First sculpture on me new bench

[ChrisJ]

I woke up inspired to bash some metal about today, so I started on this alien head, first thing I have made on me new bench

 

[chunkolini]

Shiny Alien head, shiny bench.
Heaven help the first person who gets weld spatter or angle grinder scars on it.

 

[ChrisJ]

You know me so well lol, I was trying to curve the edges over and around the eyes usuing a ball pein hammer held in the vice and a steel hammer to tap it round, would I do better investing in a nylon or rubber hammer and some sort of does all dolly held in the vice mr chunko? :-)

 

[Badger1bear]

how about putting something the size of a kids bean bag underneath it, fill it with sand and then hit it with a rounded mallet ?

 

[ChrisJ]

I remember seeing like a sandbag anvil like you describe badger on american chopper, so I checked fleabay but seems you can only buy them from america, looks like could be a useful thing as well :-)

 

[Badger1bear]

I remember seeing like a sandbag anvil like you describe badger on american chopper, so I checked fleabay but seems you can only buy them from america, looks like could be a useful thing as well :-)

well my friend it looks like im your newest best buddy

search on fleabay.co.uk

for

Panel Beaters Sand Bag

 

[ChrisJ]

Yay thanks badger :-) now were best buddies does this mean I can use your Lorch?

 

[chunkolini]

I use an old log with a slight hollow made in the end of it for this kind of thing.
I have been meaning to buy a sandbag but the word 'buy' makes me cry.

 

[Badger1bear]

Yay thanks badger :-) now were best buddies does this mean I can use your Lorch?

Sure come on down

 

[ChrisJ]

I got an old tree stump here I'll get the wood chisels out and try that idea before shelling out :-)

 

[chunkolini]

I think I made the hollow by chiselling out some material then bashing hell out of it with a big hammer.
I was surprised how useful a tool it is.
And it was free.

 

[ChrisJ]

I like the idea chunko, I'm not a tight a**e but could use the cash saved towards maybe a secondhand mig or maybe one of these arc welders with arc force, "so many tools so little time"

 

[bigegg]

sand bags are used to hold road-mending signs down when it's windy - they can also be bought from Arco? I think.

Jewson's sell hessian sacks, so you could just fill one of those with sand.

lots of places to get free sacks to fill with sand.

 

[strube1369]

I think I saw that guy pushing a lawn mower around and around...

 

[outofthefire]

I've got a sand bag I made from Chrome leather filled with silver sand, but I rarely use it. I either use a piece of mdf or thick pieces of rubber with a ball pein. I only use the bag if I am putting a lot of shape into the metal. I use a rubber or plastic mallet or an old bit of sledge hammer handle if i'm working non ferrous.

 

[shirazman]

for my fish I do I use a half rotted wooden plank...works perfectly and yyou dont need to chisel it out

 

[normspanners]

when panel beating I have used a welding gauntlet filled with sand then cable tie the open end, it is a bit smaller than a bag and not as heavy to hold behind the panel but still gives enough backing trouble with formers is if hit direct they stretch the sheet

 

[chunkolini]

good idea norm, promptly installed in my pathetic excuse for a memory.

 

[normspanners]

but the word 'buy' makes me cry.

you are such a softy Chunko just a point you spelt it wrong in that context that makes you cry it is spelt BYE

 

[outofthefire]

when panel beating I have used a welding gauntlet filled with sand then cable tie the open end, it is a bit smaller than a bag and not as heavy to hold behind the panel but still gives enough backing trouble with formers is if hit direct they stretch the sheet

a smaller bag full of small ball bearings would be good for this. If your shrinking with a dollie don't hammer directly on to it. Put the dollie on the high spot of the dent and hammer around it and it should shrink, like you say hitting directly on to the dollie stretches the metal.