tool for stippling a metal frame

[lansdale]

hi everyone,

i would like to do some stippling to a metal frame.
in the past i have done this several times with a small hammer and punches, but because of some hand injuries i have it is hard for me to do the stippling with a hammer.

does anyone know if there is some sort of pneumatic or electric tool i can use for this? sofar i have only seen big automotive air chisels, very expensive pneumatic engravers, and of course the dremel tool and the vibrating marking pens.

my mate suggested maybe a tattoo machine could be used if the needle is replaced. but we both dont know how much force they deliver?

i hope some of you have any ideas that could work?

kind regards

 

[NorthBorder]

Just off the top of my head, a mechanical punch that is used to break auto glass?

 

[StrawHat]

There is (was) a mechanical engraving machine, NGravR or similar in name.

 

[Mercury]

How about using a pneumatic palm nailer? They're about $25 from these guys:

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/nailers-staplers/palm-nailer-68027.html#.Uyb9BlPheqc

 

[dfariswheel]

Most pros use an electric or air powered rotary hammer.

The top of the line in flex shaft machines is the Foredom Flex Shaft.
They sell a rotary hammer used by jewelers , die sinkers, and gunsmiths.

http://www.foredom.net/

The "hammer". You insert whatever shape of hardened steel punch you want to use.

http://www.foredom.net/h15.aspx

 

[Sam Cade]

I've had good luck using a simple engraver, I've also seen good results by just wacking the frame with a bastard file.

 

[TRX]

Bob Day used to use an air impact hammer with a pointy chisel. I've seen photographs of him stippling with it. But my air hammer isn't exactly a precision tool, and I imagine it would take practice to keep from destroying a frame. With a heavy hand, you could punch right through the front of a 1911 front strap...

 

[StrawHat]

http://www.ngraver.com/

 

[dagger dog]

A Harbor Freight pneumatic scraper is cheap and has enough power.
You would need to grind the flat chisel edge of the scraper bit to the required shape you want.

SKU #95826

 

[USAF_Vet]

For a cheaper alternative, an automatic centering punch might work. It'll be a lot slower going, but you'll probably be less prone to making mistakes. Good ones usually run $5-$25 with the more expensive ones having an adjustable depth setting that actually works.

I use them for everything from a centering punch (imagine that) to a nail setter, to a pilot hole for drilling into steel.

I imagine it'll be slower than a soldering iron and a polymer framed gun, but you'll produce a more quality piece of work by taking it slow.

 

[Kiln]

Gun makers work hard to build a nice steel gun and people are obcessed with finding new ways to permanently devalue them. Get a slip on rubber sleve and call it good.

 

[dprice3844444]

if your having hand coordination issues,find somebody who does it professionally and do it right.chaper to do it right than have to pay somebody to redo what is messed up