Hello there..

[kmb58]

Greetings from Western NY.

I found this site while searching for information/alternative dies for my brand new Harbor Freight bead roller!

I am restoring a car and will have to give myself a crash course in metal shaping as someone has conveniently removed the roof skin from my car somewhere along the way. I have watched a lot of videos and have a lot of "art" in me as well as a background in mechanical engineering. I think it will go just fine..

I have acquired the English Wheel and bead roller kits from Harbor Frieght and while I feel the English Wheel appears to be a fantastic value, the bead roller- yikes. Is this made of plastic? Haha. I reinforced it using some rectangular tube and preliminary tests with my 10 year old daughter cranking for me- showed that it will be sufficient. I just need to acquire the appropriate dies.


Anyway- I look forward to participating and sharing my progress as well as picking a brain or two. FIRST order of business is learning if the Eastwood die kit will fit my HF Bead Roller...

[Mike Motage]

Welcome Keith! Get yourself signed up for as many gatherings as possible, it's a great way to learn some skills and understand potential problems. Also look into installing a tractor type steering wheel in place of the hand crank on that bead roller.

This group of folks here are very helpful. Post whenever you want or need. We like pictures, as they help explain what you're doing.

[cliffrod]

Welcome to the forum, Keith.

[zekeymonkey]

Welcome to the forum, Keith. According the following link, the Eastwood dies are for a 22 mm (7/8") shaft.
http://www.eastwood.com/bead-roller-forming-dies.html

And, from the following link, the Harbor Freight is also 22 mm.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...roller.395197/

I would take this all with a grain of salt since I have neither, only Google.

[kmb58]

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone!

zekeymonkey- YES!! lol. I know!! I hate to spend 250% of the cost of the tool on a set of dies that don't work... but all indication available says they should work?

I'll order them. Screw it.. I guess i'll be the guinea pig.. lol

Thanks again-

KB

[kmb58]

An update== Eastwood dies absolutely fit the harbor freight bead roller.

Been a long time since I bought something from somewhere other than Harbor Freight.. very impressive.

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi Keith welcome to the forum
Peter