The Armour Archive

My father-in-law bought me these hammers and forms from the son of a recently deceased tin smith. Please help me identify just what I have and perhaps what I should use them for.

#1


#2


#3


#4



#5


#6


#7



#8


#9


#10



#11 (Big metal comma)



#12 & #13

Its a body kit the little things are dollies the hammers are well hammers the other thing looks like a shrinker to me but I could be wrong on that one. The other thing(13) could be the handle for a jack plane or a large sanding block. Given that it is with the other tools I would tend to go with sanding block. Oh and #6 is a slapping spoon.

From what I remember from my body working days:
1 Cut off pick hammer (shop modified)
2 Pick hammer
3 See #1
4 Smoothing hammer (combo face)
5 another smoothing hammer (round face)
6 Slapping spoon
7 Universal dolly
8 Fender dolly
9 Another dolly
10 Heel Dolly
12 Spoons
13 Body file

Check these sites for more information:
http://www.eastwood.com/complete-hammer ... piece.html
http://www.performancemetalshaping.net/ ... 535197.htm

If they're from a name maker they have some value as collectibles. Blue Point and Proto are two that there are people who just collect thier stuff.

So, how should I use them to make armor?

Those are your planishing tools.

You'll make the armour with your dishing or raising hammer(s), and you'll finish it with these. You'll undoubtedly wind up with a favorite planishing hammer -mine would probably be #4 or #6, but it looks like his was #1- and you'll only use the others on occasion.

They are not blacksmithing tools at all; just used for working on relatively light sheetmetal on cars.

The bottom item has the handle flipped 180 as a "file" (like a surform) fits between the protruding screws and so they need to all be on the same side.

Very handy if you want to work brass sheet though!

Thomas