The slip roll is shipped complete,...
The slip roll is shipped complete, with just the hand crank requiring installation. We clamped ours to a steel bench, though, ideally, it should be bolted down.
Having used a fullsize slip roll in the past (and indeed on page 72 of this very issue where Jeb Scolman fabricates a hood), we were dubious as to the usefulness of a 12-inch slip roll. We have to say though, it soon proved its worth when we had to make the steel return lip for a ’glass grille shell, shown in the picture to the right. Admittedly, we also used a bead roller to form a step in this panel. We can see this slip roll being very useful for forming patch panels for doorskins, quarter-panels, and rockers, too. It should prove invaluable in a home shop, where its small size, and the ability to be stored when not in use, would make it an ideal addition to an occasional sheetmetal tool arsenal. After all, who has space in the average home garage for a slip roll, brake, shear, and so on? At least not if you want to get a car in there too!
Eastwood’s slip roll can tackle sheetmetal up to 20 gauge or aluminum up to 17 gauge, up to 11 3/4 inches in width. If you’re wondering what the three grooves in the lower rollers are for, they enable wire of 5/64-, 1/8-, and 5/32-inch diameter to be rolled. Though the cast-iron base should be bolted to a workbench, we used C-clamps to hold ours for the purposes of this story, with no problems.
Cones can also be formed by setting the rear roller at different heights at each end. While you’re never going to fabricate a complete transmission tunnel with this tool, you could form one in sections easily enough. Making cylinders as small as 1 1/2 inches diameter is also possible, thanks to the quick-release upper roller for removing such pieces. This is one of those tools that you’ll find a million uses for, and wonder how you did without it, we’re sure.
There is one of these thickness...
There is one of these thickness adjuster knobs at each end of the tool, enabling the rollers to be adjusted to suit the thickness of material being worked. Note the gears on the end of the roller, which have to mesh for both to turn, feeding the work piece in.
Another pair of knobs on the...
Another pair of knobs on the rear adjust the height of the rear roller. The higher this is, the tighter the radius formed. On a wider piece of metal, if one end of the rear roller is higher than the other, a cone will be formed.
While not the smallest diameter...
While not the smallest diameter possible, we quickly formed this cylinder to illustrate how the quick-release upper roller allows it to be removed from the tool.