[weldtoride]

Welcome, Dennis.

Everyone here started out with "booger welds", practice will lead to better welds.

As for building a bead roller, I humbly suggest you start with a cheap off-shored one from any number of suppliers, and practice your welding by adding stiffening members, or making a stand for it.

True, the off-shored tools dont have hardened dies, but as a hobbyist, you're not likely to wear out any dies soon.