Basic armoring tools, If i was starting over from scratch

 If I was starting over from scratch, I'd start with the following tools, obviously if you own any of these, just use those.

Ultra basic set.
Chunk of hardwood (see dishing stump below)

Hammer

Drill and Drill bits

Jigsaw, with ferrous  cutting blades

roofing nails for rivets

That's all you really need to get started.

The set I'd start building next

Eye protection

https://www.harborfreight.com/impact-resistant-safety-glasses-94357.html

 

Ear protection

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

I'm not kidding, you really need these, the cheapest at harbor freight are better than taking damage.

 Thick gloves (Hurts your hand to hold metal while bashing trust me on this)

Just get the thickest cheap pair that are leather on the grippy bits you can afford

This is a cheap option

https://www.harborfreight.com/safety/gloves/full-grain-cowhide-leather-work-gloves-large-61459.html

 

Harbor freight 4.5" angle grinder - less than $20

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders/angle-grinders/43-amp-4-12-in-angle-grinder-with-slide-switch-58089.html

 4.5" wheel assortment - Under $20

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-4-1-2-half-inch-grinding-and-cutting-wheel-assortment-47572.html


This combination is incredibly powerful at making tools to make armor,and can cut steel nearly as well as a jig saw.


Get a drill and a small set of drill bits for drilling metal... I suspect you have one

But here is a cheap battery drill
https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-cordless-38-in-drill-kit-with-battery-and-charger-57366.html

and a cheap plug drill
https://www.harborfreight.com/32-amp-38-in-variable-speed-drill-58528.html

and cheap bits upto and includign 1/4" (which are the first thing you should spend real money one and not but cheap)

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/drill-driver-bits/twist-bits/titanium-hex-shank-drill-bit-set-13-piece-61621.html

 

Also get a box of wood screws at elast 1.25" long and the bits to drive them , I like this kind.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Deck-Plus-10-x-1-5-8-in-Ceramic-Deck-Screws-1-lb/1000643057

 

 

The largest and smallest wood handled ball peen hammers

https://www.harborfreight.com/32-oz-ball-peen-hammer-69012.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/16-oz-ball-peen-hammer-69010.html

 3 lb cross peen hammer

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-lb-hardwood-cross-pein-hammer-69049.html

2 lb engineers hammer

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-lb-hardwood-engineers-hammer-69226.html 

a cheap plastic dead blow hammer (for planishing)

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-lb-neon-orange-dead-blow-hammer-41796.html

 

(optional)
Plastic pliers (for holding metal while you hit it without scratching it)(from amazon)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CT2Z7415?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

 

(Optional) 

Metal pliers for holding stuff that gets hot (like cutting nails down to rivets)

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-slip-joint-pliers-63818.html

 

Then id try to find a hard wood stump, below are a couple videos on making a dishing stump

 

Bigger is better, but you can get alot done with a small one.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=800524796987476

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCSnYZxC7Hk

 
barring that I'd goto lowes and get the 3x3 oak board.Heck Id get one even if  Had a stump.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/ReliaBilt-3-in-x-3-in-x-Square-Unfinished-Oak-Board/5002041407

then at lowes I'd get some 1" black iron pipe (not galvanized) p[ipe fittings, to make basic stakes from

1x 1" floor flange -1

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-dia-Black-Iron-Floor-Flange-Fitting/50276203 

2x 1 in 90 degree elbow

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-x-1-in-dia-90-Degree-Black-Iron-Elbow-Fitting/3422602

2x 12" pipe nipple

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-12-in-L-x-1-in-x-1-in-dia-Black-Steel-Nipple-Fitting/3392850

1x 45 degree elbow

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-x-1-in-dia-45-Degree-Black-Iron-Elbow-Fitting/4331490

1x Pipe cap
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mueller-Proline-1-in-x-1-in-dia-Black-Iron-Cap-Fitting/4331482

If you can beg borrow or other get access to a welder, get a couple pipe unions

I cant' find it on lowes, but I'm pretty sure they or home depot  have it , here is one on ebay, 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296310953987?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=296310953987&targetid=2275367127251&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9028263&poi=&campaignid=22112298907&mkgroupid=175685473120&rlsatarget=pla-2275367127251&abcId=10163555&merchantid=113582408&geoid=9028263&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqcO_BhDaARIsACz62vMNS7RD_vaV0ooWxIAc8Tn9VtkqTi3fpLVZ9ynXHqA02yOp6bcVJG8aAtD5EALw_wcB

I just buy mine in big bags at amazon.

Then add add a 3inch nipple and a "close" nipple(the shortest one) you can now screw the flange down and thread the pieces together to make a couple different shaped stakes. I'll try to add a photo later.

Here's is my blog post on making stakes with the pipe, and making planishing balls with a welder, lots more options.

http://forgetool.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-to-make-cheap-simple-flexible.html

As to the process, here is an instructable on basic metal shaping with the most basic tools.

https://www.instructables.com/SHAPING-SHEET-METAL-WITH-a-BALL-PEEN-HAMMER-AND-WO/