Just curious what the opinions are regarding using a leather "shot bag" or a tree trunk/stump for shaping sheet metal. I dropped by Pugsy's shop when he had the Metal Meet and watched people shaping bowls using a stumps with a hollowed out area to beat the metal into. I'm thinking the tree stump is good if the "divot" or hollowed out area in the stump matches the shape you wish to create but I'm thinking a leather bag could create the same shape and many others.
This is all just hypothetical at the moment. I just feel that a shot bag would be better than a stump when looking at using it for several different projects.
Here's the reason for my question ... I am toying with the idea of picking up a stump but I can't shake the idea that I'd just be better off grabbing a leather bag ... thoughts?
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If at first you don't succeed you do have options ... lower your standards or just plain quit are the two I usually choose from :)
and watched people shaping bowls using a stumps with a hollowed out area to beat the metal into.
I'm thinking the tree stump is good if the "divot" or hollowed out area in the stump matches the shape you wish to create but I'm thinking a leather bag could create the same shape and many others.
This is all just hypothetical at the moment. I just feel that a shot bag would be better than a stump when looking at using it for several different projects.
Here's the reason for my question ... I am toying with the idea of picking up a stump but I can't shake the idea that I'd just be better off grabbing a leather bag ... thoughts?
Making bowls by beating on a tree stump Does the Warden know?
If I was paying attention in class, you can stretch the metal into submission faster with a stump and then smooth it up and refine the shape on the bag before going to the wheel. Does that sound right, Pugsy?
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I was also there and I found that you move the metal a LOT faster with a stump, far better for inital shaping and that the bag really let you have finer and more even controll over the shaping before you hit the wheel.
I'll expect to see all of you's back next year. It looks like no one was paying attention.
Talon is correct in that the stump moves metal quick. The reason it does so is that we use it to create tucks in the metal. They get flattened out and when they do the metal actually shrinks into itself.
The shape of the cutout in the stump is not the shape of what you can make.
The process to make a bowl shaped piece is to use the stump to create tucks and shrink the edges. You can only shrink so far in from the edge, so then you need to stretch the center part. This is where the bag comes in. You could actually stretch the center area without a bag by using a plastic or wooden mallet over the hollow in the stump. There are no rules.
As Poncho says, the stump is free and a bag can be had for 2 bucks like my first one. A leather handbag from a garage sale was my first bag. I filled it with sand.
I now have stumps to experiment with and hard rubber mallets I,m forming to use on them. I,m going to make a bag too and was wondering what is best to put in it, regular sand or something else.
I now have stumps to experiment with and hard rubber mallets I,m forming to use on them. I,m going to make a bag too and was wondering what is best to put in it, regular sand or something else.
Hard rubber won't work. You need a hard plastic like nylon.
I stopped in to Pugsys event this past summer but was only there spectating for a short time (had other plans that day so I couldn't stay long) so I only watched people slapping some sheet and making bowls etc but didn't take the time to actually try it myself.
I guess my question is kinda stupid when I think about it ... having a stump AND a bag makes total sense (as someone suggested).
Thanks guys
__________________
If at first you don't succeed you do have options ... lower your standards or just plain quit are the two I usually choose from :)
I now have stumps to experiment with and hard rubber mallets I,m forming to use on them. I,m going to make a bag too and was wondering what is best to put in it, regular sand or something else.
Hard rubber won't work. You need a hard plastic like nylon.
Hemi is correct. Plastic, wood or steel for forming.
I've tried sand, plastic injection moulding pellets and lead shot.
I sewed up a leather bag a number of years ago and it measures about 14" in diameter, about 3 " thick then filled it with lead bird shot. It works great, but I hate it because the damn thing weighs 500 lbs !!
I,m going to get the nylon hammers from Eastwood eventually. I want to drive down to Essex and pick them up and check the place out. Had these cheap rubber mallets that I was,nt using and the rubber has gone real hard. Figured hell nothing to loose, LOL Where would I find the lead shot?
