SpankySmith Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 I watched a great video on you tube this weekend that featured three Britians who got a 6 week schooling in blacksmithing. Interesting video, but I was fascinated by a manual planishing hammer tool the Master Blacksmith was using. Think pneumatic planishing hammer design, but instead of any power running to it there was just a spring loaded punch that he struck with a hammer repeatedly as he moved the thin metal around (he was forming a thin leaf). Video is "BBC Presents Mastercrafts Blacksmithing" Anyone ever seen one of these? More importantly, anyone know where to find one? I was drooling over its marvelous simplicity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 That was a neat show, though I hated the finished gates. There's an old smithing book with plans for that gadget in it, but I'm drawing a blank on the name. Gimme a minute and I'll think of it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 I'm so glad it wasn't just me! I hated all the gates, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKrzysz Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Tommy Hammer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dntfxr Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I watched that episode last night, pretty good show. The tool seemed fairly simple with a C frame and a spring loaded forming die type thing. That's probably oversimplified but it shouldn't be too hard to make one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 The tommy hammer is interesting, but no that's not it. I agree it looks fairly simple to make, but I don't own a welder, would love to just locate one to buy.....without a trip to England! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Look under power hammer section for an Oliver Hammer. Foot operated, spring return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 Oliver hammer looks cool, but also not what this guy was using. The end of the punch was exposed and he struck it with the hammer to work, each time he struck it the spring on the punch brought it back out, away from the work. Like I said, beautiful it its simplicity of design! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Found it!! Screen shot from the show. Neat to see how the original design had a weak spot in the lifting lever's design, requiring two separate welds to repair failures. I'm sure that was after a few thousand uses, though. Here's a beefy version - you can't change out the anvil, but the thing'll last a few thousand years! I really dig the lines on this home-made version. It's amazing what I can accomplish with a few hours in front of the internet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 YOU TOTALLY ROCK! That's it! I concur, I really like that little homemade version. I have GOT to find a friend with a welder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I see old lincoln tombstones on craigslist for cheap$$$$ (and I'm all about the cheap! and so I mean cheap---under US$200 and sometimes at $100) One of those will outfit a dozen shops with tools and jigs and never break a sweat. Not that hard to learn to use though, like another craft, practice is the biggest help at improving. (and that massive version does have a removable anvil---just takes a good sized angle grinder!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 I got the Know How, just not that piece of equipment. Learned to weld years ago when I worked in the steel industry here in 'Bama... back when there still was one.... :C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 The beefy one **is** easily removable, as is the original in the screen shot. There is a roll pin* that holds it in place, easily driven out with a pin punch. 2 minute changeover, and will never work loose in use. *Roll pins are slightly oversized, almost complete tubes of spring steel that are driven into a drilled hole. One end is usually tapered to make driving easy. The spring action holds them in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I'll pile on with those hating the final gates. The show was interesting and I came away thinking those folks were very lucky for the opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted May 15, 2014 Author Share Posted May 15, 2014 I was waiting at the end of the video for some kind of "update" screen, telling us if any of the three moved on into blacksmithing - that would have been interesting to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 I was waiting at the end of the video for some kind of "update" screen, telling us if any of the three moved on into blacksmithing - that would have been interesting to know. I'm sure all three got places in working shops or were able to augment their current employment with the skills learned. For the little time they spent learning the craft, they really couldn't get much more out of it than an apprenticeship at a big shop. The best part was watching the faces of the clients. The woman's client seemed genuinely happy with the finished gate, so I have to give her credit for getting her client's desires right even if I found the gate horrendous. The two guys, though, were disasters. Their clients both had that stoic British don't-make-a-scene look about them. "Oh, jolly good, very nice, thankyouverymuch." The bow-front gate was actually rather decent, being very traditional like the clients asked for, but he ruined it by adding the dragon's head. I couldn't tell what it was even when he explained it.... and then I scrolled back to see where the clients had asked for a dragon motif. Unbelievable. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastRonin Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 John McPherson: I think you are referring to the top die, Vaughn and Thomas were referencing the bottom die, which looks welded in place. I agree about the gates. Regarding the tools VaughnT posted pics of, I also like the little homemade one, just need to figure out where to add the spring return. Though the simplicity of the mechanism on that beefy one is attractive to me as well. Just make the bottom die changeable and have different top dies... shouldn't be too hard finding a bunch of large hardenable bolts to grind different fullers out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGUNDOCTOR Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 I wouldn't call that a planishing hammer. Planishing hammers are used to smooth sheet metal type items out, and is a style of hammer all by itself. The ones I usually see have wider polished faces,and of lighter weights than other hammers. I have that show downloaded. I liked it, but the gates were not my cup of tea -said in my best Brit accent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Agreed, the anvil on the beefy one is welded in place. But that would not keep me from making some different bottom dies from pipe with solid caps to fit over it, and using a set screw to hold them in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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