Beading Expander for Easy Tube Rolling and Beading

The Wilson Combination Beading Expander (CBE) is one of our smartest tools! Rather than expand a tube, then manually bead it, and then re-roll it with a straight roll expander, the patented Combination Beading Expander from Thomas C. Wilson does all three jobs in one seamless process.

The Wilson Combination Beading Expander doesn’t just save time, cut labor costs and reduce your equipment investment; it also produces a perfect bead every time! Designed primarily for the fabrication and re-tubing of fire-tube boilers, the Combination Beading Expander rolls and beads tubes with 2-inch, 2 1/2-inch and 3-inch Outer Diameters, 10 to 13 gauge.

The Wilson Combination Beading Expander for 2-inch Outer Diameter tubes is a 4-roll expander. For 2 1/2-inch and 3-inch tubes, it is a 5-roll expander. And the Combination Beading Expander is a self-feeding, parallel-rolling unit. For best results, trim the tube to be expanded and beaded to 3/16-inch projection.

How to Order the Combination Beading Expander

To order, simply locate your tube Outer Diameter and gauge. Each Combination Beading Expander assembly includes a standard mandrel, a grease gun (to lubricate the tool) and a service manual. You should order extra mandrels, straight rolls, beading rolls and guide roll assemblies, based on the number of tubes you will be expanding and beading. Your Wilson Product Application Specialist can help you determine how many spare mandrels, straight rolls, beading rolls and guide roll assemblies you should order. To prolong the life of your Combination Beading Expander, we recommend B-Kool.