Homemade Planishing Hammer (and other homemade tools)

[legopnuematic]

I had started on this on New Years day and finally got around to finishing it today. I was planning on buying the Harbor Freight unit but as my luck would have it they stopped selling them so that was a no go, so I decided to try making one myself.

The frame is made from an old elliptical, the design is mostly due to having limited materials, however it could be made larger or smaller. Powered with a harbor freight air hammer that I already had. only needed to buy the air valve and the upper die. Made a lower die from some scrap A2 steel from work with a 6 inch radius. I plan to make many other radius dies and stretching dies at some point.

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[legopnuematic]

The first tests. Just some 18 gauge cold rolled steel. I pounded some 'walnuts' into the panel with a ball peen hammer on a sandbag to give it a rough shape.

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This is after a few minutes of planishing and a couple more rounds on the sand bag to deepen the bump.

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Put a crown in another piece of scrap and then put some dents in it.

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After a minute on the hammer it smoothed it right out.

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Still have a lot to learn about planishing and already know what I need to improve on it but I am pleased so far, both in the possibilities of the machine and that it didn't blow apart the first time I tried to use it..

 

[shiftpro]

I want one a doze. It amazing what some skill, knowledge and tools can do. You're well on your way to making cab corners.
Thanks for the pics and demonstrating your fun and making me sick.

 

[78C10BigTen]

The first tests. Just some 18 gauge cold rolled steel. I pounded some 'walnuts' into the panel with a ball peen hammer on a sandbag to give it a rough shape.

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This is after a few minutes of planishing and a couple more rounds on the sand bag to deepen the bump.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Put a crown in another piece of scrap and then put some dents in it.

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After a minute on the hammer it smoothed it right out.

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Still have a lot to learn about planishing and already know what I need to improve on it but I am pleased so far, both in the possibilities of the machine and that it didn't blow apart the first time I tried to use it..

You sir are a very talented guy!

 

[bucket]

That's quite impressive sir!

 

[78C10BigTen]

Guys like me pay guys like you good money for that kinda work lol

 

[Termite_Delight]

Very nice

 

[HotRodPC]

I really really wish I'd had someone around to teach me some sheet metal work as well as more welding and fab skills.

 

[shiftpro]

Not taking anything away from legoair, but it's really not so hard once you get the concept and learn a few tricks. Kinda like brain surgery..

 

[shiftpro]

I really really wish I'd had someone around to teach me some sheet metal work as well as more welding and fab skills.

yootuuub is your friend....

 

[bucket]

Not taking anything away from legoair, but it's really not so hard once you get the concept and learn a few tricks. Kinda like brain surgery..

I got a kick out of "legoair"

 

[legopnuematic]

Not taking anything away from legoair, but it's really not so hard once you get the concept and learn a few tricks. Kinda like brain surgery..

That's what I am trying to show, that you don't need to drop many thousands on metal shaping tools, rather with some time and creativity homemade variants can be made that can produce equally as quality of work. For example the rectangle tubing could be substituted for 16gauge 2.25" exhaust tubing, Tig welding could be substituted for stick welding, etc.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[shiftpro]

I got a kick out of "legoair"

I can't spell pnuem... pnewmatu... pneue... fuckit...

 

[Snoots]

Thanks for the pics and demonstrating your fun and making me sick.

You sir are a very talented guy!

That's quite impressive sir!

New maa tick (close enough).

Never say no to a fellow with a welder.

 

[legopnuematic]

Just finished this up tonight, a stand for the shrinker stretcher setup I purchased on special.

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Stand is made from all 2nd hand materials. The Rec tubing for the feet was purchased from a scrap dealer, rotors from an Acura Integra, post from a lamp post, square tubing from a hammock stand, and part of a table saw adjustment mechanism. Still need to make the foot controls for it.

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