How’s this for a bargain then?
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I needed to go to the States this past week and whilst there I picked up a Tube Roller from Harbour Freight, on offer, price $160. With current exchange rates that’s about £100

Whilst I appreciate Harbour freight doesn’t have the best reputation for quality with this I am well chuffed! Three sets of rollers from 1” – 2” strong construction, bearings where I would expect them. I did read one or two reports about it being hard going on larder diameter tube but I believe this is probably because the distance between the two bottom rollers is relativity small. So if this becomes an issue and it might not, I will either drill holes for the shaft further apart or worse-case have two new side plate laser cut, cost a few quid!

Really the above is splitting hairs, compared with the options available in the UK, (Scott roller or pro-tools) I’ve saved about £6-700. Yes, yes, I know we’re not talking the same level of quality but for a few amateur projects I’m sure it will do an equally satisfactory job. I even looked at making my own and couldn’t get the rollers turned up for what I’ve paid.

Sorry for the length of this post but I’m well chuffed

did you carry it back with you? As some will know I had a pro-tools bender shipped back some time ago

Very good
Where do you live so i now where to come for some tubes to be bent

quote:

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Originally posted by liam.mccaffrey
did you carry it back with you? As some will know I had a pro-tools bender shipped back some time ago

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remember you can roll tubes in several passes so if it is hard work, just roll in the radius a little at a time.

edit: can you fit another one in your case for me?

[Edited on 11-12-2009 by smart51]

edit: can you fit another one in your case for me?

And me please.

Rob

Yes, I was travelling with a business partner and we spilt the weight between our checked-in bags. We packed a little light on the way out and so even with the extra weight of the roller we came in just on our weight limits, it weights about 35kg so obvious our carry-on was a little heavier than usual!!

I’m located in Nottingham if anyone fancies a go

guess what ive just finished making! mines cost me about £60 in parts but can only do 2" tube unless i make some more rollers!
Still it was fun making, kept the winter blues away for a few weeks

That is an absolute bargain! can see why your chuffed with it

Here's mine more pics in my archive



Description

Very nice job. Like I said I was all set to make my own too but I had no way of making the rollers my self and so would have had to pay someone to make these for me.

That said I like the fact yours is a little wider because I think this takes some strain off the clamping and rolling components when doing larger diameter tubing. So at some time in the future I might make some new side plates with several holes to allow me to move the bottom rollers further apart when required.

What you making, something Atom style?

[Edited on 12/12/09 by orton1966]

Its now gone up $19 but the rollers on thier own are much cheapness http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=99736
Cheers,
Bob

quote:

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Originally posted by orton1966

What you making, something Atom style?

[Edited on 12/12/09 by orton1966]

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Ok, this is probably a stupid question, but would one of these be ok for making a roll cage with?
Cause I reckons I can make one of those quite easily, and it would definately be easier to create the differing radii bends on the cage.
I imagine there's no tube collapsing problems as long as you take it slowly?
Cheers,
Badger

What you need is a tube bender for smaller rad bends like the corners of the cage and a roller (like these) for the larger rad bends like the side tubes of an Atom