Scroller (How do you use it?)

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I view this board basically on a daily basis and I'm amazed with what people are building.  I love the scrolles that everybody here has made for their projects.  I don't own one of these machines or have any knowledge of how to use one but I want to purchase one in the near future.  Nothing expensive but only for hobby use.  My question is how do you use a scroller to make the exact same scroll?  Where can I go to get info on how to use a scroller?  What scroller do you recommend me buying?  Like I said, this is only for hobby (beds, tables, etc - like posted on this board).This board is awsome.  Soldier Boy
Reply:Soldier Boy, go to the link and download the product manual.  It will explain the basic function of the scroller.  As far as which scroller to get, I can't recommend one over the other.  I have the HF and I'm sure the SO, Metalcraft and others are better made.  But the HF, for occasional use and after a little tweaking, would probably work for you until it either breaks, or you decide scrolling is really for you and order a more expensive (and better made) machine.http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=36621
Reply:Soldier, I have the SO scroll and the part that bends the metal has a letter for every scroll. Example stoping point a is the little scroll you see B a lillte bigger and so forth.. I havent seen the HF scroll but the SO scroll makes it so a monkey can do it (hince the reason I own it).  Hope this helpsMike 93 YJwww.moabjeeper.com
Reply:When I use the HF scroller, I make sure to take a measurement and mark the stopping point on the first one.  Then I stop at the same spot on all of the others.  There may be a little differnce, but just make yourself a little bending tool so you can adjust them to match.  The bending tool was inspired by RockyD and Franz - I believe RockyD called it an Old Man.  (See ya'll not many posts, but you guys have inspired me!   )  Not the best way to do it, but I'm not in the production business - just a hobbyist.  Hope this helps!Hank
Reply:This is RockyD's "ol man" on steroids...  I just made a small one out of some scrap rebar I had lying around.http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/...hp?postid=4165http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/...hp?postid=4166
Reply:I'll bite, what is that thing and how do you use it?  Also what kind of weld process is that done with?  I'm guessing Mig?
Reply:I dug this up from a year ago and was wondering if any one could tell me more about the "ole man" and how it is used? And what it might be used for?Let's try it this way!!!! No, Really, It'll work...maybe.
Reply:My best guess is that this is an 'equalizer"! A high leverage handle to help in the making of scrolls (heavy stock) and other bending. It is slid over the side of the metal and would allow you to pull on the piece being bent and the handle at the same time.Just my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:I dont like those little HF scrollers because you can only make one pattern of scroll, and only out of wimpy 1/8" flat bar.I bend most of my scrolls freehand on the hossfeld bender. There is no limit on size or shape, you just draw what you want first, then practice a bit.
Reply:I have a HF one that I have used a lot.  The unit could have been made with heavier metal, but I only have about $75 invested.  I have used 3/16 flat stock on some things and didnt have any problems.  I wanted to suggest that you find someone close to you that has a scroller and pay a visit.  I am sure most people wont mind showing you how it works.  If and when you get one make sure you purchase more metal the you plan on.  I bent a few pieces the wrong way when I got mine, it's easy to do.  These things are fun and really dress up projects.
Reply:Blacksmith-artists make scrolls hot.  You can tell a real scroll because the ends will be worked instead of cut.However, if you don't own a forge and you're not the world's greatest with a rosebud.  You can make yourself a little scroller for doing small scrolls with little investment.Put a piece of angle, say two by two by quarter in your vice.  With your torch heat a piece of quarter by one and bend it just inside the shape of the scroll you're wanting to duplicate.  Remember you need a flat spot to clamp your material to start the scrolling process.This will be your part one.  I will only bend about a two seventy but the price is right.  Now you make another pattern just like the first pattern.  But this one you make go the next two seventy.  And if you need it, you can make the third pattern too.To make scrolls using your dies-patterns you cut a piece of steel to an approximate length, just guesstimate.  The most common scroll is a small curve that evolves into a large one at one end and has the small curve going the opposite direction at the other.To make that you put your two small curves in using the first die-pattern.  Put in your next one in the vice and do the large curve at one end.You know the length of your piece.  You can now measure the length of your scroll and see how much you need to add or subtract for the scroll to be the length you want.  Cut all your pieces that length.Bend all your scrolls.Chances are your steel is going to have hard and soft spots in it.  This means your scrolls will have to be hand tuned to come out close in size and shape to each other.  You can do this with a hammer or you can do it by hand if you're using thin stock.If the bend is too big for the width of your spacing then you can tighten the bend or you can unwind it to make it smaller.  By the same token if it's too small for your spacing you can crank it a little more by hand or with a hammer to fatten it up.If you want your scroll to look better you can weld a piece of round stock on the ends to give it a ball look like real scroll makers do.  It won't be the same but it definately looks better than a saw cut end.Hope this helps.life is good
Reply:Take a look a the metalcraft website I use there scrolls.They have a good selection of them.You can bend flat,round,tube and square on the more expensive model.Not really sure about other brands. hope this helps.www.metalcraftusa.com