DC712001 Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Anyone have experience rolling rings (like for old-fashioned steel cart wheels?) I saw this small ring-roller at HFT yesterday. It is rated to roll 3/16 x 1-inch strip steel.Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices I really need to roll 1/4-inch x 2-inch to 12-inch diameter. Wonder if I could either roll two 1-inch width rings, then MIG-weld them together at the center, or, perhaps if I heated the 1/4 x 2-inch strip, I could Hot-Roll the rings? Is there any other or better way to do this at home? I looked into buying/cutting 12-inch pipe into wheels once, and it's cost-prohibitive.Copyrighted photo removed and a link placed into the text.[ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Depends how many bands you need to make, and if you have an appropriately sized floor mandrel. If you only have a few rings to make, a floor mandrel works well. I recently used a floor mandrel to make 1/2" by 1.5" with 11" inside-diameter wheel hub bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbob Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 check this one out on ebay starting at $89.00 will do 3/8x 2" the smallest is 8" diam.Sheet Metal Pedestal Band Ring Steel Roller - Brand NEW - eBay (item 220299017685 end time Nov-20-08 12:10:47 PST) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratch Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I wouldn't roll the 1 inch ones then weld them together... I think distortion will rear it's ugly head. Using a ring roller is the way to go. I don't know if you're interested in making one but I roll alot of 3/16" rings, so I made my own. I've rolled 1/2" X 2" solid before easily. This is what mine looked like right after I finished it, caster wheels and bottle jack from Northern tools. The rest was all scrap parts. If I had to do it over again... I'd probably buy that 89.00 one Jimbob posted though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tribal forge Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I found and Amish Wagon builder down the road from where I live, and he has a heavy-duty roller, so for a few dollars he will roll any rings that I need rolled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwczerr Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Scratch, your roller looks very well built, I imagine you get a lot of good use out of it! Does the hydraulic jack provide enough fine control to adjust your finish sizes by small increments as needed? David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I have that exact same HF ring roller, it works well when used within it's design specifications. It won't roll 2 inch stock there are ring rollers that will but they are pricey. I have had best results when I roll the ring weld the ends together and then put it back in the roller and run it around a couple times to remove the flat spot where the ends met. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC712001 Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 Thanks for all the good tips, advice and photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratch Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Scratch, your roller looks very well built, I imagine you get a lot of good use out of it! Does the hydraulic jack provide enough fine control to adjust your finish sizes by small increments as needed? David Well... it's a hydraulic bottle jack so yes I can put 1/2 a pump on it and it'll roll a tiny bit tighter, but it's not an "exact" type procedure. On the project that I use it for all the time, I have to make a 12.75" ring, out of 3/16" X 1/2" flat bar. I just get it between 12-13" inches and do the final fitting as I cut and weld it together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promotive Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 I have that ring roller also. I drilled a second set of holes for the outer rollers and now I can roll 1' sq tube into circles. Works great for garden arbors and trellis type stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eburgblue Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Derek I have one of the $89 rollers and have made several rings from 1/4 x 2. Here is a pic of some chairs I make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC712001 Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 (edited) Thanks Promotive and EBurgBlue. Edited November 7, 2008 by DerekC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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