Please Note: This listing is for PLANS ONLY - NO PARTS ARE INCLUDED

Shape your custom Metal Parts like the Pro’s do!

P-Max - "Pullmax Style" Reciprocating Power Hammer Plans

CHECK OUT OUR DESERT-HYBRIDS YOUTUBE DEMONSTRATION VIDEO

P-Max "Pullmax Style" Reciprocating Power Hammer Demonstration Video

Manufactured by Desert Hybrids Precision Engineered Products, this professional set of plans and manuals provides all the information you will need to scratch-build your own P-Max - high quality "Pullmax Style" Reciprocating Power Hammer!

These plans include 189 full pages of CAD drawings, high resolution color photos, and text describing in great detail every aspect of building and setting up the P-Max Reciprocating Power Hammer. The P-Max plans & construction manual will allow anyone with basic machining and welding skills to build this "Pullmax Style" Reciprocating Power Hammer for about $700-800 parts/materials cost.

Shrink, Stretch, Nibble, Shear, Planish, Bead, Joggle, Dome, and more
Adjustable Stroke, Multi-Speed, Precision Die Adjustment in Both Y & Z Directions
Capacity: 16 gauge Mild Steel, 14 gauge Aluminum
Die Holders: 19mm (.750”) square
Adjustable Fence Assembly: Straight, Contour, and Roller Guides
Throat Depth: 16”

Greater Versatility - Portable & Quiet!

"The big advantage the P-Max reciprocating power hammer has over most of the more massive stationary Pullmax type machines is its versatility. Not only can the P-Max be locked in place for stationary work, it is also light-weight and portable. It can be easily moved around the shop right up to the job to fabricate or repair that automobile body, fender, hood, etc. It is with this versatility in mind that the Desert Hybrids Precision Engineered Products P-Max reciprocating power hammer was developed."

You will need a high quality, heavy duty, and versatile Reciprocating Power Hammer to build, shape, and planish your Custom Chopper Parts, Hot Rod Parts, Auto Body Patch Panels, and Customize or Restore your Classic Car. This set of plans will enable you to fabricate a professional quality Reciprocating Power Hammer that allows you to precisely shape or smooth your metal parts. These plans include the following documents:

P-Max Reciprocating Power Hammer Plans & Construction Manual: 189 pages
42 Detailed CAD Drawings
Over 200 Full Color High Resolution Photos
Complete Parts/Materials List Including Part Numbers & Cost Breakdown

Topics Covered Include

Step-by-Step Fabrication and Construction Procedure
Sources for Motors, Bearings, Bushings, and Hardware
Manufacturer’s Names & Part Numbers
P-Max Reciprocating Power Hammer Set-up & Adjustment
Fence Assembly
Tooling Setups
Cost Analysis of Parts & Materials

Please note: The Desert Hybrids Precision Engineered Products P-Max Reciprocating Power Hammer Plans include all of the above listed documents. The Desert Hybrids Precision Engineered Products P-Max Reciprocating Power Hammer Plans are supplied on CD in PDF format. This allows you to print as many copies as you need.

Please Note: This auction is for one set of P-Max Reciprocating Power Hammer Plans, as described above. Photo 2 shows the P-Max forming a 1/2" dia. bead in 20 gage steel. Photo 3 shows a sample 20 gage steel part that was created by shrinking and planishing with the P-Max. Photos 4 thru 6 show a sample 18 gage steel part that was shrunk from a flat sheet on the P-Max using the thumbnail shrinking dies shown in Photos 7 & 8. Photo 9 shows the CD that you will receive. Photo 10 shows our Thumbnail Shrinking Die Plans & Construction Manual CD - also available on Ebay.

Note: Please do not contact me with offers to buy this item outside of Ebay. I will not respond to your message. In addition any Ebay member who includes any form of contact information (such as phone number, email address, etc.) in an Ebay message to me before purchasing this item from this Ebay listing will be added to my Ebay Blocked Bidder List and also be identified to Ebay Security for disciplinary action.

Questions and Answers

I was wondering how much in parts and material would it cost to make a functional machine with your kit? (overall finished cost). Are the dies expensive? How many dies do you need to do the basics? I am interested in the kit, but also in the plans you sell. Trying to figure out the best way to go. I have good friend that is a machinist and could make the parts for me, but am I really saving money that way? Your advice would be a big help. Thanks greg

Hi Greg,
The cost to do a scratch build of the P-Max from the plans (cost for raw materials and parts) is probably around $700-$800. This assumes that you are either doing your own machine work or getting it done for free. The P-Max Welder Series kit (including basic kit, y-axis kit, and drive shaft kit) is currently on sale for $1599 plus s/h (total with s/h is $1799). Assembly of the P-Max Welder Series kit does not require any machine work (mill or lathe work) but will require the use of a drill press, belt sander, welder, a few hand taps, and assorted hand tools. In addition to the complete P-Max Welders Series Kit you will need to supply the material to build the frame, motor, pulleys, belt, casters, and any material required to build the fence assembly. I would estimate the cost at around $300 to $400 for these parts/materials. So you will have a total of around $2000 in your finished P-Max.

The P-Max Deluxe Kit (including basic deluxe kit, y-axis deluxe kit, and drive shaft deluxe kit) is currently on sale for $2299 plus s/h (total with s/h is $2539). The P-Max Deluxe Kit is basically ready to bolt onto your frame. In addition to the P-Max Deluxe Kit, you will need to supply the material to build the frame, motor, pulleys, belt, casters, and any material required to build the fence assembly. I would estimate the cost at around $300 to $400 for these parts/materials. So you will have a total of around $2800 in your finished P-Max.

The reason the P-Max Welder Series Kit costs less is that you will do the work required to build the Welder Series parts kit into the equivalent of the Deluxe Kit. The P-Max Welders series kit does come with a separate set of plans (on CD) showing you step-by-step exactly how to finish the parts and assemble them using the drill press, belt sander, welder, a few hand taps, and assorted hand tools I mentioned previously.

In addition, the complete build procedure is described in detail (with plenty of photos) in the P-Max Plans.

There are slide shows at the desert-hybrids website for both the P-Max Deluxe Kit and P-Max Welders Series Kit that show the machined parts in detail. You can show these to your machinist to get an idea how much he will charge you to make these parts. The P-Max plans contain compete cad drawings for all parts. I would estimate that a competent machinist who was starting for the drawings (and had not made these particular parts before) would probably have 40 to 50 hours in the parts to complete them. My shop rate is $50 per hour, so this would be around $2000 to $2500 in machine work labor cost to produce one set of parts. The fact that I use CNC machines and produce multiple parts at a time (ie "mass produce" the parts) allows me to reduce the machining cost to an acceptable level so that I can sell these kits at a reasonable price and still be fairly compensated for my time.

Dies for the P-Max (or Pullmax) vary in cost depending where you buy them or if you make them yourself. For example, the thumbnail shrinking dies used in my demonstration video can be made for less than $10 materials cost when built from my plans (See my Ebay listing for Thumbnail Shrinking Die Plans) These dies are simple to make, but will require a mill and lathe. The machine work is minimal, so it would only be about an hour of machine time or less. You would spend anywhere from $400 to $600 to purchase a set of these dies from one of the vendors, so it is well worth it to make your own. Many of the specialized dies can be home-made with just a band saw, sander grinder, and welder. There are some excellent dvds available from Terry Stolarski that will show you exactly how to make and use these dies. Look on Ebay under Pullmax to see his listings.

The P-Max can also be used for planishing, as shown in my demonstration video. Lower Planishing dies can be purchased individually or in sets. They run $40 to $50 per die when purchased individually, or as little as $24 per die when purchased in larger sets. The upper hammers for planishing are available from many sources. I just saw one that sold on Ebay (a used one) for $19. I manufacture both the CP dies, as well as the upper hammers.

How many dies do you need to do the basics - this depends. If you are only putting compound shapes into sheet metal, then a pair of thumbnail shrinking dies and a small assortment of planishing dies will get you there. Many of the other types of dies (beading, tipping, joggling, etc.) can be shop-built as required for your particular application. Look at the P-Max Plans Preview at the desert-hybrids website to see a few of the other tooling setups and tools that can be used.

Thanks,
David

Hello how does your power hammer compare to the Proline MiniMAX hammers. And Does yours include and dies? Thank you, Matthew

Hi Matthew,

There is really no comparison. The mini-max is a small bench-top machine and the P-Max is a full sized reciprocating power hammer. The machine you should be comparing the P-Max to is the Dake power hammer. These are both full sized floor mounted machines and both use the standard Pullmax 19mm (3/4") square tooling. The Dake power hammer (formerly the Anoka power hammer and formerly sold in kit form) can be purchased on Ebay. There are several main differences (read improvements) when comparing these two hammers. The Dake is single speed, the P-Max is 2 speed. The Dake has a limited distance between the upper and lower tool holders which sometimes necessitates removing the lower tool holder to get the tooling in and out (particularly in the case of Thumbnail Shrinking Dies). The P-Max has plenty of adjustment between the upper and lower tool holders so this is not a problem. The most important feature of the P-Max is the Y-Axis adjustment. This allows for a full 1 1/4" of adjustment (in and out) in the Y direction to allow for proper tool alignment of the use of shearing dies. The Dake does not offer this feature. The P-Max Welder Series that I offer on Ebay does not include any tooling. I do offer individual tooling, tooling packages, and custom tooling to suite custom applications. I would encourage you to watch the Desert Hybrids Precision P-Max Demonstration Videos on youtube to get a better idea of the capabilities of the P-Max. Let me know of you need any more information.

Thanks,
David