I remember standing in a fabrication shop back in ’84, watching a young apprentice blow through a perfectly good piece of mild steel because he’d grabbed a dull, cheap saw blade just to save a couple of dollars. The smell Continue reading Essential Tools for Cutting Metal
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 in a heavy fabrication shop back in ’84, watching a young apprentice spray a thick, glossy coat of cheap sealant over a pitted steel beam. He thought he’d solved the problem, but within six months, that moisture Continue reading Preventing Corrosion on Metal Surfaces
I remember a job back in ’84, working on a heavy-duty structural frame for a local mill. Some kid, fresh out of a course and eager to prove himself, decided to run a fillet weld on a butt joint just Continue reading Different Types of Welding Joints
I remember a Tuesday back in ’88, working on a heavy-gauge chassis repair, when I learned a lesson the hard way. I was rushing, trying to move a piece of glowing orange steel, and I thought my old, thin leather Continue reading Choosing Gloves for Metalwork
I was hunched over a rusted wrought-iron garden chair last Tuesday, the kind of piece people usually toss into a scrap heap without a second thought. Most folks will tell you that once the pitting gets deep or the rust Continue reading How to Restore Metal Furniture Pieces
I can still hear the sharp, rhythmic ping of a stray shard of steel hitting the concrete floor of the shop back in ’84. I was working on a heavy-duty bracket, feeling confident and a bit too rushed, when a Continue reading Importance of Eye Protection in Metalwork
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 ’88, working on a custom brass fitting for a client who thought he could save a few bucks by buying a generic, bargain-bin buffing setup. I watched him spend four hours fighting with a Continue reading Selecting the Right Polishing Wheels
I remember standing in my old shop back in the late eighties, staring at a piece of copper that looked like it had been through a war zone because I’d tried to force a finish using some cheap, store-bought chemical Continue reading Understanding Different Types of Metal Patinas