Harbor Freight Planishing Hammer

[red baron]

I got a smaller version of one from there for $20. I figured the same thing, pedal would make it worthwhile. I would love to get one of those stretcher dies for it. I saw how well they worked at the Santa Cruz meet. :o

[Rick (madera)]

Originally Posted by red baron

I got a smaller version of one from there for $20. I figured the same thing, pedal would make it worthwhile. I would love to get one of those stretcher dies for it. I saw how well they worked at the Santa Cruz meet. :o

I have made them for the HF machine PM me I'm about ready to make another batch

[TheRodDoc]

A narrow faced die is super easy to make. I posted this a long time ago but it got lost in the crashes.

Just a round rod welded to a plug that fits in your lower holder.

I use a longer one that hangs past the holder so I can stretch or planish items that can't go under the post.

like a channel.

die.jpg

[TheRodDoc]

I forgot to show how I stop them from rotating. Just make your plugs longer then all the other lower dies. Then drill holes in lower holder pipe for a bolt. Then just make a notch in the bottom of your new longer plug you used for the new die.
your new die will sit right on the bolt.

die2.jpg

[dmoss69]

Seems like a hbf planishing hammer just got onto my "tools to get list!"

[Bill Gibson]

Model A Bill, you are right, This past year Cap't Kirk had his modified hammer at EMMR.
I had an un-modified one there last year. Kirk made a new lower holder that could be pressurized by the air supply and change the die pressure on the fly. It works great. It is infinitely adjustable, and with all the adjustment available it takes some fiddling to get it just right, but when you do it's amazing.
He and I both took the air hammers apart and ground down the internal parts that make contact with each other, to allow more room for the mushrooming that occurs. But he went a step further and re-hardened the pieces using the Kasenite, and he says it worked.
Follow this link and scroll down to the second picture
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showt...ht=emmr&page=4
Rick has his hand on the lower die holder on Kirk's hammer. and Kirk is explaining what he did to the hammer. Look close and you can see the extra air line running to the lower holder from the extra tee and regulator on top.
Kirk are you out there??? maybe you can explain more???

[captainkirk]

Greetings,
Yes I'm out here...

The setup I showed at EMMR and had Rick critique does work well but I would like to take it to the next level and will follow up with Rick when I have made some changes to the design.

To say that it currently works better than it did when I bought the Harbor Freight "Kit" would be an understatement. The basic frame for the hammer is sound and well built worth the money in saved time and effort. The rest of the stuff attached to it is only going to cause you trouble, I had previously posted a list of modifications but it was lost in the "Big Crash".
I'm currently working to complete a large CP hammer that was started by another MM member so I have not restarted on the other one to incorporate what I learned from Rick Mullen.

Perhaps with some time away from the "real job" soon I will be able to finish it...if these projects ever truly become "finished"

Kirk

[dmoss69]

I just purchased this HarborFreight unit last friday, got it together, and took it to a panel that I had almost shaped perfectly but had some left over hammer marks on it.

Needless to say, when I "planished" the part with the new hammer, I got ALOT of stretch, so now it's back to the learning curve with my new tool....

But it does work!

[jlrussell4]

I got ALOT of stretch,

Cut back on your air pressure. They stretch like crazy with any amount of air pressure.

[CARS]

I am forced to make my first HF Planishing Hammer mod. The hammer has finally lost it's umpf.

What would anyone recommend for a replacement??