Air hammer advice

[Maxakarudy]

Hi everyone,
I've never used a hand held air chisel/hammer for anything less than ripping panels off cars, so I'm looking at buying a new toy!
Eckold do a planishing hammer for mind boggling money, I know know an old boy panel maker that swears its the best tool he's got, however I'm not gonna spend that sort of money on one £1400!!!.
Looking on eBay there are vast amount to choose from, I want one for planishing free hand not in a frame. Is there an ideal length or stroke to use or is it a personal preference thing. Are there low vibration versions that won't destroy your elbows with prolonged use?
What about the hammers are there fixed types that don't float around?

[Overkill]

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6c3_DMXjQ

Kent has numerous tools at www.tinmantech.com

[mr.c]

Martin: There is a huge difference in the hit from a "muffler gun" and a rivet gun. The rivet gun hits much harder than the chisel type gun. The rivet guns have a "teasable" trigger that can give you single hits if required. Rivet guns are sized by how hard they hit. They use a "X" suffix. A 1X is designed to set 1/16" rivets. A 9X will set a 9/16" rivet. The barrel length is generally longer on the more powerful guns. The gun that was used in the video appeared to be about a 5X (long thin barrel).
The 9X is a VERY powerful gun that probably would have torn up the mold used in the video. A 3X-5x would be more suitable for your purposes and more pwerful and controllable than any air chisel muffler gun.
You might also look into the palm held hammer made by Danair. They look like a palm nailer but here again, looks can be deceiving. The Danair hits very hard. Much harder than any palm nailer. We took mine apart at the Dixie Meet a couple of years ago to compare. Big difference. Sears used to market the Danair unit. I am not sure whether they still carry it. The Danair is a compact hard hitting tool. Ideal for flow forming. I think that they run about $350?

[Maxakarudy]

Originally Posted by Overkill

Is this what you are looking for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6c3_DMXjQ

Kent has numerous tools at www.tinmantech.com

Hi John,

Yeah I've seen that clip, that's the sort of thing I wanted to do.
I'd didn't realise the difference between riveters and hammers although I knew there were models that feathered the trigger.
I know Kent's tools will do the business, but finding a cheaper alternative is part of the fun for me, so now I know a bit more about the tools I can do a bit more scouting about.

[Maxakarudy]

Hi Carey,
Thanks for the info, just what needed to know about the different spec riveters.
I've had a look at the Danair products, were you referring to the palm hammer that takes different caps in metal or plastic or the nailer.
Do you have to make your own tooling for them?

[mr.c]

I was referring to the palm hammer. I did make my own head for mine but because it had a different type of head on it ( a roller) and I didn't want to buy something that I could make. They are very nice hammers and hit hard. They are triggered by contact. Bump it and you get one hit. hold it down and you get multiple hits.

[Overkill]

They come in a number of sizes. I believe it's up to 4x that uses a .401" shank (same as muffler gun), above that it's .498". With the larger shank size, you can buy a grade 8 bolt and make your own heads. For Kent's that uses the plastic inserts, I've been making the inserts myself, but use his holder.

The issue with making your own heads is that the raised area the spring uses to retain the head, isn't there. You have to hold onto it, or it will spit it out. I guess you could make your own raised area, but I've never tried that.

Put a regulator in line, you'll get a lot more control.