I remember standing over a workbench back in ’84, staring at a ruined piece of high-carbon steel because I’d used some cheap, off-brand quenching oil that didn’t have the right properties. The smell of scorched metal and failed potential is Continue reading Common Chemicals Used in Metal Shops
I remember standing over a workbench back in ’84, staring at a cracked housing on a piece of heavy machinery that should have been a simple fix. I’d spent three hours trying to force a cheap, off-the-shelf epoxy to do Continue reading Using Adhesives in Metalwork
I remember standing in a fabrication shop back in ’84, watching a young apprentice blow a fuse on a brand-new, high-end band saw because he thought the fancy digital readout would do the thinking for him. He’d spent more on Continue reading Choosing Saws for Cutting Metal
I remember sitting in my first apprenticeship, my hands stinging from a misplaced strike, watching an old foreman pick up a tool that looked like it had been through a war and come out better for it. Most folks today Continue reading Different Hammers Used in Metalwork
I remember sitting in a cramped fabrication shop back in ’84, staring at a pair of cheap, stamped-steel pliers that had just snapped clean in half while I was trying to pull a stubborn rivet. The smell of burnt oil Continue reading Useful Pliers for Metalworking
I remember standing over a workbench back in ’84, staring at a piece of high-carbon steel that I’d spent three hours forging, only to realize I’d botched the edge. I reached for a cheap, soft-tooth file I’d picked up at Continue reading Effective Metal Filing Techniques
I remember a job back in ’84, working on a custom chassis for a client who thought he could save a few bucks by buying those bulk packs of generic, flimsy abrasive sheets from the local big-box store. I watched Continue reading Using Sandpaper for Metal Finishing
I remember sitting in my first fabrication shop back in the seventies, the air thick with the smell of cutting oil and the rhythmic, high-pitched whine of a drill pressing through a thick steel plate. I watched an older journeyman Continue reading Techniques for Drilling Holes in Metal
I remember standing in a massive industrial shop back in ’84, watching a young apprentice waste a perfectly good sheet of mild steel because he thought he could “eyeball” a series of repetitive cuts. He’d spent more time cursing his Continue reading How to Build Metalworking Jigs
I remember standing in a fabrication shop back in ’84, watching a kid try to bridge a massive gap with a fillet weld just because he was too impatient to prep his edges. He thought he could hide a poor Continue reading Common Types of Welding Joints