I have a huge love of forming sheetmetal. I dont claim to be great, but i know i can do better with the right tools. Mostpeople i know come to me to have sheetmetal work done, but its never really anything intricate. Aside from a few crappy hammers and dollies and other various shit around the shop that i have destroyed, im lacking in the tool department. What are some of the better places to get stuff like beater bags, and forming hammers? Ive even thought of making stuff. I dont mind spending 20 hours making a wood mallet that i couldve bought for 20 bucks. Hell ill make a bag if i can too. Has anybody made theyre own? Just something to get me further than i am. any other essential tools you guys cant live without? im want to know. i want to learn
I have made a ton of my own T-dollies and hammer forms. they are super helpful for makeing curves, and such with out too much stretching. Just make a bunch of different shapes and sizes and weld some flat or round stock to the bottom so you can put it in a vice, they are invaluable to me. Sam
I've made my own tools and have purchased some too. Like you I don't mind spending hours and hours makign something I could have bought cheap. My reasoning is that each tool made has taught me something along the way. With all that said - better tools won't necessarily make you any better - just faster. Sometimes they have only made me able to produce scrap faster!!! Learning the basics (which it sounds like you are well acquainted) will serve you better than the best tools out there. Keep in mind that the greats like Tom Hanna would show up with their tools in a gym bag and pound out a full dragster body with nothing more than they brought!!!! Not trying to discourage you - really - just suggesting a clear head. With that said - I too lusted for better tools - and I couldn't normally run out and buy anything so unless I stumbled on a deal I jut made them. E-wheel , P-hammer whatever I thought I "needed". I have to admit I learned the most with a hammer and dolly. That said the best place for that stuff is the local flea market - I usually give a couple bucks for a shit dolly - then grind it smooth and buff it at home. For a cheap shot bag - soem guys have made them from an old leather purse. Even having a local leather worker (shoe maker - saddle maker - etc) can often be as cheap as anything. Good luck!!! I LOVE working metal too - although I won't claim any expertise either!
I've been making a lot of my own equipment lately, T-dollies, beater bag stand, slip roll, slappers, etc...it's fun to take things that shouldn't be tools and turn them into useful things...my beater bag stand is a 60's GM rally wheel, 60's mopar driveshaft, some flat iron and round iron bent into different sized rings and welded to the driveshaft with 1/2" angle iron to hold my hammers and to top it off a "manhole" cover as a table top...it's definately unique and it should sturdy as hell...
Takes Ballz to form metal The ball is more for planishing, and I use it all the time for dent work on rounded fenders. I also pictured a few homemade T dollies, and my latest, and untried metal forming stump. Ive got a total of 3 dollars in all of these. Another handy tool is a lead dolly. I have several sizes and shapes. Made this one in a muffin pan.
check out www,metalmeet.com LOTS of info there on planishing hammers , e-wheels , lots of tech stuff also .
Hey, For a million dollar education in metalshaping, at the price of clickin a button, go to metalshapers.org . Lots of tool plans and help without all the egos, secret hand shakes, or infantile histrionics. Swankey Devils C.C.
My girlfriend made my shot bag,she even put an iron cross on it for me.I have found tha U.S. industrial tool sells some good stuff.It is also about the same price as the stuff in eastwood.I just bought a shrinker stretcher combo from the for 300$,the same as eastwood but better.Plus I ordered them off of a tool truck so I can pay for the one week at a time....lol.I have found that metal shapeing tool are funny,the best metal fabricator in the world is almost helpless without the right tools.The good thing is after people see you are buying up metal tools,people will some times give you metal tools to get them out of the way,kinda like hot rod stuff. EVIL
Metalmeet is the best,metalshapers is pretty good also.Tinmantech.com is Kent White's site he is amazing and there are fantastic articles there.Alot of info on these sites on making tools and metalshaping techniques.
I've made my own bags, bag stands, hammers, mallets, english wheels, reciprocating hammer (Pullmax style, but lots smaller), T-dollies, post dollies ....................probably some other stuff too. Search the same name I use here, over on MetalMeet. Any specific questions? Feel free to fire away! Tim D.
My favorite sheet metal tool is a piece of rail road that I welded to a bench. Works great as a anvil/dolly to bang things against and form smooth curves.
What are bags made from? Heavy canvas? Leather? What are they filled with? I've read how to use one but never actually put my hand on one yet.
My fav. rough forming hammer is a cap off a welding tank welded to a framers hammer then filled with lead . I really think a shinker is much needed . I also love my old plannishing hammer . Like Chicago phun. you can offset the hammer to either side of the dolly . Lots of old dolly from the swapmeets welded to some flatstock work great too .
Better have a really good seam closure if you are going to use fine sand. I'd recommend using coarse sand. You can also use lead shot if the expense and weight aren't factors for you. That's what was originally used.
Danno here on the hamb,makes some of the best bags,& they are reasonable.I buy all of my hammers & dollies from Martin tools Dallas-Fortworth area,they are as good or better quality as snapon,mac,& many others but the price is way cheaper,Like 25.00 per hammer,Instead of 70.00.
Here's a odd tool question: anyone have a source for small metal rollers about 1/4" or there about in size? I'm wanting to make a small english wheel, to do 1/8th scale model cars in sheet metal. I plan on using thin metal, so they don't have to be stainless steel or anything.
Well now you're talking my language..... home made tools!! two sheet metal brakes, an air-powered planishing hammer, two different sizes of bullseye pick hammers, T-Dollies, English Wheel, Railway Track on a stand for an anvil....etc. when my last sandbag ripped apart, I was going to find leather and hit my buddy up for a favor (he has a heavy duty sewing machine).... but then I found Eastwood sells them (minus the sand) for cheap, cheap.
I buy leather hide sections off ebay for dirt cheap. Cut out 2 circles (I make mine 17"). Using a 5/8" seam allowance, sew the 2 pieces together, good side out. You have to leave an opening somewhere to fill it - I use velcro and leave about 1" open. Now, with the first seam in place, apply a nice coat of contact cement to both pieces, right next to the seam (yes, open up the little flap that is left over, and brush in some contact cement) I use waxed paper to keep the wet cement from coming together. Once the contact cement is "ready", simply remove the waxed paper and press the seam together. Time for another round of stitching, this time with about a 3/16" seam allowance.........and remember to leave the opening at the end. $6 (including shipping) for the leather, some contact cement (don't recall what it cost, but it don't take much) and about an hour and a half of labor netted me 2 bags ..................... about $35 a piece if you buy them off ebay. Hey, for the model building e-wheel, 1/4" diamer anvils would be darn tiny to try and cut. If you're working in 1/8 scale, 5/8" or so ought to work out about right. Save sometime and some trouble and use bearings for the wheels! Something (almost anything) over 1 1/2" o.d. should work nicely for an upper. The lowers can be radiused with a sander. Tim D.
Built my own english wheel for about $300. Also have built my own tucking forks, and a sand bag. I can get pictures if anyone likes. Bought a bossying hammer, but it was worth it. I also have a write up on building the english wheel.
My girlfreind made mine from leather.I filled mine with lead shot from shot gun shells.I think it works better than sand.I also use all Martin hammers,I like them alot. EVIL
my slip roll is pretty crude (not even sure if that's the proper term for it)...basically I took two pieces of heavy gauge tubing, spaced them apart with a piece of 16 gauge sheetmetal (I'm only going to bend 20 and 18 gauge with it, and the extra little gap helps you move the sheetmetal around)...then clamped the tubes together with the spacers and welded the ends together with some flat iron...then welded a piece of flat iron lengthwise with the bottom tube and welded that flat iron to a stand...now I can slip the sheetmetal between the tubes and make curves and such a little bit at a time...it's pretty nice for being free...
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