Monday, April 19, 2010

Jackpot!

A few weeks back i was frantically searching for a Railroad spike to use for Planishing. Planishing is a metalworking technique that involves finely shaping and smoothing sheet metal by hammering it against a shaped surface called a planishing stake. I called the Mta, Amtrak, Antique dealers and even a few Local hobby shops, in hopes that someone had one or knew where i could get one. Finally, i spoke to a nice lady at the Westchester tourism board. She said "Just take a walk down a railroad track and your bound to come across one". Now i thought that this was just a way for her to get rid of me and fast, but i was desperate. So i headed down to the local tracks and low and behold...

Jackpot!

I Found a total of 5 Railroad spikes, 4 round top bolts, a long piece of steel for shaping around and a large piece of flat heavy steel that i will use as an anvil.


This is one of the Oval Head bolts. This will work well for planishing small strangely shaped pieces of metal.


This Half sphere head bolt will work well for drastically rounded planishing.


This thick piece of steel will be great for any flat shaping i will need to do along with all of my peening. When it comes time for leather working that is.


Other than all of this excitement, i have been working on making a good pattern for Dr Dooms Pauldrons. All of the pattens that i found did not look at all like Dr Dooms, so i had to make my own. NOT as easy as you would think, believe me! I will keep you up to date on my progress and definitely post Photos!

Doom out