Planishing

Planishing (from the Latin planus, "flat")[1] is a metalworking technique that involves finishing the surface of sheet metal by finely shaping and smoothing it.

A metal surface is finished by hammering it 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,[2] or against hand-held, shaped, metal tools that are known as dollies or anvils.

Planishing is a hand-driven process used in auto body repair and sheet metal craft work such as medieval armour production.

It is more difficult to make mistakes with heavy rawhide or wood mallets, but they are less effective for large imperfections.

[4] 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.