New metal basher from Illinois
 

Greeting, New to this site, though not to metal forming. Do office work to support the family, so shaping metal is a strictly hobby level endeavor/obsession.

Got into metal shaping through an interest in medieval armour. Started out doing chain and am slowly working up through various styles of plate.

Also done/do some blacksmithing with a homebuilt forge
made a couple of knifes via stock removal.

And in the past couple of years got into motorcycles, so I see the interest branching off into fenders, tanks, and frames.


Particular reason for joining this forum now would be I'm starting to do research towards building a power hammer that would handle armour thickness steel (12-18 gauge). so far the power hammers I've seen tend to be thick stock hammers like Little giants, or else light sheet hammers. Yoders seem in the right capacity, but I don't have space for something quite that dedicated. So I guess overall I'm looking for a lighter weight junkyard hammer, probably in the style of the tire hammer.

Welcome Shawn. How do you pronounce Kindyr?

You're right that most blacksmith hammers are unsuitable for sheet metal work. I might suggest you look at a helve type hammer.

Thanks Kerry. It's pronounced like kindergarten, without the garten part.

When I hear Helve hammer, I picture the the older blacksmith hammers, the waterwheel powered ones, with a large weight and an arcing swing. That would seem worse for working sheet metal. The weight could be adjusted, but it seems the arc swing would be less than ideal. Are you talking a guided helve like Rusty or Krusty?

I think a linear action will work better for the work I want to do. SOmething the size of the Baileigh PH-19 looks perfect, but it's capacity is a little light and it's price tag a little heavy. and besides. I like to build the tools almost as much as the stuff the tools build.

Welcome to Allmetalshaping Shawn!:D

Hi Shawn, welcome to the site!

David

Welcome to the site Shawn :cool:

Welcome to the site... I'm over towards the Quincy area