Small roller/bender

[bs2236]

Hello all

I have got some coupling guards to make from 210mm wide 1mm thick 316 stainless, i was thinking about one of these for rolling but not sure if it will cope with the stainless: -

http://www.stakesys.co.uk/product/3_in_1_machine/

Has anyone any experience with these at all?

Many thanks for your help.

 

[chevy2]

I have the same machine but Northern branded,
not owned it long but have rolled some similar width mild steel sheet around 1.2mm thick which seamed to roll ok but havn't put any stainless sheet through the rollers yet.

 

[bs2236]

Thanks for that, it sounds promising.

Might order one anyway, i am sure it will come in for other jobs.

 

[Wallace]

I have one of these 12" slip rolls from RDG Tools, works well for it's size.

 

[bs2236]

Wallace

that looks just the ticket, thanks for that.

 

[Shox Dr]

I've rolled 316 @0.9mmx300mm 90m dia with one of those, not a problem

 

[bs2236]

Thanks once again for the input, not sure which one to order now! Being a Yorkshire man it may have to be the cheapest for now.
I will report back when it arrives and has been tested.

 

[oddbob]

I've got the Axminster version. It rolls well and folds nicely, although you don't get a particularly 'sharp' fold as the top tool doesn't bottom out. The shear on the other hand is next to useless on anything other than very thin or very narrow material (the top tool just isn't rigid enough).

To be honest, I think second time 'round I'd buy separate kit for each job.

 

[bs2236]

oddbob

I would have preferred to have separate tools but space does not allow at the moment, will probably just get the RDG slip roller today and make do without the folder & shear.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Wallace]

A lack of space pushed me in the direction of the 3 in 1 machines and I bought a 750mm Warco Formit, it was really badly made and I took it back for a refund. I posted a few photos here when Chevy2 posted about his Northern Tools 3 in 1 which (fingers crossed!) seems to be better made and works ok. I ended up with a Gabro Notcher, a Gabro box & pan folder and the 12" vice mounted slip roll from RDG Tools I mentioned earlier. I now have a bigger lack of space too!

 

[MattF]

I now have a bigger lack of space too!

Well worth the sacrifice for the better quality kit though. That first unit really was shocking quality.

 

[Wallace]

Well worth the sacrifice for the better quality kit though. That first unit really was shocking quality.

As was the attitude when I returned it. Two days of my life wasted and £50 in fuel, all I received was shrugged shoulders and "sorry, it's our suppliers fault hence I have nothing badged Warco even secondhand.

 

[bs2236]

Wallace

that doesn't sound very good for warco products, especially as i am going to pick up a small warco lathe on Thursday. I shall have to see if it worth its money and be prepared to walk away i think.

 

[Wallace]

Wallace

that doesn't sound very good for warco products, especially as i am going to pick up a small warco lathe on Thursday. I shall have to see if it worth its money and be prepared to walk away i think.

If you have the time, ask them to unbox the one you want and inspect it thoroughly and keep your money in your pocket until you are happy. The warehouse guys were top notch and really helpful but the sales guy I spoke to really could not have cared less. I spoke to him about a mill I was interested in and asked what sort of deal he could do me after the problems I had with the 3 in 1 machine and he wouldn't even knock £50 off to compensate me for the fuel I had wasted. I bought some sanding belts and discs for my linisher instead and never bothered with them since.

 

[bs2236]

The Warco lathe is a 2nd hand one and is a private sale. I will have a look on Thursday and see what it is like, at least i have the chance to walk away if the quality is dire.

 

[Wallace]

I hope it turns out to be in good condition and a bargain for you.

 

[rog8811]

I know this is an old thread but I thought I might update it with a few observations on the formit tool.
This week I took delivery of a 24" version,
I was ready do some work on it to get it into a usable condition but..... well as an engineer I believe in deburring, I believe that machined mating surfaces are best left unpainted, the makers of this machine obviously don't. The female press former was as rough as a badgers bum with huge burrs along the top edge.

So first job was to deburr all the various handles and clamp plates and round off the edges of the female press tool. Then, you know what its like , you have to try it out result, a misshapen piece of scratched aluminium.The fingers are all over the place.

So today I scraped off all the paint on the clamping surfaces and reassembled it, the narrowest of the finger will not clamp up at all so I have asked for a replacement 3" one to take the place of the 1" and 2" ones.
I have shimmed up the mount points for the finger plate so that the ends of the fingers run down the centre of the female tool.
Result an almost usable press tool. Proven by the 2mm ali bracket I folded up with it!

 

[penfold]

I think I'd struggle to make that even with a Gabro and an Edwards guillotine.

 

[Wallace]

Such a shame they are supplied like this as for the space the machine occupies they are ideal for small home workshops. The one I had was not even fit to be used as a kit of parts to rebuild into something decent. Nice job on the bracket.

 

[rog8811]

as for the space the machine occupies they are ideal for small home workshops

Quite, which is why I went this route, by the time the rest of my equipment arrives out of storage I will be pressed for space.
I have mounted the 3 in 1 on a couple of transport cases, bolted together with some castors attached, I can now just push it into a corner out of the way until I need it again