All MetalShaping

Go Back   All MetalShaping > General Metal Shaping Discussion > Basic questions and answers
  Today's Posts Posts for Last 7 Days Posts for Last 14 Days  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-24-2010, 07:30 PM
sickboy sickboy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4
Default Beater bag ?

I'm making a leather beater bag,and was wondering what you guys have yours filled with.I wasn't a fan of using sand,and was thinking of filling it with BB's (BB gun ammo) it's cheaper then lead shot.Just wondering if anyones tried it and what the out come was.
Thanks
__________________
RyAn
Buffalo,NY
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-24-2010, 07:48 PM
Dutch Comstock Dutch Comstock is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 189
Default

Ryan, The only no no is using lead shot as the dust from the shot is toxic and cause health issues. Also BB's are too large, you need something small that will form to your part. Sand is the easiest and the cheapest and works well and lasts a long time. For a small hand held sand bag used as a dolly you can use #9 shot as the weight of the shot will make it work better and you will never work it hard like you do a beater bag so there isn't a chance of it deteriating to dust. Dutch
__________________
Dutch Comstock
926 Shells Bush Road
East Herkimer,N.Y. 13350
(315)866-3034
comstockmetalshaping.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-25-2010, 12:59 AM
David Gardiner David Gardiner is offline
MetalShaper of the Month
May 2009, Jan 2012, Dec 2014
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: England
Posts: 5,325
Default

Ryan,

Sand has been used for generations, I think you will find it works OK. One of my bags has had the same sand in it for at least 17 years and it still works fine.

David
__________________
Metalshaping DVD. www.metalshapingzone.com
Metalshaping with hand tools on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGElSHzm0q8

All things are possible.

Last edited by David Gardiner; 05-25-2010 at 01:05 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-25-2010, 08:49 AM
mikebarg mikebarg is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Hutto Texas
Posts: 223
Default

I tried a large sand filled bag at a metal shaping gathering and didn't like it too much. But then I made a small( 8" x 8") sand filled bag and like it. I use it to hammer out aluminum and steel. The first one I tried was very tight. The one I made is filled a bit looser and I like the way it feels. Sand is cheap, try it and if you don't like it, you can dump it and try something else.
__________________
Mike B. - More tools don't make me better until I have the skills to use them.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-25-2010, 09:02 AM
B.Davies B.Davies is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 9
Default

I have two; the small bag filled with small steel bird-shot, and the larger filled with sand.
They both have different merits, and both work well for shaping.
The small bag filled with steel shot can also serve as a useful 'third hand' for holding down a panel while you work the other end.
The large (heavy, awkward) bag full of sand doesn't get moved around as much.

I've toyed with the idea of using plastic blast beads or low density urethane inside a bag in the future, but since these two work fine, there has been little motivation to experiment.

An extra hide to cover the bag as a sacrificial layer is not a bad idea. the surface of the leather will wear with use.
__________________
Ben

Last edited by B.Davies; 05-25-2010 at 09:06 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-25-2010, 09:27 AM
Kerry Pinkerton's Avatar
Kerry Pinkerton Kerry Pinkerton is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Near Huntsville, Alabama. Just south of the Tennessee line off I65
Posts: 8,321
Default

I have a bag filled with injection molding beads. It works fine but is way too light. I end up chasing the bag around. Sand works fine, lasts a long time and is cheap. Just make sure there are no rocks in it and it's dry when you put it in.
__________________
Kerry Pinkerton
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-25-2010, 11:04 AM
Fe-Wood's Avatar
Fe-Wood Fe-Wood is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 92
Default

Funny seeing this thread after the dream I had last night. Yes. I dream about metal working and now, because of you guys, I dream about shaping flat panels. No, they are not nightmares

I realized I need to make a beater bag- So my question: How do you sow it up? Do you use a zipper where you fill it? Or just sow it shut? I have a bunch of swade or split leather, is that strong enough? Sounds like a loose fill is best? What is a good size? I figure the size piece I would be forming wouldn't be much bigger 2 foot square.
__________________
Peter Clark
www.ironwood-design.net
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-25-2010, 02:18 PM
Overkill Overkill is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Cloverdale, CA
Posts: 1,233
Default Making a bag

Commercial ones are normally double sewn and use a small velcro opening (1"). As for the leather you have, all depends on the thickness and toughness I would think. If it's from a jacket, I don't think it will work. But you also want to keep an extra piece of supple scrap leather over the top of the bag - that way if there are any nicks or cuts that occur, it happens to the scrap.

Size wise, mine is about 14 to 16" in diameter.

Fill seems to be subjective and something you need to experiment with.

John
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-25-2010, 02:27 PM
Kerry Pinkerton's Avatar
Kerry Pinkerton Kerry Pinkerton is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Near Huntsville, Alabama. Just south of the Tennessee line off I65
Posts: 8,321
Default

I've got a half dozen or so bags, various sizes from 3" to 20". The smaller ones are used as dollys and are filled with lead. Larger ones with sand except for one with plastic beads. ALL have leather that is about 1/16" inch thick...maybe a bit less but not much.

Seude is fine but John is right, you'll want a sacrifical piece of leather to put on top of the bag to protect it from cuts.

Double stitch with Kevlar thread if you can find it. Most folks I know who sew their own just leave a gap and sew it closed after they fill it. If you need to add more or change it, just slit a few stiches, and resew after you've re-filled.
__________________
Kerry Pinkerton
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-25-2010, 08:25 PM
Fe-Wood's Avatar
Fe-Wood Fe-Wood is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Grass Valley, Ca
Posts: 92
Default

I think I just found a good project for the wife She's always finding them for me

Thanks Guys
__________________
Peter Clark
www.ironwood-design.net
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:01 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.