DIY sheet metal “dimpling”

[gordon stephenson]

Very bad idea to strike a hammer face with another, Two hardened faces coming together can cause a lot of damage to your eyes etc if if they were to shatter, One of the first warning instructions when I was an apprentice nearly sixty years ago,

 

[Dcal]

One of the first warning instructions when I was an apprentice nearly sixty years ago,

Yes same here.
I was given it during a 3 week "Hand Tool" course with BT, but it was only 40 years ago.

Funny the things you remember.
Pity I can't remember what day it is now.

 

[Screwdriver]

View attachment 168401 Just had a trial go with ball pein hammer/ hole method, as Alexander & Sergei would have said “Dimples”. Thanks lads.
RonA

You need to clamp the die under the sheet, stick it with double sided tape or otherwise keep it in the same place. After the first strike you should easily be able to replace the die precisely. If the sheet is more cumbersome, you will need to come up with a way of locking them together. Eg. Weld the bearing race to another sheet and use clamps, bolts or carpet tape to keep them aligned.

 

[RonA]

You need to clamp the die under the sheet, stick it with double sided tape or otherwise keep it in the same place. After the first strike you should easily be able to replace the die precisely. If the sheet is more cumbersome, you will need to come up with a way of locking them together. Eg. Weld the bearing race to another sheet and use clamps, bolts or carpet tape to keep them aligned.

The marks on the sample werent the result of the “hole” moving ( used a large nut). I realised the dimple wasnt big enough & changed to an even larger nut. The finished panel will be filled & sanded before painting so minor imperfections will disappear.
RonA

 

[RonA]

Dimpling in anger now, very pleased with the results just with ball pein hammer & large nut.
RonA

 

[Pete.]

Mythbusters did their damnedest to cause a hammer to chip or shatter by banging them together and found that it couldn't be done (or at least they couldn't do it). IMO mushroomed chisel heads present much more of a hazard. Plenty of people have had to have a chunk of chisel head removed from their fingers or knuckles.

 

[gordon stephenson]

When in our power station a long time ago, one of our mates was swinging a 14lb hammer at 5" dia seized steam chest stud to try to rattle it loose, He missed with a good swing and caught it a glancing blow, knocking a shard of metal from the stud, It just happened to hit my right thigh, I thought I had been shot. It went through my overalls and trousers and one and a half inches in to my leg, ICI medical dept removed the metal and dressed it but it took months to heal.

P.S. on the same note one of the welders was using a hammer and chisel, A piece of the mushroomed chisel broke off and he lost an eye. NEVER take risks and think something bad won't happen to you.I have found that most accidents happen when people are doing something they shouldn't !!!!