A pre-beading apparatus for fashioning a cylindrical includes a housing have a work surface and an aperture formed in the work surface, where the aperture is capable of accommodating the cylindrical workpiece. A rotatable head assembly is concentrically aligned with the aperture, and includes a bead wheel and a cut wheel disposed on opposing distal ends of the rotatable head assembly. A gripper assembly is disposed within the housing and includes a securing means that extends into the cylindrical workpiece and permits selective movement of the cylindrical workpiece in an axial direction.