Newbie!
 

Hi All, my name is Jeremy and I'm interested in learning more about forming sheetmetal using a powerhammer and planishing techniques. Really enjoy metal working at the hobby level, making useful things for myself and others which fits in well with my occupation as a mechanical engineer, but haven't done much sheetmetal forming. Looking forward to getting involved on the forum. :D

Hello Jeremy and welcome to the forum.

Jere

Hi Jeremy and welcome!:)

Hi Jeremy welcome to the forum
Peter

Welcome to the forum Jeremy. Why power hammer? that is hardly a hobby level machine. Most things can be done with a few hand tools, once you have learned how the metal moves using hand tools you can decide what machines you need or don't need.

David

Welcome Jeremy, definitely check out those suggested DVDs. They are a must have tool for a metalshaper. Also think about taking a metalworking class, such as Dagger Tools offer, in Wixom MI. All well worth your time if you want to shape metal.

Thanks David and Mike for the responses! I will definitely check out the DVDs and look into the class in Wixom. I was talking to a coworker today and he thought there may be some classes in our area... so this works out great! I've seen plans for building a very low-budget power hammer and thought that might be a good way to get into using one without spending a great deal of cash. The reason I was thinking power hammer was because I've used hammers and dollies with mixed results. I do understand though that a machine won't help with poor technique. :D Thanks again guys for the welcome and tips! Jeremy

Jeremy as David mentioned no machine in the World will help shaping panels unless you first learn how metal shaping works this comes with
practice, experience, and understanding metal. This will be easier by mastering hand tools first :D
Peter