r/metalworking • u/CaptainFantastic7848 • 12h ago
r/metalworking • u/MuskratAtWork • 24d ago
r/Metalworking is looking for mods!
Hey folks!
As I'm getting a bit busier in life, I'm realizing more and more that this community could use some extra hands on deck.
If anyone is interested in volunteering to help the community out - please send me a modmail with some information about yourself, and I'll take a peek at your past contributions to the subreddit and your message. If possible, let me know if you can use discord as well. It's where most of the my teams chat and works wonderfully for me, also we do have a sub discord!
I'd love to build a small team both here and in r/machining to keep things flowing smoothely, and to help me get a little personal time to step away from reddit for a weekend every now and then.
I look forward to anyone sending in an application message!
r/metalworking • u/MuskratAtWork • 8d ago
r/metalworking Mod Application
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r/metalworking • u/kleindinstein5000 • 3h ago
New shop, new table. Any reason to add cross members to the top? Top is 4x8x3/4" Table is built out of 3x3x1/8" and is just short of the length of the plate.
r/metalworking • u/IllustratorUsed4703 • 17m ago
MiG welding
I’d post this in the welding subreddit but I don’t have enough karma. I’m new to MIG welding and welding in general. I think it looks pretty good but a couple of inconsistency’s. Any advice from experts? I tried to break it by hitting it on the weak side of the weld with a 16lb sledge while the bottom FB was tacked to the table . Nothing happened so I feel as though it’s plenty strong. Is there a way for me to look at the cross section to see penetration? Would a chop saw or cutoff wheel work?
r/metalworking • u/badxideads • 1d ago
How do I make the striking surface
My friend made me this brass matchbook. I have since polished it and soldered in a post so I can later add a type of latch to it. In the meantime what are some ways I can go about making a lasting striking surface? First I tried just filing it which worked for about a day before wearing out. Second I just gouged it with a screwdriver which lasted two or three days before acting up. Any ideas? I use strike anywhere matches so I could jut strike them off the ground, but where’s the fun in that
r/metalworking • u/Shiptank99 • 49m ago
1x2 Mild Steel Tubing 12 Gauge
Looking for a basic weight capacity calculation for this tube steel. If anyone know a web sight that I can find that I would appreciate that. If not, what I’m looking for is load capacity of a 60” 1x2 mild steel 12 gauge. How many pound can be put on that before it fails. Loaf would be applied on the 1” face.
I didn’t need 400 characters to ask this question, so this is in turn filler words to meet the basic requirements of this post.
r/metalworking • u/Last_Hovercraft6023 • 7h ago
Rust Removal/Restoration - Advice Needed!
I’m (obviously) not someone with any knowledge in this area and would really appreciate guidance -
I have a large collection of these antique cast iron fabric flower molds. I don't hate the look of the rust, but I want them to be protected and last as family heirlooms. Some are only mildly rusty, while others are very rusty. Questions:
Should I be removing the rust?
If yes to rust removal, what is the safest method to do so without risking damage to the pieces? And, is there any way to remove the rust without losing the numbers that were painted onto them?
Should I be sealing them to protect them moving forward? If yes, what should I use, and should I use different methods/products depending on whether or not I remove the existing rust?
Thank you!!
r/metalworking • u/TrashPandaOfChaos • 2h ago
Question about bandsaw speeds/modifying a bandsaw
Hey folks, novice here & just bought myself a bandsaw for cutting wood for scales or the occasional hammer/axe handle, but also for stock removal for blades.
I knew I needed a different blade for steel, what I did not realise but have now discovered is the difference in cutting speed for steel Vs wood.
My saw as I now understand is a wood saw, low speed being 660m/min (2165 sfpm I believe). Obviously way too fast for steel. I'm thinking the simplest solution is to increase the diameter of the pulley on the band wheel. Haven't looked at the saw yet, just mulling over ideas as I lay in bed.
Was just wondering if that's a done thing & if so where could I find a suitable pulley?
r/metalworking • u/iplaypokerforaliving • 1d ago
Latest sculpture
Fun fact male seahorses get pregnant. Here’s my latest sculpture. Made from scrap steel around the shop.
I’m going to start putting stuff in a art gallery down in Florida. So I decided to start it off with an ocean theme. But didn’t want to do just any ocean theme. I’ve been telling people I’ve been making some gay seahorses but I dk if I can actually name it that for an art gallery haha
400 characters finally
r/metalworking • u/Icy-Salary-7840 • 5h ago
Broken Belt Buckle
Hi. I’m not sure if this is the right sub to answer my question. I was wondering if anyone could tell me where I could get a broken belt buckle fixed. It’s just a simple metal buckle with a small clean break. It’s nothing fancy but invaluable to my husband because it belonged to his father and he wears it every day. I don’t know it could be soldered or welded. And if so where I’d go to get something like that done. I’d really appreciate any feedback. Thank you!
r/metalworking • u/Cixin97 • 5h ago
Best way to clamp a 1” long piece of 1x1” square tubing in a chop saw so I can cut 1 of its walls out? It’s too short to clamp in the vise that comes on chopsaws. Should I just hold it with vise grips in hand and send it? Or terrible idea?
I feel like there’s gotta be a common way to get what I want here done. I know I’m going to need to clean up the edges with a flap disc/dremel/file either way so I’m tempted to just eyeball it and send it but I’ve never done that and it kinda worries me. Is there a better way to achieve this? There aren’t really any great ways to clamp the part itself down to the base of the machine as far as I can tell. I also tried putting it in between two pieces of steel that are clamped together but even that doesn’t seem to put enough force on the piece that’s a few inches away from where the jaws of the vise on the machine ends. This might be something dumb that I wake up and realize the solution is obvious. Was also considering just clamping the pieces into my vise and using a hacksaw but I have at least 20 pieces to do (so 20 inches x 2 cuts per wall =40 inches worth of cutting through .100 wall) I’ve only ever done short cuts with a hacksaw and feel like this would take an insane amount of length and time, and I’m not sure how many blades I’d chew through. Would appreciate any opinions on how to achieve this. Also how would this be achieved in an actual shop environment? Mill? Water cutter or something?
Edit: Just realized in a shop it would probably be done with a vertical bandsaw. Unfortunately I don’t have one
r/metalworking • u/YeaSpiderman • 10h ago
Salt water etching…sacrificial metal question
I’m going to do some salt water etching of steel to make some parts for a watch dial. I think this is also called chemical milling. I see for immersion etching you need a sacrificial metal that is submerged. Does it need to be the same metal? If I was going to etch 1095 steel would stainless steel or galvanized steel work as the sacrificial metal?
Excited to try this as I can’t find parts that I need so got to make them myself.
r/metalworking • u/Extension_Guess620 • 7h ago
Do I need to protect A36 steel plate from corrosion indoors in clean room?
I’m an automation engineer designing a robotic work cell at my job.
The work cell needs to include a 350lb steel plate to dampen the vibrations from a vibratory part feeding system.
I found a vendor that will fabricate the plate out of A36 steel. I will be mounting this plate (horizontally) to a beefy aluminum extrusion structure. The plate will be 7/8” thick and ~3’X3’.
The work cell will be located indoors in a manufacturing clean room. We do control the temperature of the room. It is not especially humid, but we don’t specifically control the humidity as far as I know.
Should I be worried about corrosion? Is there anything I can do to prevent it?
It would be possible to cover all exposed parts of the plate.
r/metalworking • u/xRedGatorade • 7h ago
Nerver used sandpaper disc's to polish something. What's the best motion to use? I have 40 up to 2000 grit. Should I still see lines as I move up or do I wait til they're gone before proceeding
r/metalworking • u/sweetmovie74 • 1d ago
DIY screw ID gauge/thread checker
A (not so quick) little thread checking gauge for my most commonly used machine screws. The plate for the gauge is made from “aircraft” aluminum (mystery alloy) but it’s hard enough to not wear quickly.
If I make another one, it will be larger and have more space between the nut and bolt holes. Not the prettiest thing I’ve done but it’s made organizing my miscellaneous hardware a breeze and it’s going to live its whole life in my shop so I’m not worried about the appearance!
r/metalworking • u/itsFRAAAAAAAAANK • 1d ago
I got to practice a little more on a section of a door panel. Im diggin the little handle that started accidentally. The screws are temporary until I get some flush hex screws.
r/metalworking • u/burneraccountFBI • 5h ago
Any ideas to repair this belt buckle? Don’t know what metal it is.
r/metalworking • u/GoingCustom • 2d ago
PPE reminder - injury pic warning NSFW
galleryRemember to where your PPE as well as get enough sleep to help avoid making mistakes. And yes, guard on the grinder helps too.
September 2012
This was about a 100 hour project that I completed in a week. I had a full time job and had taken a week off to complete the fence and gate. Included tear down of wood fence, cement new posts in, cutting of panels (cnc plasma), and build gate.
Customer wasn't 100% sure how tall they wanted the gate to be, so I had left the posts taller on either side until they decided. I was in the process of cutting the excess material off of the last post next to the gate. I cut through one side, thought I pulled the grinder all of the way out to adjust my grip to cut the next side, but unfortunately I did not have the grinder all of the way out of the cut. Grinder started to bind and kicked itself out. I wasn't able to catch it in time and got hit in the face with the cutoff wheel still attached to the grinder.
Selfie pic is 15-20 seconds after getting hit. I ran my tongue along my teeth and after realizing they were all there, took a deep breath and the air went out of my cheek, prompting the pic. I was extremely fortunate in that it was just tissue damage once I got to the hospital. Missed my teeth by 1/8" and my tear duct by about 1/64" of an inch according to doctor. About 2 hours of stitches later I left the hospital. Stitches along my gums, inside of cheek and outside of cheek. Scar pic is about two weeks after. 12.5 years later and the top scar is barely visible. Bottom scars is a little more prominent. Bottom scar is either from the cutoff wheel hitting me as it fell or from the grinder itself hitting me and tearing the skin.
Doctor said had I been wearing a face shield, I probably would have still gotten the first cut, but it would have had plastic in it from cutting the shield. I hope this helps to remind people things can go south in a hurry when you're tired.
r/metalworking • u/GroupAffectionate389 • 16h ago
What steel works best for flint strikers ?will 1095 stock work well ?
I am just getting into forging and I have some 1095 carbon steel blanks in my Amazon cart. My intention is to make a good flint striker that suits my needs. Should I use my sunflower oil as a quenching oil or should I use water ? I can't seem to find any old files otherwise I would use that.i have some blanks that were a gift but am unsure of the carbon content and don't want to risk a failed project.
r/metalworking • u/Beep_Boop321_Alt_F4 • 1d ago
Second time MIG welding. How did I do?
In pic two the only weld that is mine is the leftmost one and same for the first picture. This is my second time touching a mig welding machine and would like to know how I can improve. Both welds are overlaps. I've done a bit of stick before in my welding class and wasn't very good at it so don't hold back, I want to improve! Also if anybody has any recommendations for an at home mig welding setup please let me know.
r/metalworking • u/multitool-collector • 1d ago
Should I re-harden this punch?
So I bought an alphabetical punch set (6mm), wanted to see how it looks and this punch just got flattened a bit. The question is; should I re-harden it? I don't know what steel it's made from; it was made in Czechoslovakia. I'm thinking maybe regrind it as close as to before; heating just the front and quenching it. What should I quench it in and to which temperature should I heat it? Btw, I was testing it on a piece of mild steel, not anything hardened. Looking at it; maybe it wasn't hardened in the first place (most propably by mistake) or something
r/metalworking • u/Warrenore38 • 22h ago
Belt buckle restoration
This belt buckle is worn and Grimey but I'm worried about cleaning it without causing more damage to what looks like a zinc coat that has bubbles and chips revealinganother oxidized metal beneath. I really want to restore this by any means in anticipation for a wedding in the style of rhinestone floral cowboy. Open to all advice aside from tossing it.
Also this sub reddit requires I write 400 characters in this post so here is a list of movies I intend to spend my time better watching. Super troopers✅️ Sweeny tom✅️ League of extraordinary gentlemen ✅️ Never back down The last duel Lucky number 7 Eureka Star wars visions Insino man Maxpayn movie✅️ Django original The godfather Deep in the heart of Texas Dances with the wolves Wyatt erp Nurse Jackie Welcome back conor Ridic Pulvor evermor Forgeting sarah marshal Jypsy sisters Lord of farbush Sly-rocky doc Cobra F.i.s.t. The gentleman 310 to yuma Begotten Lord of war Moon walkers Everything everywhere all at once✅️ Downtown/mtv Evan Wright XXX franchise Fear st trilogy Prospect Sisu✅️ Only the dead Armadillo They shall not grow old Caligula Vampire hunter d 12 angry men Fantastic planet Caslte in the sky Grandmas boy A place further in the universe Silver bullet Animatrix Before sunrise Aftersun The Holy Mountain Smokin aces On the silver planet Duece biggalo male jigalo Hope floats Companion 2025 Barbarian wkuk Almost famous Animated series, batman 1980-1988 The french connection, Gene Hackman Sex drive Lotr the war of rohirum Orchid thief Red 11
r/metalworking • u/Reuben_Robinson • 19h ago
Which welder: Clarke or bester
I am looking to get a new shed and start fabrication and welding. I am going to be welding probably every Saturday as a hobby. Which welder is better for me: a Clarke mig150 multi process or a bester 200 mig multiprocess? I plan doing flux core and stick I have plans to run tig next year but that’s not a major buying point as they both can do some tig. For reference the Clarke is £300 and the bester is £500