Planishing (from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

''planus'', "flat") is a

metalworking Metalworking is the process of shaping and reshaping metals to create useful objects, parts, assemblies, and large scale structures. As a term it covers a wide and diverse range of processes, skills, and tools for producing objects on every scale ...

technique that involves finishing the surface by finely shaping and smoothing

sheet metal Sheet metal is metal formed into thin, flat pieces, usually by an industrial process. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes. Thicknesses can vary significantly; ex ...

Process

This is done by hammering with a planishing panel hammer or slapper file against a shaped surface called a ''planishing stake'' that is held in a vise or a mounting hole in a blacksmith's beak anvil, or against hand-held, shaped, metal tools that are known as ''dollies'' or ''anvils''. The shape of the stake or dolly has to match the desired work piece contour, and so they come in a variety of complex shapes. Alternatively, planishing may be done by the use of an

English wheel The English wheel, in Britain also known as a wheeling machine, is a metalworking tool that enables a craftsperson to form compound (double curvature) curves from flat sheets of metal such as aluminium or steel.Parker, Dana T. ''Building Victory: ...

. After approximately forming a metal object, by stretching with techniques such as sinking and

raising Raising may refer to: *Raising (linguistics), a syntactic construction *Raising (phonetics), a sound change *Raising (metalworking), a metalworking technique *Barn raising, a community event to erect the wooden framework for a building *Fundraising ...

, and then shaping and smoothing an object, metal workers use planishing for surface finishing. Planishing is a hand-driven process used in auto body repair and

craft work such as medieval armour production.

Tools

Common tools used for planishing include panel beating hammers, slappers, and neck hammers. Heavy rawhide or hardwood hammers are often used. It is more difficult to make mistakes with heavy rawhide or wood mallets, but they are less effective for large imperfections. A worker, using repeated, relatively soft glancing blows, smooths the metal toward the curvature of the stake. If the metal begins to look dimpled, the worker is using too much force in individual hammer blows.

Features

Since planishing hammers are generally in contact with the outside surface of the piece, they are flat, have rounded edges and are polished to avoid marring the work.

Pneumatic Pneumatics (from Greek ‘wind, breath’) is a branch of engineering that makes use of gas or pressurized air. Pneumatic systems used in Industrial sector, industry are commonly powered by compressed air or compressed inert gases. A central ...

(air powered) planishing hammers strike hundreds of blows per minute.Air Planishing Hammers
Grainger, lists hammers available with 1800 to 5400 Blows per Minute, accessed 10 June 2020. Care must be taken not to allow sheet metal to harden and become brittle during planishing. If it does, it must be annealed.

References

Bibliography

* * {{cite book , last=Price, first=Brian , authorlink = Brian R. Price , title=Techniques of Medieval Armour Reproduction, year=2000, publisher=Paladin Press, location=Boulder, Colorado, isbn=1-58160-098-4 Metal forming