Staton & Dax are worth it when you consider the labor you'd put into a DIY.
They are more precise than what most home shops can produce. That said,
you could use a couple pieces of angle iron & bolt 1/2 ply to create a channel.
then bore holes to seat the bearings. I've seen it done, but was not impressed.
After much experimentation I've modified a Staton roller that works wet, one of
the old style ones. Using a diamond wheel on a dremel, I etched a grid into it 1/8"
deep. I burned #60 grit emery paper & panned out the corundum grit. Mixing it into
a paste with J&B Weld I painted it onto the roller. Once cured, it clings to the
grooves I cut with a rough , very hard surface that grips rubber well. Just be
sure to pedal off first before opening the throttle or it will eat your tire. So far
it has been very durable. When it does wear, I'll clean it & just add a fresh layer
of paste.