Finally! Planishing Hammer is DONE

[brianpgriset]

Took long enough, but it's done! I have plans of one day learning to shape sheetmetal. Most work can be done by hand, but it's tedious and takes forever, making power tools very attractive. I know HF has that little $125 phammer, but I couldn't bring myself to buy it, thing is a piece if you ask me. Anyways, I began this one awhile ago. Made the anvil holder and dies at a machine shop I used to work at, as well as a few other parts. I pretty much made the whole thing, the frame, the anvil holder adjuster system (like the hand wheel and jambnut handle thingy), the little tabs that hold the copper tubing, even the footpedal I made because those foot air valves are expensive so I bought a small Humphrey button valve off ebay and built the foot mechanism around it.

Also, this is the second time I've made this thing. First time I used a clamping style lower anvil holder, I had two tabs coming off the front of the anvil receiver with a nut welded on one of the tabs, and a bolt with a handle on the other, and a long slit down the length of the receiver. Well, no matter how hard I tightened the bolt the hammering action would just barely push the anvil holder down. So I tore it all apart and came up with the jambnut style lock I have now. Works MUCH better.

I've already played with a few pieces of metal, it does job pretty good. Now I just need to work on the e-wheel.... then learn how to shape sheetmetal.

 

[rsanter]

nice job
I may have to steal a couple of the ideas you have there.

I bought the HF version as the quick way into it and it has been ok with a couple of tweaks needed.
I am in the process of building one of my own as well as a small Ewheel

have you been on metalmeet.com??

bob

 

[tatra]

let me start out by saying i have absolutly no experience with this tool but do admire the workmanship................i do wonder about the hand wheel set screw that tightens up on the threads.................is this not a problem down the road for thread damage as you change positions?.............maybe a locknut would be better?.................

 

[brianpgriset]

Thanks for the responses. I have infact been on metalmeet, thats how I ended up on these forums .

You know I almost got that HF hammer when they had it on sale for $99, with a few fixes it certainly gets the job done from what I've read.

As far as the threads getting messed up, the reason I made it this was so I could quickly lower the anvil holder down, without the use of any tools. A locknut would defeat that. Plus, if the all-thread does get messed up, I can just buy a new piece at Lowes.

 

[jhn9840]

Looks great. Probably works better than the HF verson ever would.

jhn9840
John

 

[e-tek]

It's a beauty that's for sure - if I didn't trust you I'd say you didn't make it all - looks that good!

Also, looks like you got a few bucks in materials there - if I where to buy all that stuff (not "find" it)...I'm sure I'd be near a hun.

As far as the threads getting messed up, the reason I made it this was so I could quickly lower the anvil holder down, without the use of any tools. A locknut would defeat that. Plus, if the all-thread does get messed up, I can just buy a new piece at Lowes.

I don't get it - wouldn't you just set it once for a particular gauge of metal - and don't you have tools you can use to change it? A lock nut sounds better than replacing it...but to each his own!

 

[Graham08]

Nice work! I've thought about making one of those...looks to be fairly simple, and portable...

 

[brianpgriset]

Also, looks like you got a few bucks in materials there - if I where to buy all that stuff (not "find" it)...I'm sure I'd be near a hun.



I don't get it - wouldn't you just set it once for a particular gauge of metal - and don't you have tools you can use to change it? A lock nut sounds better than replacing it...but to each his own!

Pretty close on the price. I think it was a touch under $100 total, $10 for the zip gun, $15 for the upper die, $5 for the air valve, ~$15 for the air line/fittings, a few bucks for rivets,/fasteners, etc... not free by any means but still a decent deal.

And as for it's "quick release" capabilities, generally this is done so when you are shaping a piece of metal that, say, has a rolled edge, such as a fender, or a sharp 90° bend, you can quickly release it out by dropping the lower anvil. Most models I have seen, and most e-wheels I have seen, have some sort or quick release for this reason.

Ideally you would add those obstructions after you've done all the shaping... but things don't always go as planned with those kinds of projects.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[e-tek]

Cool - thanks for the info and....NICE WORK!