Using an air hammer to shape metal.

[Sifua]

I am new at this artistry that you guys do. I have read about using an air hammer and anvils to do the shaping that I need. I am restoring a 1938 Dodge panel truck (humpback). It was crashed into in the rear and needs the rear lower corners redone as well as the beading around the lower edge of the rocker panels and wheel wells. I am thinking of making a buck for that rounded shape. What king of air hammer should I get, and where would I get the pounding attachments to fit the hammer? Thanks

[Boogiemanz1]

Sifua, welcome to metalmeet. Sounds like a challenging project. The question you asked could be answered 10 different ways, depending on individual preference.

A lot of machines would aid you in your endeavor.. One of Richard K's Shop Dog machines would be a big boon in the beading department, and shrinking, but all this can be done different ways as well.

If you will take some time and read the forums, do some searches, you shoud be able to pick up on some of the general shaping information. When at the forum page, click the "view new posts" at the top right to get the new stuff every day.

I you want to shorten your learning curve, try to attend MM04, you can find the info on it in the forum.. There will be lots of people there, possibly every metalshaping machine ever made, and someone willing to show you how it works.

When you don't understand something, feel free to ask questions.....John

[tdoty]

Sifua,

Welcome! The shaping attachments for the hammer are available from www.aircraft-tool.com/ or Mac tools. Mac carries a 1" "bumping hammer" style and a 1 1/4" "body hammer" and ATS has a variety of rivet sets that would work. These will work for planishing, "bumping", hammerforming and shaping.

I don't know of any air hammer attachments for beading or complex shaping though. I suppose such tooling could be made, but it might be incredibly difficult to use. It is entirely possible, however, that the work you want to do could be done by hand.

HTH,

Tim D.