Multi-Post C-Frame Air Power Hammer
Model 3000/3500

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Multi-Post C-Frame Air Power Hammer
Model 3000/3500

Made in USA - Exclusively by TM Technologies

Model 3000 Packages

C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Basic
SMS-3000-1-B	$6,730.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Standard
SMS-3000-2-S	$7,430.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Deluxe
SMS-3000-3-D	$8,430.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Super Deluxe
SMS-3000-4-SD	$9,130.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Complete
SMS-3000-5-CP	$14,255.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Heavy Duty Complete
SMS-3000-6-HD	$16,377.00
The online shipping calculator may not give an accurate quote depending upon your location and the package you choose. We may need to contact you with a revised shipping quote.

Model 3500 Packages

C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Basic
SMS-3500-1-B	$7,330.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Standard
SMS-3500-2-S	$8,030.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Deluxe
SMS-3500-3-D	$9,030.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Super Deluxe
SMS-3500-4-SD	$9,730.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Complete
SMS-3500-5-CP	$16,155.00
C-Frame Air Power Hammer - Heavy Duty Complete
SMS-3500-6-HD	$18,263.00
The online shipping calculator may not give an accurate quote depending upon your location and the package you choose. We may need to contact you with a revised shipping quote.

Lower Assemblies for 3000 & 3500 Models

C-Frame Straight-Post Lower Assembly Use for most general shaping and planishing operations.
SMS-3100	$995.
C-Frame Angled-Post Lower Assembly Use to get inside hollow sections and bowl shapes such as tanks, spinners, lamp buckets, etc.
SMS-3200	$1,265.
C-Frame Planishing Arm Use to get inside of narrow openings in wingtips, tanks, or sculpture.
SMS-3300	$1,495.

BACKGROUND

From hotrods to Harleys, and aircraft to art metal, TM Air Power Hammers have proven to be the metal shaping machines of choice for professionals and hobbyists around the world. TM Technologies CEO, Kent White, was the first person to introduce the concept of an Air Power Hammer for sale to the general public in 1994. Now, 20 years later, we have gone from one Air Hammer model to five, to more than two dozen dies, and six air motors. Today these machines are the fastest, hardest-hitting, most controllable and versatile, power hammers on the market.

CAPABILITIES

Many metalworkers instinctively (and incorrectly) refer to all air hammers as “planishing hammers” not understanding the significant differences in the capabilities between a planishing hammer and our machines. Planishing hammers are primarily used to lightly smooth metal. TM Power Hammers are capable of many different metal shaping operations (in addition to planishing).

TM hammers can rapidly repair and straighten panels, stretch crowns and hollows, shrink crowns and contours, flange and turn edges, rough in shapes, make reverses, ducktails and saddle shapes, and planish beautifully. They are indispensable for making panels, tanks, and parts for automotive, motorcycle and aircraft, as well as metal art and sculpture.

Designed with speed, ease of use, and safety in mind, users love this machine because it gives them better-looking parts in far less time. We have customers who tell us that parts that used to take them all day to produce can be made in our air power hammer in only an hour or two.

Our line of variable-speed air motors gives you complete control over the widest range of metals, and the ability to work as fast or slow as needed for the project at hand – from single accurate hits, to hundreds of blows per minute. A quick-lock motor mount allows for fast adjustment (usually less than 30 seconds) between air motors, metal thicknesses, and shaping operations.

We have spent over 20 years perfecting the dies for our hammers, and currently often more than two dozen of them for various shaping tasks including shrinking, stretching, flanging, roughing, hemming, reverses, and planishing – with new dies already in production. We also offer customer dies for our machines.

If your arms or rotator cuffs are wearing out from beating the shot bag, or if you are running a production metal shop and need to produce parts quickly, you need an Air Power Hammer! It will give you years of trouble-free use, and make your metalworking more productive, a lot less challenging, and a lot more fun — guaranteed!

3000/3500 SERIES DETAILS

Our Multi-Post C-Frame machines were designed for commercial metal production shops that need a heavy-duty machine. This hammer has an extremely strong frame, measuring four times as stiff as the rectangular tube frame on our 1000 model. The side plates on this machine are ¼” inch thick and are heavily reinforced to take very heavy abuse and pressures.

This machine has the ability to rapidly stretch or shrink mild steel, and then quickly change to planishing thin soft metals such as aluminum or copper (depending on the air motors, dies, and lower-assemblies being used). The 24-inch deep throat allows you to easily work most complex shapes. Like our 2000 series, the 3000 model also offers three interchangeable lower-assemblies, providing you with the widest range of shaping options.

The 3000 series is also our only air power hammer that will support our #6 Air Motor. This “Super Thumper” motor was designed specifically for the 3000 series machine, and is capable of stretching up to 10-gauge or shrinking 12-gauge mild steel. Kent has used the motor to stretch 8-gauge and shrink 10-gauge mild steel (but shrinking and stretching these heavier metals is somewhat dependent upon operator knowledge, skill, and practice.)

The 3000 model frame accommodates both a Straight-Post and an Angled-Post lower assembly. The Straight-Post can be used for most general shaping operations. The Angled-Post assembly gives you the additional ability to work the edges of hollow shapes. Each lower assembly is sold separately, allowing you to purchase only the assemblies you need at this time, but still giving you the opportunity to expand your machine’s capabilities later down the line.

The 3500 model has a modified 3000 frame that also accepts a Planishing Arm. Our Planishing Arm is designed for use inside tight, narrow spaces (such as inside gas tanks or wingtips) in addition to planishing. Even if you are not interested in a planishing arm at this time, this modified frame gives you the option of adding a Planishing Arm in the future should the need arise.

SPECS

Construction:
¼” mild steel plate

Weight
375 lbs. The machine can be bolted down to a workbench, or used on a heavy-duty rolling cart to maintain portability around your shop.

Throat Dimensions:
25” depth (distance from the center of the die to the rear vertical frame)
26.125” height (distance from top of lower frame to bottom of upper frame)

Lower-Post Assembly Height:
17.875” vertically (from the lower-post mounting plate to top of the die receiver)

Dimensions
39″ high x 38″ deep x 14.75″ wide

Weight
Machine weight: 195 - 250 lbs. depending on lower assembly
Shipping weight: 425 – 650 lbs. depending on parts purchased
(This machine is shipped as freight in a large wooden crate.)

Note: All of our air hammers are designed so that they can be bolted down to a work bench and/or filled with sand if you desire additional stability and sound deadening. This will increase the weight of the machine, and also reduce it’s portability.

Max Capacities (using the #6 “Super Thumper” Air Motor)

	Stretching	Shrinking
Aluminum	.250	.185
Mild Steel	10-gauge	12-gauge
Stainless	11-gauge	13-gauge

PACKAGE DESCRIPTIONS

3000/3500 - Basic Package

Multi-Post Air Hammer C-Frame
Quick-Lock Motor Mount
Complete Air System
Air Hammer Operations DVD & assembly instructions

Please Note: The Basic Package does not include any Air Motors, Dies, or Lower Assemblies because it is designed for the customer who wants to build their own package à la carte. You will need to purchase a minimum of one air motor, one lower assembly, and one upper and one lower die to be able to use the machine.

3000/3500 - Standard Package
includes the “Basic Package” plus:

3000/3500 - Deluxe Package
includes the "Standard Package" plus:

3000/3500 - Super Deluxe Package
includes the "Deluxe Package" plus:

3000/3500 - Complete Package
includes the "Super Deluxe Package" plus:

The 3000 Complete Package also includes:

C-Frame Straight-Post Lower Assembly
C-Frame Angled-Post Lower Assembly

The 3500 Complete Package also includes:

Modified frame & Planishing Arm
C-Frame Straight-Post Lower Assembly
C-Frame Angled-Post Lower Assembly

3000/3500 - Heavy Duty Package
includes the "Complete Package" plus:

LOWER ASSEMBLY OPTIONS

SMS-3100	Straight-Post Lower Assembly Use for most general shaping and planishing operations.
SMS-3200	Angled-Post Lower Assembly The angle post lower assembly gives you the ability to easily work the edge of hollow shapes. From the large nose bowls of airplanes, to small headlight buckets on automobiles this upgrade allows the bottom of the part to wrap under the dies so that more complex shapes can be fabricated.
SMS-3300	Planishing Arm For a long time there has been a need to planish or straighten deep inside the narrow openings, for parts such as airplane wingtips, motorcycle tanks, and various art forms. To meet this need we have developed this Planishing Arm. The lower die-holder is integral with the extension arm, which is hardened, high-strength steel. This upgrade includes the planishing arms as well as all modifications to the frame for mounting. Use the Plashing Arm to get inside of narrow openings in wingtips, tanks, or sculpture.

When it comes to Power Hammers, many people instinctively refer to all Air Hammers as “planishing” hammers. The definition of planishing is to “smooth” metal, which is about the extent of what most planishing hammers are capable of doing. By contrast, our machines have the capability to shape 3/16″ mild steel, and are power hammers that also have the ability to “planish” (beautifully).

When you are considering a power hammer for your shop, for most people space is limited, the budget is tight, and work is piling up. You need a performance-orientated machine that does more than just beat on metal. You need to make real shapes, not just compound curves, but complex parts — and you need to make them fast. This is where the TM Air Power Hammer comes in, and where it shines.

How it Works

It is the combination of our Air Motors and Dies that provides our customers with the widest range of shaping options. Critical our machine’s shaping success are its five Air Motors. Each motor is designed to work a specific range of materials. By using our motors in combination with each other, you can quickly rough-in or shape a part, and then planish it by switching to the next lighter motor.

For example, if you were shaping a motorcycle fender out of 16-gauge steel, you would be using our Heavy #3 Air Motor to rapidly move the metal into the rough shape you want to achieve. Once there, you would switch to our Medium #2 Air Motor to finish the job and planish the part to a smooth finish. To clarify: the Medium #2 Air Motor will planish the material the Heavy #3 Air Motor will shape. The Heavy #3 Air Motor will planish what the Very Heavy #4 Air Motor will shape and so on.

Our line-up of air units, paired with our Quick-Lock Motor Mount, allows you to quickly adjust between varying metals, metal thickness, and shaping and planishing operations. This clamping assembly also allows you to quickly change dies, so if you accidentally over-stretched a section of the part you can quickly change over to shrinking dies, shrink that section down, ultimately losing little or no time at all. All of our motors and dies can be changed out in less than 30 seconds. If time is money, then minutes spent changing dies, aligning wood shims, and/or adjusting throws, going from one operation to the next, is just money down the drain.

Versatility

It is one thing to have a machine that hits fast and hard, but ask any of our customers and they will tell you that it is our Dies that really set this machine apart from the rest. Twenty-five years of design, development, and daily use in our shop have gone into our line of nearly two-dozen dies. We manufacture our dies from high quality steel which is precision machined, hardened properly, tempered, and in some cases precision ground, for a perfect face or contact area. Every die we sell is made right here in the U.S., and is U.S. industry-standard quality, tested in our own shop, and is tried-and-true — guaranteed.

Most machines on the market have a wide assortment of dies, but when you really look at what you are getting they are all just steel hammering dies — with one slightly more radiused than the next. Although that is sometimes needed, most of those dies sit unused. With our system we have developed specific dies and die combinations that allow to you quickly achieve the shapes you desire. No more wearing out your arm and shoulder beating metal into a forming bag. No more fighting that curved flange around the wheel well. Best of all, no more swell in the middle of a panel that you don’t know what to do with. The possibilities are almost endless. Please click on the “Video Demo” tab above to see examples of these dies in action.

Control

Almost all the Power Hammers on the market today are variable speed. Some can even be slowed down to a very slow speed, but this is where you start to separate the real hammers from the toys. Most of the electric reciprocating machines that claim to be power hammers are simply not up to the task of shaping thicker metals. These machines rely on the speed or velocity of their impact to do the shaping. So ask yourself, “Can the electric machine I am thinking of offer me one powerful hit with the hammer, with only one tap of the pedal?” The answer of course is “NO.” This really limits you when trying to do that final finish on a part. You want to hold the panel in one hand, feel it with the other, and nitpick the panel — one blow at a time, all while leaving the panel in the machine. You want to be able to isolate your work on that one area and not worry about affecting the surrounding areas with misguided hammer blows. A good machine should enable a craftsman to finish working on a part to a high level of detail. If you need to hit one blow at a time, then you need a machine designed to handle this task. Our air motors have been engineered to cycle internally without even hitting the metal! This allows you to work as quickly, or as slowly as you want, and gives you the control you need while allowing you to work at your own comfort level.

Safety

Safety is not always the first thing most of us think about when considering a new piece of equipment, although in the back of your mind you know you don’t want to get a finger smashed in a power hammer any time soon! With our machines you never have to worry about a finger (or any other body part) as our dies remain in almost constant contact with the metal at all times. This not only makes it a safe machine to operate, but also allows you to work small, intricate parts as you are able to bring your hands and fingers closer to the firing zone without risk of injury.

As an added bonus, our machines reduce the risks of repetitive stress injuries to the wrists, elbows, and rotator cuffs that many metalworkers experience from beating shot bags. One of the primary reasons Kent developed these machines was to prevent this sort of joint and muscle stress for himself and his shop employees.

Longevity and Durability

Our Air Power Hammers are designed to last for thousands of hours. They have a simple design with few moving parts which are completely re-buildable if necessary. From our 20 years′ experience, we know this machine and its dies will give you excellent service for years to come.

------------ General Questions ------------

Are your Air Power Hammers made in America?
We manufacture 98% of the components for our Power Hammers right here in the U.S.A. (A couple of small parts used in our air regulators are not available in the U.S. and consequently are imported.) 100% of the assembly on our Power Hammers is done in our own shop in Northern California by people who use these machines every day.

What size air compressor do I need to run the machine?
On average the air consumption is around 3-5 CFM at 90 PSI. (If your air compressor is rated at or higher than this you will be fine.) Kent and several customers have been known to take our power hammers out to a grassy landing strip to fix an airplane part with nothing more than a small portable Craftsman air compressor to power it.

What type of learning curve is there to using this machine?
The most important thing you need to know when learning how to use the Air Power Hammer is a basic understanding of metalworking. If you have that, you will pick up the techniques very quickly. Keep in mind that the craftsman is still the one making the parts and the machine is the aid to making these parts faster, more efficiently, and better than before. Most people tell us that it takes one to three months (on average) of trial and error before full confidence sets in and they feel as though there is nothing they cannot do with the machine.

What holds the dies in the air motor?
The upper dies free-float in the air motor and rest against the top of the panel you have in the machine. If you pull the panel out from in between the dies, the upper die will drop down slightly and rest against the lower die. The clearance between the upper and lower die is infinitely adjustable, depending on the material you are working with. Ideally, you want a minimal amount of clearance between the upper and lower dies, giving you just enough space to freely move the panel around between them. Having the dies remain in contact with the panel allows for safer working conditions and smoother work. If the material you’re working with slips out of the dies while you are hammering, just slide it back in — it is that easy. For a better understanding of this, view any one of the videos of our dies under the “Video Demos” tab above.

How many Blows-Per-Minute (BPM) will your Air Power Hammers produce?
The rate of fire for our air motors is completely adjustable from both the air regulator and the foot pedal. Each air motor has a different rate of fire when it is at max pressure of 90 PSI. The smaller air motors will hit on average about 1500 BPM while the larger air motors will average around 800 BPM. For a better description of how this works, please read the section about control under “The Facts” tab above.

Can I call TM Technologies for help or advice on making a part if I run into difficulties with using this machine?
We are here to help. Not only do we manufacture and sell these power hammers, but we use them in our own shop every day. If you run into an area of trouble, many times it is something obvious and a short phone call or email can save you hours of wasted time.

Do I need an English Wheel, an Air Power Hammer – or both?
We have designed our Air Hammers with a complete range of dies to take you from start to finish, but this does not make the English Wheel and other forming machines completely obsolete. Sometimes, depending on the shape or finish you are trying to achieve, getting it close with the power hammer and then finishing the part on the wheel can give you the same beautiful results as a completely wheeled part in a fraction of the time. Although the power hammer is capable of planishing parts to a polish (as you will see in the Air Hammer Operations DVD) sometimes “finishing” on the wheel can be faster. At TM Technologies we believe in a concept we call “practical application,” which means using the right tool for the job at the right time. That said, Kent says he has reduced the amount of work he does on the Wheel by 80% because of the capabilities of the Air Hammer. Customers have told us the same.

Do you sell a floor-model air hammer?
All of our Power Hammers are Benchtop models for practical reasons. First and foremost, this gives the end user more flexibility to set up the machine almost anywhere, in any way, inside their shop. The second reason is that a benchtop machine can also be set up as a mobile unit and travel with you to the job site. The third reason is to keep shipping costs down.

What height should I set the machine to, and what sort of base should I put the machine on?
You want to set the machine up at a height that is comfortable for you to work at. It may take a few days of using the machine to find out which height works best for you, so set up something temporary at first. Kent recommends that you set up your machine so that your metal is at about solar plexus height. Other people prefer it higher or lower. After you find the height that works best for you, you can use either a steel or wood base. Either way you are going to want to build a wide and stable base that will allow you to push against the machine as you are working on it.

We do offer a welded stand that can be used with our machines. You can purchase the parts and weld the stand together yourself (saving money on both labor and shipping), or you can order the stand ready to set-up out of the box. Please see “Air Hammer Accessories & Upgrades” for our stand and stand plans.

Is there any way to reduce noise from the machine, or increase stability?
Yes! First, rubber pads under the frame will help reduce vibration and noise. Secondly, all of our machines are designed with a hole in the top of the frame that allows you to fill the frame with sand. The sand acts as both a stabilizing weight and a sound deadener. Keep in mind that once you add sand, the machine is very heavy and no longer easily portable, so you may want to consider a welded steel cart with wheels if you want to be able to move your machine to different spots in your shop.

Can I build my own frame and adapt your hardware to it?
Yes, we sell plans/blueprints for building your own 1000 model (which has a “fixed,” not interchangeable lower straight-post assembly.) We also sell all of the components you might need including the Air System, upper and lower assembly parts, motors, and dies. Please see the “Build Your Own” section.

Is it hard to hold onto the panel when shaping?
Not at all. Kent’s grandsons started learning to shape metal in the hammers at ages 8 and 10. So even a child can hold the metal in the machine. Because the dies stay so close to the panel and the dies hit several times a second, the panel never gets out of hand and the shaping operation is very smooth.

When you start working thicker materials, the vibration in your hand can increase but this is about the same feeling as using a D/A sander at full speed. If you use the machine for frequently for heavy shaping, or prefer to reduce the vibration, our new Anti-Vibration Kevlar Gloves are recommended when using this machine, not only to help you hold onto larger panels and parts, but also to help prevent getting cut by the sharp edges of the metal you are working with. They also help reduce hand fatigue that can occur when you are working on a big or lengthy project.

What is the largest panel I can work on this machine?
Our machines have a 24” throat from the center of the die to the rear vertical of the frame. This allows you to work a panel with a maximum width of 48”.

Can I get custom dies made for my Power Hammer specific to my application?
Yes, we do make custom dies for various applications. We currently offer over two dozen dies which will handle almost every job imaginable. If you are unsure of how to make a particular shape, chances are it is possible with one of the dies we have, but you maybe unaware of how to use the die in that way. Give us a call and let us know how we can help you. If we do not have a die that works for you, making one-off dies can be expensive, but it is not out of the question. Chances are, however, if you need a specific die, others might also and we should look into manufacturing it, which would reduce the cost. We are always looking to improve.

If I make my own dies for a specific application will you harden them for me?
Yes, this can be done but we cannot be responsible for the die if it breaks. Please contact us for more information on this.

Can I grind on your dies to make a specific shape?
You can slightly reshape our dies, but keep in mind most of them are made of hardened steel. This makes them very hard to grind and almost impossible to machine. If you do grind on them, make sure that you do not get the die so hot that you ruin the heat treat.

I have heard the Air Motors require oil. What kind and how often do I do that?
Our air motors need lubrication to run properly. When you purchase our machine, a small bottle of Air Tool Oil will be included with your Air System. We prefer Taylor Air Tool Oil, or Wintergrade brand air tool oil. We recommend that you oil your motors once for every hour the motor runs. You will be able to hear when your motor is running out of oil (but waiting for that to happen is not advised as an oiling method!) We sell the Taylor oil here on our web site in 4 oz. bottles, quarts, and gallons.

Why do your newer machines have a filter-regulator-lubricator on them?
Our machines and air systems now come standard with an FRL (filter-regulator-lubricator). This eliminates the need to constantly monitor your motor for oil. Fill your lubricator about ¾ full (the entire 4 oz. bottle we supply) and adjust the FRL so that it puts out just a tiny amount of oil on your upper die. (Not so much that the oil starts to spray!) The motor needs just a small amount of oil to stay properly lubricated. One 4 oz. bottle should last for a month if you are running the air hammer all the time, many months if you are only running it occasionally.

The filter in the FRL helps to keep crud, dust, and other nastiness that somehow manage to make their way into your air line (like small particles of sand), from damaging your motor and voiding your motor’s warranty. If you own one of our older Air Hammer models that does not have an FRL, we highly recommend purchasing one. It will keep your motors going years longer without problems.

Do you offer workshops or trainings on how to use the Power Hammer?
Our Power Hammers are used in almost every workshop we host. We also offer at least one or two workshops exclusively on Power Hammers or Forming Machines each year. If you want more of a “one-on-one” workshop (or training for a small group of students either at our facility or yours) please contact us at530-292-3506 or contact us regarding workshops. You can find more info under the Workshop links to the left under “Education/Workshops.”

------------------ Ordering & Payment Options ------------------

Can I come to your shop and use it for myself before I buy?
Absolutely! Guests are always welcome at our shop, but please call ahead and make an appointment to make sure someone is here who can go over the power hammer with you.

How long does it take to receive a machine once I place my order?
Our 1000 and 2000 Air Hammer models ship within 2 weeks after payment is received. However if you need the machine by a certain date please be sure to contact us regarding orders to ensure everything is in stock and that we can ship immediately. Our 2500, 3000, and 3500 models generally ship in 2-4 weeks.

Rush orders
We understand that sometimes time is of the essence and you may need your new machine quickly. If that is the case please call us at 530-292-3506 or contact us regarding orders to check availability of the model that you are interested in. Depending on availability we may be able to expedite your Air Hammer order for an additional $150. and get it out within 24-48 hours. Please remember that shipping can take anywhere from 1-7 business days unless you also choose an expedited shipping method.

What are my payment options? Do you offer financing or Net 30?
All of our air hammers require a 50% down deposit when the order is placed, with the remainder due when the machine is ready to ship. You may also choose to pay for your machine and shipping in full when you place your order. This guarantees your machine will ship the day it is ready, rather than waiting for a final payment to clear. Because we are a small company, unfortunately we are unable to offer financing or Net 30 terms on any of our machines at this time.

We accept all major credit cards including, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. We will also accept PayPal, money orders, cashier’s checks and personal or business checks. If you choose to pay by check, please allow 10 business days for the funds to clear before we can process and ship your order.

We also accept bank wires. Domestic wires have a $15. fee, international wires are $45. (Please note these are the fees we are charged by the banks for us to receive a wire.) Please be aware that wires can sometimes take up to 2-3 weeks to clear depending on the country of origin. All payments must be made in US Dollars. There will be a $25. fee for any returned checks.

Sales Tax
All purchases that use a California shipping address will be required to pay the standard California state sales tax.

------------------ Shipping ------------------

How do you ship your power hammers?
Everything that we ship is fully insured so you do not need to worry about loss or damage during transit. Shipping methods depend on the model you are purchasing.

Tube Frames (models 1000, 2000, 2500)
We know that shipping a heavy machine can be expensive. Generally we are able to ship our Tube Frame Power Hammers via UPS Ground which is the most cost-effective option. There is an additional oversize fee of $60. to ship the frame, but this allows us to avoid freight which is more expensive (in most cases). The frame is padded and tightly wrapped on a plywood skid. The rest of the components are shipped in several small packages, all of which are less than 35 lbs. International orders however, are shipped on a pallet via UPS Freight. If you would prefer any other shipping method please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
C-Frames (models 3000, 3500)
Because of the size and dimensional weight of the C-Frames they must to be shipped in a large wooden crate and the only option is to ship them as freight. There is also an additional $175. crating fee for these machines. If you are ordering a C-Frame, please read the information at the bottom of this section “Important information for Freight Shipments.” Please call 530-292-3506 or contact us regarding shipping for more information or to request a freight shipping quote for this machine.

I live a long way from where you are located; is it expensive to ship a machine?
Because we pack our machines to ship as economically as possible, most Tube Frame Air Hammer order scan be shipped across the country for $200. - $250. Our C-Frame (3000 model) machines are shipped in large wood crates as freight and consequently are much more expensive to ship (usually between $500. -$900. depending on which machine package you order).

The cost to ship a machine depends on three factors: 1) The speed at which you want it delivered; 2) the distance the item must be shipped; and 3) the weight and dollar value of the items. Obviously the faster you need it, the more the shipping carriers charge. Please contact us regarding shipping and we will be happy to provide you with a shipping quote.

How long does shipping take?
Shipping transit time within the United States via UPS Ground is between 1-7 days depending on your location. Any transit times that are given for Ground shipments or non-expedited methods are not guaranteed to be delivered by that date and are a best estimate.

What if I need expedited shipping?
If you need an Air Hammer or machine to be delivered by a certain date please contact us regarding shipping for expedited shipping methods and costs. Although it is rare, shipping carriers are not responsible if a shipment encounters unexpected events which could delay the delivery (snow storms, floods, highway or airport closings), so please be sure to place your order well enough in advance to guarantee that you will get your shipment in time should these circumstances occur.

Can I arrange my own shipping or ship on my own account?
Yes, you are welcome to ship on your own UPS account, or have another common carrier pick up your machine. Please note that we are in a rural area and not all carriers pick up at our location. We will still charge a small handling fee (generally around $25.) for packing up your machine and parts and handling paperwork. If you arrange your own shipping you will need to make sure insure the machine for its full value. International customers sometimes have better access to shipping brokers if they commonly ship equipment internationally. If you have a broker you work with, please let us know. We’ll be more than happy to contact them.

Can your Air Hammers be shipped internationally?
Yes, we do ship our machines to most countries, however there are some countries that common carriers will not deliver to. International shipping can be expensive, but we will work with you to find the most economical method we can. Please be aware that your country will charge duties on your incoming shipment. We do not have any control over duties and/or taxes that may be charged by your country, or the amount of time your order may be held in customs. Please contact us regarding shipping for an international shipping information or a shipping quote.

*IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FREIGHT SHIPMENTS
If you are purchasing a C-Frame or any other oversized machinery that needs to be delivered via Freight please read the following important information.

Accessibility
Please be sure that your location is easily accessible by a large freight truck, if it is not please let us know prior to quoting your shipping charges. If you cannot receive a freight truck, UPS offers the option for you to pick up your shipment at one of their terminals. Please speak to us about this option when getting your shipping quote.

Unloading Freight
If you do not have a forklift or a loading dock at your location you will be charged (included in your freight cost) an additional fee for lift-gate service (about $100.). If you do not have a forklift or loading dock and refuse this service, UPS will not be required to assist you in unloading your shipment. Please remember that a crate will most likely weight between 450-900 lbs. and is 48″ x 48″ x 40″ or larger.

------------------ Warranty & Returns ------------------

What kind of warranty do you offer on your machines?
Our machine frames and frame components are guaranteed for 5 years from their date of purchase.

We offer a 3 year warranty on our air motors. We HIGHLY recommend you use a filter-regulator-lubricator on your Air Power Hammer to filter out dirt and debris that can damage your motor. Your warranty on your motor may be voided if your motor is damaged by dirty air hose lines that have caused your motor to clog and seize. If you motor stops functioning, you may ship it to us for repair. Most of the time we are able to fix the problem, but we do charge for repair services.

Under normal use our dies will last for many years. However some customers are quite hard on their dies, forcing us to limit our warranty on these items to one year.

What is your order cancellation and return policy?
Any item you purchase from our company may be returned if you are unhappy with the product. We have a satisfaction guarantee on every item we sell, which means that any Air Hammer or machine that you purchase from us is guaranteed to work as described or we will replace it free of charge. We are happy to say that we have never had a customer return an air hammer due to dissatisfaction with the machine or its performance.

We do have a 15% restocking fee on all of our large equipment (including air hammers) unless the return is the result of a manufacturing defect. Also the customer is responsible for paying all return shipping charges if the machine is returned for a non-warranty reason. Any returned machine must be in “new” and unused condition and will be subject to inspection and testing upon arrival. Air Hammers or other heavy machines refunds can take up to 30 days before the funds are returned to the purchaser.

You may cancel your order any time prior to shipping. If the order is cancelled after the order has shipped the customer will be required to pay the full shipping cost for the shipping both directions. Please note: It can take up to 30 days for the funds to be returned to the purchaser when machine orders are cancelled unexpectedly.

Work done on the TM Air Power Hammer

“Fairings for a Grumman Duck”
“Planishing”
“Gear Leg Fairings for a Waco Standard Cabin”
“Making a Copper Bowl”
“Wing Root Fairings done on Roscoe Turner’s Thunderbird”
“Making a Copper Flower”
“Building an Ash Pan for a Doble Steam Car”
“Steel Lobster”

Below you will find several videos demonstrating a few of the operations our Power Hammer can perform, as well as an introduction from Kent, and an overview of how to assemble our Air Power Hammer when it arrives. Please allow the videos to fully download before attempting to watch them as some of the files are very large.

Please note: These are not “how-to” videos for educational purposes, but are meant to show you the capabilities of the machine.

INTRODUCTION

Kent talks about what motivated him to create the TM Air Power Hammer and how it came to be what it is today.

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ASSEMBLY

We offer several ways to get started with one of our Power Hammers. Whether you are building your own frame or using one of ours, this demo will show you how quickly one of our power hammers can be assembled, as well as how to align the dies in our machine.

Part One:

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Part Two:

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CONTROL

The low speed characteristics of our Air Motors are shown here. There are several ways to vary the rate of fire with our Power Hammers, one of which is to set the air regulator at the top of the machine to a desired pressure. This will set the max rate of fire, allowing you to run the foot-pedal wide open (never surpassing your comfort level on the machine). The rate of fire can also be adjusted by using the foot-pedal to regulate the air flow to the Air Motors.

With two points of control on the machine you can fine-tune every aspect of the operation, from single powerful blows, to light taps, or a steady rhythm for consistent shaping. Keep in mind that in this video, no adjustments to the air regulator are made, and all adjustments to the rate of fire are done by the foot-pedal on the floor.

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ROUGHING

"Roughing" means to generate a lot of shape in the metal rapidly. You are not trying to do finesse work or keep the panel nice and smooth while doing this. In fact, we describe the process of shaping metal as "taking it through a controlled wreck." This means you start out with a beautiful factory-rolled sheet of flat metal that you just bought at the store, and you work it, sometimes severely, by stretching and shrinking operations to get the rough shape that you are looking for. Our roughing dies generate a stretch rapidly and forcefully in the sheet of metal, so you don't wear out your wrist and arm doing it by the "arm and hammer" method of bashing the metal into a shot bag with a big mallet. These dies will help you stretch faster and easier than you could imagine (and you can still lift your fork at the end of the day after using them). The first video shows show how our Standard Roughing Die works. The second video demonstrates how the Rubber Die can be used to smooth over the roughed-in shape from the roughing die and how it can be used to stretch the panel with less aggression than the standard roughing die.

Roughing Die:

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Rubber Die:

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REVERSE CURVES

When you need to make a saddle, ducktail, or fairing shape you will need our reverse dies. These shapes are called "reverse" shapes because they are the reverse of a bowl or hollow shape. Reverse shapes can be difficult to master, or to make properly. The hand-method requires that you use a round-faced mallet and a shot bag or a sand bag to whack away at the metal until it is roughed into sort of what you need, and then you have to smooth it out, either with a slapper and dolly, or with a Wheel. If you are careful with these dies, you won't have to do much smoothing. Your hammer does have to be set up carefully so the faces of these dies line up right on the button. The two videos below show the Small and Large Reverse Dies in action.

Large Reverse Die Set:

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Small Reverse Die Set:

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SHRINKING

Yes, our Air Power Hammers really do shrink with these dies. And they do a fine job... even shrinking in the middle of a panel, once you master the technique (learn how on our Air Hammer Operations DVD). Many shops are using our dies. There are two Shrinking Die sets: one for Softer Metals (aluminum and copper), and one for Harder Metals (steel and stainless).

This video shows how our Shrinking Dies work.

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These videos demonstrate how quickly you can remove a flared and/or flanged edge. The panels shown have a reverse curve that was created with the Large Reverse Die Set (see video above), that then had a flange created on its edge of the flare with the Flanger Die (see video above). Both demonstrations below use the medium air unit.

20-gauge steel using the Shrinking Set for Hard Metals:

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1100, .050, Aluminum using the Shrinking Set for Soft Metals:

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Continuing with the sheet of 20-gauge steel and Medium Air Motor, here a high crown in the center of the panel is shrunk down flat.

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Here 1/8 inch, 3003, aluminum is worked using the Shrinking Die Set for Soft Metals and the Extra Very Heavy Air Motor. Notice how smoothly the metal moves as it is worked and how the shrink that is made is worked back into the panel. This gives you full control to work anywhere on the panel which is just not possible when you are using “Thumbnail” style dies.

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The videos below show 18, 16, and then 14-gauge steel all of which are worked with the Shrinking Die Sets for Hard Metals. The 18-gauge steel is shrunk using the Heavy Air Motor while the 16 and 14-gauge are shrunk using the Very Heavy Air Motor. Please note that the air motors chosen for each operation work the metal very controllable, if faster results are desired then upgrading to next heavier air motor to perform the same shrinking operation is an option. So for example, on the 14-gauge steel, the user could use the Extra Very Heavy Air Motor in place of the Very Heavy Air Motor that is shown here.

18-gauge Steel:

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16-gauge Steel:

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14-gauge Steel:

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SPECIALTY OPERATIONS

We offer two specialty lower dies that many of our customers find very useful. The Flange Curving Die is used in conjunctions with our Small Upper Hammer Die to curve flanges (by stretching) that you have already made in a bending brake. The surface left by this die combination is almost a mirror finish, so in many cases the metal may simply be polished after curving. Our Flanger Die is designed to create flanges around both inside and outside curves on compound surfaces. (Inside curves require stretching and outside curves require shrinking.) Kent also uses this die for wiring edges. Some operator skill is required to use this die effectively, and the die can be easily damaged by inexperienced hands (apprentices).

Flange Curving Die Set:

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Lower Flanger Die:

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Art & Sculpture

"Kent,
I purchased one of your air hammers and a set of dies last year. I thought you might like to see some of my projects. I'm really happy with your tools. The horse is 20ga steel.
Thanks,"
Dave Claussen

Click Images to Enlarge

Aluminum Cowling

A metalworking student of Kent's, Ron Englund, made this beautiful polished aluminum cowling.

The first step in building is to construct the "buck," which provides a 3-D shape for holding and test-fitting the cowling pieces... Click here for the full story.

Ferrari Dino Hood

"Dear Kent,
Just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with my new power hammer. I made my first large panel, a hood for a Ferrari Dino, on it and used stretching only to form it. I'm still learning to use all the dies. I sent a picture to show you the hood. Thanks again." - A.C.

Fantasy of Flight

Kermit Weeks (Weeks Aircraft, Fantasy of Flight ) really likes his TM Air Hammer, and after trying it out for some time, so does his wife.

Kent used this Hammer to make the top cowl for the Spirit of St. Louis at Fantasy of Flight, October 2002.

Bow Plates

"Hi Kent,
I have attached 2 pictures of bow plates that we made using your Power Hammer we purchased a while back in 3mm, 316 stainless.

The hammer doesn't do it all but it helps a lot in certain areas. A third bow plate is just starting production. Thanks for your help."
Regards,
–Steve Rawlins, Fluid Fabrications Ltd. England

MORE LETTERS

“Hi Kent,
Thank you for the kind words. We can't even tell you how much we appreciate you and your skills. We use your products almost all day, every day. We wouldn't even want to think about our studio without the tools you made for us.
Thanks again,
Steve Anderson andersonsmetalsculpture.com”

"I do metal art. I got an air hammer from you about a year ago. Last night I finished the DVD on the air hammer and was very impressed with how many other things I could be doing. I'll be ordering additional dies and air motors soon. I want to thank you for making affordable machines, providing metalworking knowledge to us average folks and putting up with all of our questions. In addition, your website is excellent!" –Phil L.

"I just finished building the "Little Power Air Hammer" from your plans and received the small reverse set of dies just in time for me to start the fairings on my Waco project. I have been building airplanes for over 20 years and I am blown away by the capabilities of this power hammer. It is the best addition to my metal working tools I have ever made. I will be buying more die sets as I become more accustomed to it. Thanks for everything."
–Dave Allen of Allen Antique Aero

"I got those new shrinking dies for steel and fooled with them for a minute, and suddenly realized how easy they were to work! They shrink so easily. I cannot miss. Boy is this fun. Thank you very much."
–B.D. (Metalman of 35 years)

"The wheel pant halves came out great. I used the rubber head in the Air Hammer to raise the two rounded corners and to blend into the curved straight section. I then used the plastic over plastic set (Shrinking Die Set for Soft Metals) to shrink the outside and put the right shape in the part and then to planish it out. Finally, I used the Wheel to blend the stretch out into the flat section and to relieve the tension in the piece. It really is magic. There wasn't even one mark on the second pant."
— Howard Booster, Santa Rosa, CA (good student of the metal and fine musician)

"We built the Little Power Hammer from plans. While we are novice metal shapers, for what it's worth, we really like the hammer. We use it for "shaping" rather than planishing. I have a way to go, (practice, practice!) but even now the shrinking dies work for me. Although I'm still putting the tuck in by hand and then running them in the hammer. I think everyone is looking for "too much" mechanically -- simplicity works too! Rather than elaborately shaped dies, its the material that these dies are made of that does most of the "magic", giving the right amount of grip and absorption. Combine this with proper placement of blows, and you compress the tuck in on itself without stretching. Tom Hanna has one of these hammers (which he modified!!) maybe he can comment on how he uses it. Its great to get concrete answers to every question, but I think it's also important to leave the "door open" and not be afraid to experiment and experience. Kent White seems to teach this way -- mixing what you need to know while leading to areas you have to go to on your own."
–Don & Lisa in CT

TM Technologies takes pride in knowing we offer the best products on the market for metal working. In an effort to continue this tradition we are constantly improving our products and our product line. If you have any comments or suggestions about this, or any of our other products, we want to hear from you.