a 48 Liner.
i did noticed , that the corner at the door is broke and not rolled, however the lower corners for the roof section are rolled.
I do like to have the tools for the job on hand though.. therefore looking for the right (inexpensive)source

[FC7039]

In this link aerowood describes a homemade one using bearings. This is what I used. Made my own and a little practice http://www.airforums.com/forums/f381...tml#post321300

[Shacksman]

Aircraft Spruce Sells this edge bending tool that does a good job.
EDGE ROLLING TOOL from Aircraft Spruce Canada

[submariner]

thank you guys.. this info helps a lot. i probably will purchase a bead roller similar to the harbor freight tool.

[BradS]

A while back I replaced many panels on a 57 Overlander. I ended up having a sheet metal fabricator do the edge/ bead detail for me. I would cut out my new panel take it in to them and have the bead work done and pick them up a few days later. Instead of spending money on tools and then practicing for hours I chose to have someone do it for me

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by Silverflames

In stead of making new pieces, you can buy many body panels from Inland RV or Outdoors Mart. Also try Vintage trailer supply.

… however the aluminum the panel is pressed out of is totally different aluminum and your panels will never match the rest.

[submariner]

i plan on purchasing 2024t3 aluminum from aircraft spruce, and also found the same bead roller, that harbor freight sells on eaby for much less with free shipping..

I just prefer to have the tool myself, instead of having to go somewhere and have them do it..that way i can work at my own pace though.. and i can use it in the future as well..

thanks

[Silverflames]

I think what 62overlander is referring to is the new panels you can buy for a AS. I guess the are a different grade metal and will not match or polish correctly. So they would stand out..

I have been paying labor on all of my brake work, and for what I have spent in labor, i could have bought a brake and sheer from HF.

[FC7039]

I actually bought a bead roller from HF only to return it. This may be due to my ignorance of its use but I found the dies were too big for the edge shapes you are after and that it is a two person job to move the panels through the press and crank it. I did not give it a lot of effort before I determined it would not do the job. But you may. Your 48 would have flat panels that can be made from sheet alum. No need to buy from anyone if they are even for sale

[submariner]

i was looking at the HF bead roller yesterday and noticed, i can get the same one with free shipping from fleabay... I do have a lathe and therefore be able to turn a die if needed.
Yes the 48 has straight panels, but also all roof panels have a rolled lower edge.

thanks for the help so far. i will continue the actual restoration in the 48 Liner thread

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by submariner

i was looking at the HF bead roller yesterday and noticed, i can get the same one with free shipping from fleabay... I do have a lathe and therefore be able to turn a die if needed. Yes the 48 has straight panels, but also all roof panels have a rolled lower edge. thanks for the help so far. i will continue the actual restoration in the 48 Liner thread

Your workmanship is so good (saw your mail box) you should have a quality combination beader & crimper. You maybe able to find one close to an industrial area where a sheet metal shop or insulation contractor is selling off old equipment or a flea market or industrial auction. Failing that, Shacksman knows what he is talking about so his recommendation would definitely work and the price cannot be beat. Jim

[dirigible25]

Look at those available on Eastwood's web-site. The have several and they have interchangeable dies. I see that they advertise on this web-site as well.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I am hitting dead ends and struggling with this same issue now. I am working on a 57 and the edge detail is giving me a serious fit to get correct. Some years the edge is a simple, beveled edge. That bearing tool does a great job for that. The roller from HF will do a bead fairly well. On this year however the edge is rolled over. Does anyone know how to do this?

[Frank's Trailer Works]

This is the edge profile on the Ohio built 57 Caravanner I trying to match…

[Aerowood]

A bead roller would work, but finding the correct dies is going to be the problem. I have had machine shops make one off dies out of mild steel for some smaller jobs as there was no need for hardened dies, saves some money.

[HiHoAgRV]

Every time I try an edge like that in a bead roller, I end up with the lip being stretched, bowing the panel up. When the final pass flattens it out, the lip ends up as wrinkled as my toes after a spa dip. Grrr...then again, my bead roller is only a 2 roller unit.

Hats off to the original craftsmen.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I can do this, sort of, by running everything upside down with the smallest bead, but the edge keeps running off the edge even with a guide installed. I have wasted a ton of time and aluminum trying to get correct. The full bead and the slight bevel are easy. This round over is a serious challenge.

[Aerowood]

Could be they used 2 different die sets