Metalworking hand tool

Metalworking hand tools are hand tools used in the metalworking field, powered entirely by the operator (hand tools). There are lots of tools, fit for different actions to the material, such as shrinking or modifying its surface.

Slapper

Both metal and wood slappers are used for metalworking. Generally wood slappers are covered with a leather-face. Slappers can be used to shrink, contour, and planish (smooth) the panel without leaving rough marks to clean up. The slapper controls more surface with each blow than a hammer can, and is very easy to use because it has the same angle of attack as a body hammer. This means the user does not need to change their arm and hand position when moving from hammer to slapper. The slapper can be far more effective than the hammer for shrinking metal, because its leverage gives greater mechanical advantage over the rough spots. The slapper is great for working metal over a T-stake, or for gouging and planishing. A good slapper can make radius bends and crowns quite well. A slapper works well with forming stakes and post dollies for lightly planishing and pulling cold shrinks.^[1]

Spoons

Spring steel spoons are a type of finishing tool, with a variety of uses. They are fairly durable, and can be used in combination with other tools (such as dollies, spikes, etc.) to provide an accurate contoured surface.^[1]

Dollies

Dollies can be handheld or mounted on a stake or post. Metal dollies come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are used for all types of hand-forming and planishing, shrinking, etc.^[1]

Forming bags

Also referred to as "soft dollies." Forming bags are usually filled with sand or lead shot and sewn very tightly out of a top-grade canvas or leather. A forming bag will allow you to "shrink" the metal without marking it, if used correctly.^[1]

Mallets

Mallets used for metalworking usually have either wood or plastic faces. These "faces" come in a variety of shapes, such as flat, torpedo, hemispheric, or square in shape. The different faces (and material the mallet is made of) allow you to work and/or shrink different metals. For instance, the flat face can be used for planishing and smoothing and for hand shrinking thicker soft metals. Whereas a large hickory "torpedo mallet's" striking weight makes it best suitable for shaping soft metals such as aluminum or copper, but a similar torpedo mallet made from heavy black rubber has a striking weight which is best used for shaping steel.^[2]

Hammers

A wide range of body hammers are used in metalworking. Hammers range from small, lightweight "pick" hammers (that provide stubby pick point and high-crown peen-type faces that will ding out small dents in high fins), to specialty hammers and heavy-duty "bumping" hammers for heavy gauge truck fenders and panels. There are dozens of hammers that are designed for specific tasks or metal thicknesses.^[2]

Files and rasps

These tools are used to provide a smooth finish for detail work, and are often used in metalwork done for the aircraft and aerospace industry.^[2]

Snips or shears

Snips and shears are used for cutting metal. Various types of snips and shears are used for different metals and thicknesses. Some shears allow longer or shorter cuts depending on the shear's style. Certain types of snips and shears are recommended for aviation metalworking.^[2]

Marking and layout tools

Marking and layout tools are essential to metalwork. A profile gauge is frequently used by metalworkers to copy curves.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d White, Kent. "The Slapper, Spoon, Spike and Forming Stump." Booklet, published by TM Technologies, 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "The Fine Art of Metal Shaping," Part 2 by Bob Whittier. Experimenter Magazine, March 1999.

[white-1] White, Kent. "The Slapper, Spoon, Spike and Forming Stump." Booklet, published by TM Technologies, 2009.

[whittier-2] "The Fine Art of Metal Shaping," Part 2 by Bob Whittier. Experimenter Magazine, March 1999.

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