OK whats the trick with Ring Rollers??

[bdeditch]

I have been trying to bend a 1/4 inch rod into a 18 inch circle. It keeps wanting to curl up like a cork screw. What the trick to keeping it straight?

[Tensaiteki]

Are you bending the rod a little at a time or trying to achieve the desired radius all at once?

Does the roller you are using have groves in the rollers to keep the rod going straight through the machine?

[aametalmaster]

I assume you are trying to roll 1/4" round bar right? Sometimes it will go goofy because of how it was straightened it has a built in curve to it but it is straight and when you roll it it goes back the other way...Bob

[Broccoli1]

You really a helper.

If you need to do a lot of them, find something to wrap the 1/4" around- mucho easier.

[bdeditch]

Originally Posted by aametalmaster

I assume you are trying to roll 1/4" round bar right? Sometimes it will go goofy because of how it was straightened it has a built in curve to it but it is straight and when you roll it it goes back the other way...Bob

Yes I have been doing a little at a time. They seem to be going good then all of a sudden they make a hard turn to the right.

[bdeditch]

Originally Posted by Broccoli1

You really a helper.

If you need to do a lot of them, find something to wrap the 1/4" around- mucho easier.

Do you mean just heat them up and wrap them around a large metal circle?

[Ironmower]

HUH????? Jigs are great!!!!!!!!!!

[DSW]

I had similar problems trying to do 8" dia rings out of 1/4" with a ring roller and multiple passes.

The best cheap way I found was to make an undersized ring from some old pipe with a center axle. Tacked the rod to the ring, then turned the ring with a big wrench on the axle until the rod wrapped past the start point by several inches. Cut the tack with a wizzer wheel and then cut thru the over lapped sections. the rings would have a bit of twist but they weren't too bad. You have to cut the end off because the 1st 1" or so wont bend quite right. After the 1st one the little bit of extra bend on the rod left from the previous bend helps with that 1st 1" or so. Trial and error will be needed to figure out how much the rod springs out after you stop trying to bend it. You'll have less problems with the twist and spring back than I did because you have a bigger dia.

Eventually the cust agreed to switch to flat stock over the rings. I use the same jig to do the flat stock and have eliminated the twist all together since I can over run the flat where I had to run up next to the rod when I reached the start point.

[Broccoli1]

Originally Posted by bdeditch

Do you mean just heat them up and wrap them around a large metal circle?

1/4" you can bend cold, no problem but as DSW mentioned you have to find the correct diameter to allow for Spring back.

and the helper comment was iffin' ya try to use the Ring roller- the helper watches for the Cork screw and straightens it out- still a PIA

I used a piece of Pipe and cut a notch for the stock, start wrapping the stock around and then just remove the "Coil", compressed it in a vise, cut it with a sawsall.

If you have a Plasma cutter you don't need to put it in a vise

[Broccoli1]

Couple pics of rings- smaller than you're making but you get the idea.

Small Rings

[Broccoli1]

Medium Rings

[Broccoli1]

This is what I call the "Thing"

[bdeditch]

Originally Posted by Broccoli1

This is what I call the "Thing"

THANK YOU!!!!! You have given me some darn good ideas now!! Thanks to all that posted, your help is always great.

[mrmikey]

I used to run a set of rolls where I used to work. Round bar is a pia to roll. If I had a bunch to do I'd tack them side by side and roll them as a bunch. Leave them a couple of inches longer and cut off the flat spot , my 2 cents worth...Mike

[bdeditch]

Originally Posted by mrmikey

I used to run a set of rolls where I used to work. Round bar is a pia to roll. If I had a bunch to do I'd tack them side by side and roll them as a bunch. Leave them a couple of inches longer and cut off the flat spot , my 2 cents worth...Mike

Now this idea I like, I will try that.

[mb_welder]

Reminds me of when I used to build rapier hilts as a hobby. If a ring went wonky in the bending process, I would simply bend it back. Nothing a hammer and a vice couldn't fix!

[bdeditch]

Originally Posted by mb_welder

Reminds me of when I used to build rapier hilts as a hobby. If a ring went wonky in the bending process, I would simply bend it back. Nothing a hammer and a vice couldn't fix!

You know if it was a smaller size, but when I tried to bend back this 1/4 inch stuff it looked like a easter egg by the time I was done

[weldbead]

i recently received a harbor freight planetary gear type ring roller with the features tensaitekai describes in response to OP. see foto.. 1/4" rod is in approximate starting position, moves left to right as machine is cranked ....it seems to me, because the manual is poor at describing how to operate the tool, adjustable (lower right) wheel is moved down initially to align with two driven wheels and allow max 1/4" rod / 3/16" flat stock to be inserted..then raised with handwheel to apply upward pressure against rod .foto reflects this upward pressure condition.. my question is and i hope it helps answer OP's original question , is in this foto position it feels like the upward pressure exerted by the handwheel is maximum, tight.. just by the fact that it is sa handwheel it is only intended to apply a limited amount of pressure.. ..at that point it feels like the rod needs to be cranked through the machine forward and back just a little to start it bending, which relieves the upward pressure permitting me to take another bite with the handwheel , if you want a tight radius this might get repeated several times.. does this seem right? it is a lot of trial ands error, and entire process needs repeating for each ring.. makes all the tried-and-true methods described here make more sense than a ring roller machine...

[artworksmetal]

I've used one of these for years, they take some getting used to. The round bar does want to wander - have your keep pushing it back in line as you go.
You are limited as to how big a bite you can take on the first pass, and plan on cutting that first inch or so off as waste if your looking for a true circle.

if you want a tight radius this might get repeated several times.. does this seem right? it is a lot of trial ands error, and entire process needs repeating for each ring

If you're trying to get more than one the same size, then do them assembly line style or you'll be cussing. These are not conducive to repeatable bends, unless decrease the radius very slowly as you get close to the desired radius.

[artworksmetal]

OK, I just noticed you said an 18" circle. It's been a while, but If I remember, by the time you run 5 ft of rod through this you do have something less than a circle and more like a pigtail.
Try this - do your first bend fairly light, so you end up with a large "C". On your later passes, as you close up the gap, have your helper torque both ends of the "C" to bring them back in line.
Great opportunity to get the wife involved...
As far as starting the bend, back the rod off a little so the end of it as at about the 11 o'clock position on that leading roller.