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MP&C
01-11-2014, 07:46 PM
Had someone stop by the shop needing to add a bead to the end of the aluminum tubing he had to install in his Cobra project. He had trimmed one end for a better fit and needed to replace the bead for the fuel fill hose...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture029.jpg

......to match the other end.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture028.jpg

The dies on the bead roller were much too large in diameter, so I thought to make a manual device out of a pair of vise grips... Once the teeth start to wear these make ideal candidates for purpose-built tools. For the punch part of the tool, started with a thick 5/8 washer and gave the edges a nice radius in the lathe.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture027.jpg

The vise grip bottom teeth were welded in and sanded smoothed to provide a flat area for the punch to push against (for less marking of the tubing), then an 1/8" thick 3" dia cut off wheel provided the recess in the lower jaw of the vise grips.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture030.jpg

The washer was notched and bent to better fit the vise grips for welding....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture032.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture038.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture040.jpg

Masking tape added to use as a reference/stop mark to align against end of vise grip jaw. Less likely to mar the surface like a hose clamp.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture033.jpg

The vise grips with their adjustable jaw setting work well to make one revolution, then adjust tighter, etc..

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture034.jpg

Finished product....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture036.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/McCartney%20Paint%20and%20Custom-Shop%20Eqpt/Picture037-1.jpg

Nice for adding the bead on the cheap, and yet stout enough for multiple uses..

Maddog
01-11-2014, 08:03 PM
Now that's a useful tip. How do you come up with these things?

MP&C
01-11-2014, 08:30 PM
Watched too much McGuyver when I was younger... :)

NickP
01-11-2014, 09:29 PM
Now that's a useful tip. How do you come up with these things?


Necessity is the Mother of Invention and, certainly better than spending $550 for this I bet: http://www.eastwood.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/412x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p18819.jpg

567chevys
01-11-2014, 10:32 PM
Robert ,

You totally amaze me how you work metal out and the tool's you come up with !!!!

Thanks for posting!!!

Sid

carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)
01-12-2014, 05:41 AM
neat, thanks for sharing Robert.

Maddog
01-12-2014, 01:52 PM
Necessity is the Mother of Invention and, certainly better than spending $550 for this I bet: http://www.eastwood.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/412x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p18819.jpg

Good way if you're doing beads often, I like the electric version but you have to be doing beads daily for that. Better yet for us home shop guys is the Chinese version for 1/2 price!