shrinking

[Bob Baisden]

Hi,

I made some shrinking dies for the helve as JimR suggested. Works great. The steel is 20 gage.

Bob

[Wray Schelin]

Hi Bob,

Wow, you've done it again. Great job!

Pullmax prices will be dropping.

Wray

[Bob Baisden]

Hi Wray,
Thanks for the good comments. I'm all tooled up now, so now I'll have to work on some actual shaping projects
Bob

[Tony Sanchez]

---Bob, your shrinking set up looks great. can you post a close up photo of the lower tool holder? If I don't get my home made pullmax type machine started soon I may have to go your route.
---Tony.

[Bob Baisden]

Hi Tony,

The tool holder is a 5c collet in square holder. It doesn't hold well in vertical direction, but very well rotationally. I'm using a set screw through the table to adjust the height. I machined some height off the holder so I could sandwich a plate below the holder and collet nut. I would use a square sleeve if I had to do it over.

Are you building a RichardK pulmax?




[/list]

[jlrussell4]

Hi Bob,

I'm real pleased to think they are working for you Great job on a really versatile tool.

Jim

[Tony Sanchez]

---Bob, thanks for the information and photos. I have been thinking about using a square collet for the lower tool holder. Yes, ever since I saw Richard K's machines at MM03 I have been thinking about building one.
---Tony.

[gregfri]

Very interested in helve hammer, but have a lot of questions.I had never heard of a helve hammer before i came to this site,(I heard and have seen other power hammers), is helve hammer a brand name,are they available to buy or are they all homemade?Are there any plans for one on this site?Any info would be welcome, thanks, Greg F

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Helve's have been around for years, mainly in the blacksmith area although Wray posted some photos from early last century for some in a manufacturing plant that appeared to be doing sheetmetal. Wray is the current 'inventor' of this idea and he refined it for sheetmetal. Tom Lipton drew up plans for a version that he sells. Several people have made them from Toms plans including the Bob Blaisen who's photos are on the site.

Tom's plans are the only one's I know of but several folks have made their own from just looking at photos and reading the emails.

[Bob Baisden]

Hi Greg,

I built my helve hammer from Tom Liptons very detailed plans. I highly recommend the plans. I didn't have a lathe or mill at the time so I took a few shortcuts. I have more photos in my photos gallery. Tony Sanchez has photos of his much prettier helve in his gallery. And Tom has photos in his gallery.

Bob