Simple mount for HF tubing roller

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Bought the HF tubing roller yesterday.  I think I picked it up for around $127.  I didn't want to buy their stand, so I just built a mount for it for my table (I have a bench grinder, vice, and now this accessory and I plug into and remove from the table).I think I may need to build a device tree to hold all of these things.QUESTION:  I decided to roll about a 1/2" tube using the 1" dies (local HF didn't sell that small of dies for round tubing).  It rolled fine, however, it didn't stay vertical (not surprising).  It wasn't off much, but annoying enough to have me post a question about it.   Any tricks any of you use to keep it vertical?  I have my own ideas, but I have found they are usually not the most simple and effective ideas. Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:one or two more Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:The first thing I would check is the dies. Are they prefectly lined up or is one or more slightly offset? It wouldn't take much. Also check for looseness. Do any of the dies move sideways while you're rolling? I hope this helps.
Reply:Could just be that your using the wrong dies and thats allowing the looseness within the die. Try it with I" tubing and if that works, then its the dies.
Reply:I think it's going to be hard to have it stay perfectly straight when you're using 1/2" stock in a 1" die.  Seems like it would be pretty simple to bend it true, though?  You can get the 1/2" square tubing dies for $39 on sale.  They might do a better job with 1/2" round, even.Nice base.  I just clamp the thing to my bench top.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Jack, you are rolling rectangular tubing?  That's what the picture looks like to me.I think to keep it "square" it's going to require a guide, both in-feed & out-feed.  A simple bracket can be fabbed to keep things square.  I think the bracket would need to be bolted to the side frame.  Couple 1/4" bolts would be enough.Trapper, the dies float side to side.  I modified mine to bring the lower dies closer together by 1" both sides.  By doing that, I am able to roll a tighter diameter on the 1/2" square tubing.I also built a cart for mine. Attached ImagesMarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2Jack, you are rolling rectangular tubing?  That's what the picture looks like to me.
Reply:I have the 1/2" square die set.... just didn't try it yet.The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:Can you guys roll a complete hoop with that version?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyCan you guys roll a complete hoop with that version?
Reply:How tight of a bend can you make with that thing? Looks like a neat little tool.
Reply:Wish we had HF up here Guess I'm stuck with my plywood circles...............200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by moespeedsHow tight of a bend can you make with that thing? Looks like a neat little tool.
Reply:Like this?It will go tighter, but I don't have a need to make it tighter.............yet......... Attached ImagesMarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Adding an arm to either side in the same plane as the edge of the die will give the tube something to hit against as a guide. I have rolled complete circles with this bendersee the post here: http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=34376I actaully just upgraded to a new 1" square die from Swag offroad  check  here: http://swagoffroad.com/Harbor_Freigh...ng_Roller.htmlalso check out the the side extension plates he made for these benders great guys to deal with, don't know if there on this forum, I know they are on pirate4x4
Reply:May I ask what thicknes are the side plates on this HF tube roller? I am building tube roller and I dont want to over-dimension whole thing if not needed. First thought was that I should use 15mm side plates but as I can see, this HF roller side plates are less then 15mm. My aim is to roll 2" tubes with 2mm wall thicknes and as i can see this HF unit can roll 1 1/2" 0.120 wall despite that side plates are less then 15mm perhaps 10mm. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO1FOxscqqM[/ame]And one another thing, I am dimensioning shafts, bearings and trapezoidal screw to withstand 30kN of force on top roller. What force do you think it is required for rolling 1 1/2" 0.120 wall? Thank you for replies!
Reply:Sideplates are 1/4", not sure of how that translates into metric (other than 0.25 inch)  Top "shackle" that holds the top roller is 1/2" bent into a 'U' shape.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Thank you for information. I will use 10mm thick side plates.One more question, what is the diameter of handwheel? And what OD tube it is made from?