"It Looks Like a Scrap Yard in Here"

I am about 50% done cutting all of the pieces out the sheets of steel.

The newly cut steel has very sharp edges with little slivers of metal jutting from them called Burrs. 

I cant even begin to count the number of times i grabbed a lame palm first and got stabbed.

The next step will be do file down the edges so that they are smooth. Not only will this prevent 

them from cutting me but it will also prevent any further damage to my tools. 

(I did a number on the face of my largest teardrop mallet when i was shaping the shoulder cop)

The other issue i need to resolve lies in my cutting equipment. 

Because i did not have the 500 plus dollars it requires to purchase a B2 Beverly Shear, I am forced to cut the metal with my aviation snips. With a beverly shear there is a clear guide for the metal and much more power. 

With the snips the metal tends to get bent and misshaped, as seen in the photo above.

What i need to do now is to Planish the edges of the metal against the flat face of my Dishing stump.

Not only does this flatten out the steel, 

but it also lines up all of those nasty little burrs making them much easier to file off.

Next Stop on this Doomed Train to NYC ComicCon 2010, I will be playing with my new 6" Buffing wheel!

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