OK whats the trick with Ring Rollers??

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I have been trying to bend a 1/4 inch rod into a 18 inch circle. It keeps wanting to curl up like a cork screw. What the trick to keeping it straight?
Reply:Are you bending the rod a little at a time or trying to achieve the desired radius all at once?Does the roller you are using have groves in the rollers to keep the rod going straight through the machine?Visit Tensaiteki.com
Reply:I assume you are trying to roll 1/4" round bar right? Sometimes it will go goofy because of how it was straightened it has a built in curve to it but it is straight and when you roll it it goes back the other way...BobBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:You really a helper.If you need to do a lot of them, find something to wrap the 1/4" around- mucho easier.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by aametalmasterI assume you are trying to roll 1/4" round bar right? Sometimes it will go goofy because of how it was straightened it has a built in curve to it but it is straight and when you roll it it goes back the other way...Bob
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1You really a helper.If you need to do a lot of them, find something to wrap the 1/4" around- mucho easier.
Reply:HUH????? Jigs are great!!!!!!!!!!Don't let that iron in your lungs, turn to lead in your @$$!!!!
Reply:I had similar problems trying to do 8" dia rings out of 1/4" with a ring roller and multiple passes.The best  cheap way I found was to make an undersized ring from some old pipe with a center axle. Tacked the rod to the ring, then turned the ring with a big wrench on the axle until the rod wrapped past the start point by several inches. Cut the tack with a wizzer wheel and then cut thru the over lapped sections. the rings would have a bit of twist but they weren't too bad. You have to cut the end off because the 1st 1" or so wont bend quite right. After the 1st one the little bit of extra bend on the rod left from the previous bend helps with that 1st 1" or so. Trial and error will be needed to figure out how much the rod springs out after you stop trying to bend it. You'll have less problems with the twist and spring back than I did because you have a bigger dia.Eventually the cust agreed to switch to flat stock over the rings. I use the same jig to do the flat stock and have eliminated the twist all together since I can over run the flat where I had to run up next to the rod when I reached the start point.
Reply:Originally Posted by bdeditchDo you mean just heat them up and wrap them around a large metal circle?
Reply:Couple pics of rings- smaller than you're making but you get the idea.Small Rings Attached ImagesEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Medium Rings Attached ImagesEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:This is what I call the "Thing" Attached ImagesEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1This is what I call the "Thing"
Reply:I used to run a set of rolls where I used to work. Round bar is a pia to roll. If I had a bunch to do I'd tack them side by side and roll them as a bunch. Leave them a couple of inches longer and cut off the flat spot , my 2 cents worth...Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by mrmikeyI used to run a set of rolls where I used to work. Round bar is a pia to roll. If I had a bunch to do I'd tack them side by side and roll them as a bunch. Leave them a couple of inches longer and cut off the flat spot , my 2 cents worth...Mike
Reply:Reminds me of when I used to build rapier hilts as a hobby.  If a ring went wonky in the bending process, I would simply bend it back.  Nothing a hammer and a vice couldn't fix!
Reply:Originally Posted by mb_welderReminds me of when I used to build rapier hilts as a hobby.  If a ring went wonky in the bending process, I would simply bend it back.  Nothing a hammer and a vice couldn't fix!
Reply:i recently received a harbor freight  planetary gear type ring roller with the features tensaitekai  describes in response to OP. see foto.. 1/4" rod is in approximate starting position,  moves left to right as machine is cranked ....it seems to me, because the manual is poor at describing how to operate the tool,  adjustable (lower right) wheel  is moved down initially to align with two driven wheels and allow  max 1/4" rod  / 3/16" flat stock  to be inserted..then raised with handwheel to  apply upward pressure against rod .foto reflects this  upward pressure condition.. my question is and i hope it helps answer OP's original question , is in this   foto position  it feels like the upward pressure exerted by the handwheel is maximum, tight.. just by the fact that it is sa handwheel it is only intended to apply a limited  amount of pressure.. ..at that point it feels like the rod needs to be cranked through the machine forward and back just a little to start it bending, which relieves the upward pressure permitting me to take another bite with the handwheel , if you want a tight radius this might get repeated several times.. does this seem right? it is a lot of trial ands error, and entire process needs repeating for each ring.. makes all the tried-and-true  methods described here make more sense than a ring roller machine... Attached Images
Reply:I've used one of these for years, they take some getting used to. The round bar does want to wander - have your keep pushing it back in line as you go.You are limited as to how big a bite you can take on the first pass, and plan on cutting that first inch or so off as waste if your looking for a true circle.if you want a tight radius this might get repeated several times.. does this seem right? it is a lot of trial ands error, and entire process needs repeating for each ring
Reply:OK, I just noticed you said an 18" circle. It's been a while, but If I remember, by the time you run 5 ft of rod through this you do have something less than a circle and more like a pigtail. Try this - do your first bend fairly light, so you end up with a large "C". On your later passes, as you close up the gap, have your helper torque both ends of the "C" to bring them back in line. Great opportunity to get the wife involved...   As far as starting the bend, back the rod off a little so the end of it as at about the 11 o'clock position on that leading roller.