Looking to learn

[Wrench85]

Hello,

I'm James, live in the Salt Lake City utah area. I like to ride and work on bikes. I'm looking to learn how to shape metal by hand so I can make my own custom panels. Any one have a list of bare essential hand tools I will need so I can get started?

[HEATNBEAT]

Hi James and welcome!

[Peter Tommasini]

Hi James welcome to the forum
Peter

[David Gardiner]

Hello James, in answer to your question, if you start with a couple of dollys- a toe dolly and a universal and a planishing hammer you can make a lot with just those. A blocking hammer a 'stump' and some stakes (post dollys) are useful these too can be made. Many simple tools can be made very easily, that will enable you to shrink and stretch flanges by hand create compound curves and smooth metal.

I show some of these tools on my youtube footage.

Here is a link to a thread I started, with some of the handtools I use to shape metal
http://allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=9784

Here is one about home made dollys.

http://allmetalshaping.com/showthread.php?t=3919

David

[Wrench85]

Thanks for the info David. I've purchased your DVD and have watched it a couple of times, it's great!

I found this cheap set of hammers and dollies: ATD 7 piece set

It's a lot of tools for $60. Would these be okay to begin learning with or should I get better quality tools to start? I was thinking of buying these and either a shot bag or a tuck puck. I don't have the tools for making myself a stump to use... What would you recommend?

[David Gardiner]

Hi James, I am happy you like the DVD. The problem with cheap sets is they are often lightweight, the dollys are not very good shapes, you could reshape them as you see fit to suit the jobs you are doing.

I tend to buy cheap tools for things I don't do often and invest in quality tools if they are going to be used regularly. I bought many of my hammers and dollys second hand.

David

[David Gardiner]

Hi James, I am happy you like the DVD. The problem with cheap sets is they are often lightweight, the dollys are not very good shapes, you could reshape them as you see fit to suit the jobs you are doing.

I tend to buy cheap tools for things I don't do often and invest in quality tools if they are going to be used regularly.

Here is a link to a tool that you can put on a grinder and cut a bowl in a stump.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new
Just take care when using it!


David

[Doug M]

David didn't say it directly so I will.

If you don't have a 4"-4&1/2"-or some such small grinder spend your money on that. Then cut and grind your tools from locally available hammers. A geologists hammer may be a pick, -polish the end for a fair sheet metal pick or a long cross pien geo hammer, again polish the end for a metal working tool. Heavy machinists Ball-pien hammers can be re-shaped to become useful in sheet metal, and in the shaping-reshaping and again shaping you'll come to understand the why-s of the hammers shape more than you get from a set.

You'll start by gathering your metal from where you can DO NOT CUT A BARREL OF UNKNOWN CONTENTS. You'll use the grinder to cut, shape, and smooth your projects. later to clean up your welds.

Here is a page with a few grinders on it for example, I make no recommendations, I tend to get mine from tool resellers (pawn shops) but often have to rebuild them I've no preference short of the Metabo which is more expensive than I'll buy new.
http://www.sears.com/tools-corded-ha...ack+%26+Decker

Go to the shops you well eventually buy material and tools from, study what they have, welding suppliers, metal suppliers, jewelry supply stores, mining suppliers, blacksmith suppliers, and "That guy down the street".

Read

To your question "bare essential tools" --two rocks-- you're beyond that already? You have hammers around you. You'll find some to sharp on the edge and leave little crescent marks, some to rough leave recognizeable "That hammer" marks, and failings in ever hammer you pick upso try another one or reshape the one you have. (wet and dry sandpaper you can get so fine the scratches disappear.)

[Jere]

Hi James welcome to the site.

Jere

[Wrench85]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I'll take Doug's advice and invest in a grinder and make my own hammers. A grinder is something I'm gonna need no matter what anyways.

What kind of wood is best for making a "stump" to shape metal with? Any I should avoid? if I can source a scrap block of wood easier than a stump then I will go that route.