Just finished an album for a Helve hammer we built. Details here: http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/communityalbums.cgi?action=openalbum&albumid=9980172620785 Click on any picture to enlarge,and read the complete description.
that's awesome. I get the locomotice type action. What's the difference between this and a planishing hammer, besides the way it hammers? What would this be used for? Thanks for sharing Ian, I really want to get my shop outfitted with some metal shaping equipment. nate
A Planishing hammer runs MUCH faster,5000 bpm or more, but hits much lighter.They can be used for shaping, but are typically used for smoothing. A Helve hammer runs much slower,around 250 bpm,but hits MUCH harder. They are primarily used for rough shaping,as a subs***ute for swinging a mallet by hand.From the Helve hammer,you would switch to the Planishing hammer or English wheel to finsh off the part. Some guys are developing other tooling for their Helve hammers,to allow for thumbnail shrinking,and creating body lines and mouldings. The foot operated clutch allows single blows with full power, continious operation,instant on/off,and inching to any position.
Cool build Unk..and thanks for the link. But what caught my eye wasthe background blue ride.... Reminds me of "Ol Yeller" sitting here in the shop.
Good to hear from you Sam. Don't know the story on the Blue Panel truck,I think it's in to be painted. Pictures will eventually show up on joesulpys.com
Exactly. Right now, when I want to make a motorcycle gas tank, or something (well, before my back injury of course) I use my arm and a homemade wooden mallet like a helve hammer. Very good for co**** shaping... but the helve hammer is MUCH easier on your arm. My planishing hammer is a great smoothing tool, for fine tuning, and such. I would recommend an english wheel over a planishing hammer, however... MUCH easier on the ears, and more relaxing. I hope to have time to finish mine before spring. Ben
Is that pronounced Helve as in Elves or Hellva as in "That's a Helluva hammer you got there." Looks like an interesting and fairly easy project to tackle. I may just have to print out the directions and stick that in my "Someday Soon" file. First I gotta get some **** outta the garage...
Helve as in Elves. Comes from the old English,meaning "long wooden handle". The first Helve hammers had a long wooden arm.
Hey, Great job on the helve Unkl Ian...... Didn't Jim Bailey sucessfully planish bowls with his helve? Givin money no issue, would ya opt for a helve over a build-it yourself Yoder/Penningil? Thanx,
Interesting question. With a little planning,the same tooling could be used in both machines, then they can both do the same jobs.And the metal doesn't care. I think maybe a Yoder can run a little faster than a Helve.But that would only be a consideration if you were using it constantly If price wasn't a consideration,I think I'd still rather have a Helve hammer. Based mostly on being able to move it around easily,instead of being bolted in place. But that is largely personal perferance. Jim made a few bowls on his Helve,but to get them 100% smooth, they still need a couple minutes on the Planishing hammer.
Yep Traves, Michelle has given me a kitchen p*** for that day, AND she's excited to go to the swap at the fairgrounds the next day! I'm even trying to track down some scaffolding (that someone else will have to load and transport) for the festivities... hey, nothing mixes better than sheetrock, beer and scaffolding! JUST KIDDING! Are you going to make it up here for the day? If so, bring a truck and we'll try to get one of those 6 cylinder fords loaded up for you. I never got the second one and it's ****** pulled before my back problems set in. How are you healing up? Ben
I borrowed a do it yourself Pullmax type machine (and have used the real thing on a few occaisions... they both worked great the real thing worked a bit quicker though), and I personally would take that over an e-wheel, planishing hammer, yoder (not having used one of course), Helve, etc. Pullmax's are the ultimate for doing what I have done in the past... and what I envision doing in the future: motorcycle gas tank, patch panels, custom beadwork, etc. They are so versatile with the correct dies, it's just unfathomable! Just my $.02... Ben
yea, i think i will,,, got a full tank of gas in the pickup from before the surgury, and thats about what it takes to get up to tucks and back in the beast just gotta get the motor/trans and rear i got in the bed now out. healin up good man, i can almost move my head around without wanting to cry like a little girl with a skinned knee you better behave yourself man, or else Michelle will have to tune you up. dont go gettin crazy about feeling like superman like i almost did yesterday,,, thought i could mess around in the woodworking shop for a while,,, NO WRONG... lol oh well,,, sleep is good for healing and the pain dont hurt then
Ben- I hear ya on the Pullmax machines providin' they are the "Trimmer" series- wide open e-wheel like frame for forming highly crowned panels. The "P-6" etc. series are real work horses for trimmin and forming, but won't handle highly crowned panels well. They are great for swage work for those low crowned patch panels that usually feature swage and flange work, and with thumb nail dies, will also shrink, as well.
Here is a bike tank half that Jim Bailie formed on his Helve. Below it,you see the blank for the other side. No cutting,no welding,all stretched and shrunk on the Helve hammer. Not bad for 20 minutes work. Jim has a Pullmax Major,but uses the Helve hammer more often.
That tank side is kool.damn good job! I've been looking at other helve hammers and I like the way yours is designed.now I just have to get my *** out in the shop and build one.
Gosh all this metal working is SO incredibly amazing! After I get my welding certificates, I am so gunna risk a thumb to learn how to do this. **x
You know, Unkl Ian, you bring up a good point (intended or not) it's more about knowing how to use the tools you have (20mins on a Helve? rock on!) than about having the "correct" tool for the job! I mean, who'da thunk you could use the same oven to heat treat, powdercoat, and cook frozen pizza...? (JUST KIDDING! Ben
I hear you man, sleep is the healer! I ran out of Percoset this morning, so I have to drive down to Champlain (where the Spine doc is) to get a new prescription... since it's a "level-2" narcotic or whatever, they can't just phone it up to my local pharmacy... I'M IN PAIN!!! But I found Tuck some scaffolding, so it'll be more entertaining for us supervisors... more possibility of chills, spills, and thrills at those amazing heights! Take 'er easy Traves! Ben
Hey Brandy, Wile your waitin' on those weldin certs check out Metalshapers.org No secret hand shakes, no arm bands worn, jus' over five years on the net. of metalshapin experance freely shared and it won't cost ya a friggin' dime. If ya wanna ware a foil hat, thats up to you-
Thanks for the info! I'll do just that........I have a WHOLE lot of metal work to be doin on my Chevy ..............I have been known to wear the paper hats from In and Out Burger once or twice. **x
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