first bowls on the air helve
(69.76 KB)

the pics are of the prototype air helve hammer from the early steps to the finished hammer and are not in order

one in. thick rubber pad 10 in. dia.
(67.90 KB)

works great and will last longer than a shot bag.

hard plastic pad
(80.52 KB)

The hard plastic pad on the table is 3/8 thick and used two smooth the lumps [planish] or tuck

helve hammer dies
(31.93 KB)

I have been using the dies I made for my Nibbler. As soon I get some time I'm going to make an adapter so I can use the dies from my planishing hammers

off set at the air motor
(63.76 KB)

the off set is 3/4 off center which gives you a 1 1/2 in. stroke.[ I think less would work as well]

0-02
(79.36 KB)

first bowl from proto-type die

0-03
(55.93 KB)

this bowl did not take 1 min. to do and has not been planished

0-04
(56.08 KB)

the lower dies work so well I made a holder for them, the dies just drop in and lift out fast' easy and simple.

0-05
(64.64 KB)

Flat planishing die, it is 4 in. dia. 1/2 in. thick. delrin. I made the dies out of delrin because I had it, the proto-type dies were fiberglass and worked well.

0-06
(71.87 KB)

I have 4 dies male and female and the flat planishing die [flat die not shown]

0-07
(74.09 KB)

the rubber bottom die [shot bag?] and the die holder are velcroed onto the stand.

0-08
(61.73 KB)

little fender first project using new dies

0-09
(62.78 KB)

little fender- I changed dies 3 times to make the fender. the tucks form and shrink very quickly.

00-010
(57.78 KB)

finished fender still must be planished on the e-wheel but its smooth.

00-011
(72.96 KB)

this frame was made to use the nibbler dies in the helve hammer.

00-012
(68.41 KB)

this die holder work well but I found that it was not necessary. [see next pix #013]

00-013
(54.52 KB)

this works as well as the frame [pix #012] but dies must be the same size [height] so the top die hits parallel.

00-014
(65.96 KB)

side panel for a 33 Ford fender done on the helve hammer still must be planished on the e-wheel

00-015
(64.85 KB)

Better pix of the die and holder.

00-016
(76.80 KB)

making a motorcycle front fender on the helve hammer

00-017
(76.13 KB)

one pass forms the tucks two passes shrink them out

00-018
(76.45 KB)

I planish using about a 1 inch stroke

00-019
(79.24 KB)

concave die puts the in and takes them out the flat die is for finish planishing

00-020
(72.57 KB)

I pound in shape with a 3 or 4 inch storke.

00-021
(76.35 KB)

this pix is how the fender looks before one or two passes through the e-wheel to finish it.

00-022
(70.73 KB)

I wasn't watching the clock but this fender did not take 10 min. to rough in to this point.

00-023
(81.58 KB)

I replaced the air drill with a sewing machine motor because the noise from my compressor was driving me nuts. both seem to work equally well.

00-024
(71.13 KB)

Hand crank on top is to control the height and power of the stroke

00-025
(73.33 KB)

upper and lower bumpers [stroke limiters]

00-026
(68.92 KB)

thumbnail shrinking dies with delrin upper die.These are the least agressive dies I have.

00-027
(76.18 KB)

in and out just like using a pullmax.

00-028
(74.36 KB)

pull down as you pull out.poor helve design for shrinking dies. My bench is in the way.

00-029
(42.38 KB)

This is the way the test part looked after shrinking on the helve, no planishing.

00-030
(44.56 KB)

this is the test part after a quick planish on the planishing hammer.

1 in. pillow blocks
(48.45 KB)

The big bearings I used are not necessary I think thease 1 in. are more then big enough.[and there cheap

air motor [ drill ]
(64.00 KB)

1/2 reversible drill Campbell Hausfeld PL1546 [Made in Taiwan] works great we'll see how long it lasts.

parts of the arm
(36.05 KB)

I made the arm on mine 38 in. to fit on the bench if I had more room I would make it 4 ft. long.[see L/D]