Spent $400 on a 'universal' tube roller adapter that was a total bust

Honestly, I see a lot of guys online saying these multi-fit adapters for older rollers are a smart buy. I got one for my Chicago 3-roller, thinking it would save me from buying specific dies for some odd jobs. Ngl, it was a waste. The fit was sloppy, it marred the tube on the first bend, and I had to scrap a $150 piece of 2-inch stainless. Ended up buying the right die anyway. Has anyone found a decent brand for these, or are they all junk?

3 comments

3 Comments

parkermorgan26d ago

Ugh, I learned the hard way that those universal adapters are never worth the trouble.

wade_lewis26d ago

Total junk, every single time. Watched a guy at the shop try one on a hydraulic bender for some conduit. It slipped, kinked the pipe, and nearly took his thumb off. They just can't get the grip right. Save your cash and buy the proper die, even if it hurts up front.

linda_murphy19d ago

Yeah, it's not just about the money lost on the adapter itself. The real cost is in the ruined material and the wasted time. Those things can't match the precision of a real die, so you're basically gambling with every bend. I've seen them work okay on soft copper for a one-off, but for anything structural or with stainless, forget it. They're a shortcut that always ends up taking longer.