I bought some bowling balls at a yard sale, added some driveshaft tube, front pullys, and some space saver spares outa the dumpster. I really thought it was a waste of time and my 4 dollars for the balls, but we built these "planishing stands" anyway. I thought maybe I'd use them once in a while for shapeing patch panels.
Just a few days later, I started working on the fenders for the woody wagon. One had a rather large dent in the front.
I wasn't happy after roughing it out, but then remembered the planishing stand. I supported the rear of the fender on a stand, and placed the front on the ball. I used the ball for a dolly and started smoothing.
A few minutes with the slapping file, and it was nearly finished. Who'da thought it would work this nice!
man, that's pretty cool. what is it actually doing to the metal as you work it? just wanna understand it...
Tinbender, have you tried a bowling pin? Hiram Hilegass used one to form his cowl sections over a cast iron hammer form. Are you in the metalshapers group? Take care! tt clueless near stlouis
and to think...i used to just buy them at garage sales and then take them to the steepest street in town and let em go.. damn. looks good though..
Damn, I was at a garage sale this past week and there were 3 bowling balls for $2 ea. I'm always a day late and a dollar short. If anyone from Eastwood sees this it will be in their next catalog. Frank
[ QUOTE ] man, that's pretty cool. what is it actually doing to the metal as you work it? just wanna understand it... [/ QUOTE ] Two things, just like a dolly. When the ball is behind a low spot, and you hammer on a high spot, part of the energy of the hammer strike is transfered to the dolly causing the low area to raise as the high area goes down.. This would be concidered "off dolly" hammering. If you place the ball directly under the area your hammering, or striking with a spoon, the area smooths out. That is "on dolly" hammering.(also called planishing) On dolly hammering tends to stretch the metal, but you can get away with some stretching on a highly crowned surface like this 46 ford fender. The serreated surface on the slapping file helps to minimize the stretching. This was the first time I used my Ballz(tm)... uh, for metal work. I think this is going to be a very useful tool. I haven't tried a pin yet, but I guess I'm gonna have to now! BTW I signed up on Metalshapers, I just haven't had much time to spend there.
That's a good idea!!!! And I happen to have three myself from a yard sale ($1 each too!) I'm afraid I don't knnow a hell of a lot about bowling balls....How much impact can the ball take without denting, cracking, or exploding?? (I know they are made to knock over pins but pins arent a 2 pound hammer...)
[ QUOTE ] How much impact can the ball take without denting, cracking, or exploding?? [/ QUOTE ] I think you'd have a hard time tearing one up Doc, but like my Dad used to say "give that boy a steel ball and a rawhide mallet and he'll have them both ruined in an hour"
[ QUOTE ] ....How much impact can the ball take without denting, cracking, or exploding?? [/ QUOTE ] The plastic is at least 1/2" thick,over a solid core,so it should take alot of abuse. And if it ever did get damaged,buy another $2 Bowling Ball,and your back in business.
WoW...now that gives me a reason to keep the 5 or 6 bowling balls the previous resident left in the workshop here at my house. Great Tech! [ QUOTE ] ....How much impact can the ball take without denting, cracking, or exploding?? [/ QUOTE ] We used to get old bowling balls and lunge them down the dead end street next to my parents house. The street was a STEEP grade, and we'd throw them as high and as far as we could, and watch them destroy anything in their path (RC cars, model cars, bicycles, skateboard ramps)...they held up pretty well, only minor chips and few small chuncks taken out from kissing the asphalt several hundred times. Just dont shoot a bowling ball with a .22 Long Rifle with Hollow Points...or if you do...be very far away.
Update: I've had several chances to whip out my ballz in the last few weeks. The more I play with it the more I like it! I've used it for rough out to final finishing with great results.
The Jalopy Journal
