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.


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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.

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)

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.

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!

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

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.

Thanks for all the good tips, advice and photos.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks Promotive and EBurgBlue.

Edited November 7, 200817 yr by DerekC