Hammer FabHammer Fab — Bertram, Texas
Things We've Made
ALL BUILDS

Ongoing · Metal shaping showcase

ONGOING

Things We've Made

Ongoing
IN-HOUSE — BERTRAM, TX
ONGOING

§ 01

THE BRIEF

Not every project that leaves the shop is a car. Between builds, we shape one-off pieces — sculpture, signage, trim, custom panels — as a way to keep the hands sharp and push what's possible with an English wheel, a planishing hammer, and a stack of raw sheet. This is a living gallery of that work, plus snippets of hand-shaped metal pulled from full builds.

§ 02 — Note from the shop

"Every piece here started as a flat sheet of copper, steel, or aluminum."

§ 03 — Build journal

The updates.

A living log of every meaningful moment on this build — new photos, short notes, and the milestones worth marking.

22 UPDATES · 14 MILESTONES

Milestones

  1. JUL 14, 2026— 1958 Plymouth steering wheel on a GM column
  2. JUL 13, 2026— Custom roll cage for a 1966 GMC
  3. JUL 12, 2026— Hand-built Diamond T extended cab
  4. JUL 10, 2026— C-47 radar dome for the Commemorative Air Force
  5. JUL 5, 2026— Stainless shifter bezel with boot
  6. JUN 28, 2026— Billet LSA valve covers & supercharger lid
  7. JUN 20, 2026— C10 firewall — 14ga steel
  8. JUN 15, 2026— 1958 Plymouth radiator cover & fan shroud
  9. JUN 5, 2026— Trans tunnel — 1953 F-100
  10. MAY 20, 2026— Mini trunk panels — Mobile Solutions MasterTech
  11. MAY 15, 2026— Street Connection badge — SolidWorks to painted “cast” metal
  12. APR 20, 2026— Ferrari Testarossa belly pans — aluminum, three sets
  13. JUL 10, 2026— Copper bison — half skinned
  14. JUN 20, 2026— Copper blank off the bench

UPDATE 22 / 22

Jul 14, 2026

FABRICATION MILESTONE

1958 Plymouth steering wheel on a GM column

A vintage 1958 Plymouth steering wheel and hub retrofitted to a modern GM tilt column. The original horn ring and center cap are retained, while a custom adapter hides under the hub so the wheel bolts up true and the turn signal cancel works.

The '58 Plymouth wheel mounted to a GM column — classic look, modern support.J001
The '58 Plymouth wheel mounted to a GM column — classic look, modern support.

UPDATE 21 / 22

Jul 13, 2026

METAL FAB MILESTONE

Custom roll cage for a 1966 GMC

A custom roll cage for a 1966 GMC cab, bent and notched to fit the cab's interior dimensions and tie into the frame rails. Clean TIG-welded joints, integrated harness bars, and plenty of headroom left for a helmet.

Roll cage laid out on the floor — main hoop, A-pillar bars, and harness bar ready to go in.J002
Roll cage laid out on the floor — main hoop, A-pillar bars, and harness bar ready to go in.

UPDATE 20 / 22

Jul 12, 2026

METAL SHAPING MILESTONE

Hand-built Diamond T extended cab

Extended cab for a Diamond T, built by hand from flat sheet. Roof, back panel, and rear quarters shaped on the wheel and planished into a single tight-fitting shell — no reproduction stampings, no shortcuts.

Extended cab from the rear quarter — hand-formed roof blended into the original body lines.J003
Extended cab from the rear quarter — hand-formed roof blended into the original body lines.
Front three-quarter view showing the stretched roof and reworked cowl.J004
Front three-quarter view showing the stretched roof and reworked cowl.
Passenger side after final planishing — one continuous skin from cowl to back panel.J005
Passenger side after final planishing — one continuous skin from cowl to back panel.

UPDATE 19 / 22

Jul 10, 2026

METAL SHAPING MILESTONE

C-47 radar dome for the Commemorative Air Force

Hand-formed aluminum radar dome for a WWII C-47 restoration with the Commemorative Air Force. Shaped on the Mjolnir power hammer and finished on the wheel, with a rolled base flange for the airframe mount.

Finished dome hanging in the shop after final planishing.J006
Finished dome hanging in the shop after final planishing.
For scale — the dome is big enough to sit on.J007
For scale — the dome is big enough to sit on.

UPDATE 18 / 22

Jul 8, 2026

DESIGN

Engine-turned stainless instrument panel

Laser-cut stainless instrument panel with a full engine-turned (jeweled) finish. CAD-designed for the exact gauge layout, then cut and finished for a period-correct look with modern precision.

CAD layout of the engine-turned stainless panel with all gauge and switch cutouts.J008
CAD layout of the engine-turned stainless panel with all gauge and switch cutouts.

UPDATE 17 / 22

Jul 7, 2026

METAL FAB

Custom cattle brand

One-off cattle brand fabricated from plate and welded to a rebar handle. Tested on veg-tan leather to confirm the letters read clean before it ever sees a hide.

The finished brand — plate letters welded to a rebar shaft, ready for the fire.J009
The finished brand — plate letters welded to a rebar shaft, ready for the fire.
Burn test on leather — clean, even impression across all three characters.J010
Burn test on leather — clean, even impression across all three characters.

UPDATE 16 / 22

Jul 5, 2026

METAL FAB MILESTONE

Stainless shifter bezel with boot

Turned and formed stainless shifter bezel with a polished aluminum base ring and a pleated rubber boot. Machined for a clean bolt-down and a sealed pass-through at the tunnel.

Stainless bezel and aluminum base with the boot installed — ready to bolt to the tunnel.J011
Stainless bezel and aluminum base with the boot installed — ready to bolt to the tunnel.

UPDATE 15 / 22

Jul 3, 2026

FABRICATION

Cadillac-to-LS valve cover adapters & mods

Vintage Cadillac valve covers modified to fit a modern LS with a fabricated coil-pack relocation bracket. Keeps the classic Cadillac look on top of a modern EFI drivetrain.

Modified Cadillac covers alongside the coil-pack bracket built to run them on an LS.J012
Modified Cadillac covers alongside the coil-pack bracket built to run them on an LS.

UPDATE 14 / 22

Jul 1, 2026

DESIGN

3D-designed seat belt pass-throughs

Seat belt pass-throughs modeled in CAD for a clean bolt-in install through a package tray or B-pillar cover. Two-piece design clamps the panel between the housing and the backer plate.

SolidWorks render of the two-piece seat belt pass-through and hardware.J013
SolidWorks render of the two-piece seat belt pass-through and hardware.

UPDATE 13 / 22

Jun 28, 2026

MACHINING MILESTONE

Billet LSA valve covers & supercharger lid

Billet aluminum valve covers and a matching supercharger lid for an LSA. Machined finish, deep ribs, and clean mounting for a purpose-built look under the hood.

LSA on the pallet wearing the billet valve covers and matching blower lid.J014
LSA on the pallet wearing the billet valve covers and matching blower lid.

UPDATE 12 / 22

Jun 20, 2026

METAL FAB MILESTONE

C10 firewall — 14ga steel

Smooth, one-piece firewall for a C10 build, hand-formed from 14ga steel. Recessed pockets for the wiper motor, brake booster, and steering column, with clean welded-in bungs for the column and pedal lever pass-throughs.

Installed in the cab — replaces the stamped factory firewall with a single hand-formed piece.J015
Installed in the cab — replaces the stamped factory firewall with a single hand-formed piece.
Both halves off the buck before final trim — mirrored recesses for a symmetrical look.J016
Both halves off the buck before final trim — mirrored recesses for a symmetrical look.
Column pass-through bung — TIG'd in with gussets for stiffness.J017
Column pass-through bung — TIG'd in with gussets for stiffness.
Pedal lever detail — 3D-printed handle on a fabricated arm through a bolted access panel.J018
Pedal lever detail — 3D-printed handle on a fabricated arm through a bolted access panel.

UPDATE 11 / 22

Jun 15, 2026

METAL FAB MILESTONE

1958 Plymouth radiator cover & fan shroud

Hand-formed radiator cover and matching fan shroud for a 1958 Plymouth. Beaded panels, arrow-shaped louvers, and a filler-neck cutout that ties the whole engine bay together.

Installed in the engine bay — radiator cover and fan shroud working as one piece.J019
Installed in the engine bay — radiator cover and fan shroud working as one piece.
Radiator cover off the car — beaded top, filler neck cutout, contoured ends.J020
Radiator cover off the car — beaded top, filler neck cutout, contoured ends.
Fan shroud — beaded ribs and hand-formed arrow louvers.J021
Fan shroud — beaded ribs and hand-formed arrow louvers.

UPDATE 10 / 22

Jun 12, 2026

METAL SHAPING

1958 Plymouth headlight bezel — 14ga steel

Compound-curve headlight bezel for a 1958 Plymouth, hand-shaped from 14ga steel. Wheeled and planished to match the original body line, with a tab-mounted return for a clean back-side.

Raw bezel off the wheel — 14ga steel, hand-formed to the original profile.J022
Raw bezel off the wheel — 14ga steel, hand-formed to the original profile.

UPDATE 09 / 22

Jun 8, 2026

FABRICATION

Custom steering column drop — street rod

One-off steering column drop for a street rod. Machined tube clamp welded to a shaped mounting plate, with fabricated base plates for a bolt-in install under the dash.

Finished column drop — split clamp with a pinch bolt, shaped body, clean welds.J023
Finished column drop — split clamp with a pinch bolt, shaped body, clean welds.
Base plates and column bung — gusseted for stiffness before final welding.J024
Base plates and column bung — gusseted for stiffness before final welding.

UPDATE 08 / 22

Jun 5, 2026

METAL FAB MILESTONE

Trans tunnel — 1953 F-100

Hand-formed transmission tunnel for a 1953 Ford F-100. Shaped from flat steel, stitched into the original floor, and blended to look like it left the factory that way. Room for a modern overdrive without giving up the stock bench feel.

Wide view from the dash — the new tunnel tied into the original cab floor.J025
Wide view from the dash — the new tunnel tied into the original cab floor.
Passenger side — welds dressed, contours flowing into the stock floor pan.J026
Passenger side — welds dressed, contours flowing into the stock floor pan.
Driver side — clean transition where the new steel meets the old.J027
Driver side — clean transition where the new steel meets the old.
Front-to-back — tunnel raised to clear a modern trans without losing seat height.J028
Front-to-back — tunnel raised to clear a modern trans without losing seat height.

UPDATE 07 / 22

May 25, 2026

CONCEPT

Acrylic bed floor concept

A concept render for a backlit acrylic bed floor — sugar-skull motif over a topographic pattern, glowing through from underneath. Never came to fruition, but a good example of where the design side of the shop pushes ideas before metal ever gets cut.

Concept render — backlit acrylic bed floor with sugar-skull and topo pattern. Design study, never built.J029
Concept render — backlit acrylic bed floor with sugar-skull and topo pattern. Design study, never built.

UPDATE 06 / 22

May 20, 2026

FIT & FINISH MILESTONE

Mini trunk panels — Mobile Solutions MasterTech

Mini trunk panel project built during Mobile Solutions' MasterTech program — an exercise in fit, finish, and upholstery concepts. Leather wrap, quilted suede inserts, wood accents, and a machined bezel, all at 1/3 scale so every seam and reveal shows.

Finished mini trunk panel — leather, quilted suede, wood accent, and machined bezel.J030
Finished mini trunk panel — leather, quilted suede, wood accent, and machined bezel.
With the Mobile Solutions MasterTech crew and the rest of the class panels.J031
With the Mobile Solutions MasterTech crew and the rest of the class panels.

UPDATE 05 / 22

May 15, 2026

3D PRINTED MILESTONE

Street Connection badge — SolidWorks to painted “cast” metal

Designed from scratch in SolidWorks, 3D printed in-house, then hand-finished and painted to read like cast metal. Mounts to the rocker as a signature callout on cars running our Street Connection suspension.

SolidWorks render of the raw 3D print — texture and lettering resolved before finish work.J032
SolidWorks render of the raw 3D print — texture and lettering resolved before finish work.
Installed on the rocker and painted to look like cast metal.J033
Installed on the rocker and painted to look like cast metal.

UPDATE 04 / 22

May 1, 2026

3D PRINTED

Shifter bezel — 3D printed for a 1962 Corvette

Drawn in SolidWorks, 3D printed and painted in-house, then installed in a 1962 Corvette along with an updated shifter handle. Clean modern shape that still sits right inside a period interior.

Installed in a 1962 Corvette with the updated shifter handle.J034
Installed in a 1962 Corvette with the updated shifter handle.

UPDATE 03 / 22

Apr 20, 2026

ALUMINUM MILESTONE

Ferrari Testarossa belly pans — aluminum, three sets

Louvered belly pans hand-made from aluminum for the Ferrari Testarossa. We built three complete sets — formed, louvered, and finished in-house.

A full set laid out on the shop floor — main pans plus fillers.J035
A full set laid out on the shop floor — main pans plus fillers.
Louver detail — hand-formed in aluminum.J036
Louver detail — hand-formed in aluminum.
Installed under a Testarossa around the transmission pan.J037
Installed under a Testarossa around the transmission pan.

UPDATE 02 / 22

Jul 10, 2026

SCULPTURE MILESTONE

Copper bison — half skinned

Skinning a bison skull in hand-formed copper. Right side is shaped and fitted, left side still bare — a working record of how the piece comes together over the original bone.

Half copper, half bare — front view.J038
Half copper, half bare — front view.
Angle showing the shaped horn base and forehead seam.J039
Angle showing the shaped horn base and forehead seam.
Side profile — copper wraps from crown to nose.J040
Side profile — copper wraps from crown to nose.
Top-down — the ridge seam runs the length of the skull.J041
Top-down — the ridge seam runs the length of the skull.

UPDATE 01 / 22

Jun 20, 2026

METALWORK MILESTONE

Copper blank off the bench

A copper blank mid-form on the bench, surrounded by the hammers and dollies used to shape it. This is the raw work behind every finished piece on this page.

Copper piece and the tools that shaped it.J042
Copper piece and the tools that shaped it.

§ 04 — Process

Chapter by chapter.

Every build is documented as it moves through the shop. Here's how this one came together.

Copper bison skullC043
COPPER OVER BONE ARMATURE
01CHAPTER

Copper bison skull

A bison skull reskinned in hand-shaped copper — one half raw, one half in-progress. Formed over the original bone with hammers, dollies, and a lot of patience.

Off the benchC044
HAND TOOLS ONLY
02CHAPTER

Off the bench

The tool spread that shapes every piece — pick hammers, slappers, tinner's snips, and a copper blank mid-form. Nothing here is stamped.

Panels from buildsC045
CROSS-BUILD GALLERY
03CHAPTER

Panels from builds

Snippets of custom metal work pulled from full builds — one-piece bed sides, hand-formed fenders, hood seams planished flush, transmission tunnels shaped from flat.

Always something on the wheelC046
UPDATED REGULARLY
04CHAPTER

Always something on the wheel

This page grows as the shop grows. New pieces are added whenever they come off the bench — commissions, experiments, and details worth documenting.

§ 05 — Gallery

Frame by frame.

42 FRAMES · SHOT IN-HOUSE

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§ 06 — Next steps

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