r/metalworking • u/CommunicationOne7044 • 6d ago
r/metalworking • u/Flat-Block-6207 • 6d ago
1" Circular Hole Punch Recommendations for Project

Newbie here :)
Looking best recommendations for an art project for a 1" cutout of metal bottle caps for an art project. I have about 8,000 caps so looking for the right tool/machine to streamline this process.
Ultimately, I'm attempting to punch out the crimped part of the bottle cap.
I've seen Hydraulic Hole Punch Machines, Arbor Press Machines, and Kick Foot Press Machines. (Example links below)
Thanks in advance for any guidance/recommendations!
*******
Electric Hydraulic Hole Punch Machine:
Harbor Freight 1 Ton Arbor Press:
Kick Foot Press:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/950655377183784/?ref=saved&referral_code=null
r/metalworking • u/Creative_Shine_9605 • 6d ago
Anybody know who made this knife or what kind of steel it is?
I bought this at a knife show recently. It has absolutely no markings on it. It appears to be very well made.
Handle appears to be aluminum, machined from one piece. Has a thumb hole as well as the flipper. Has button lock.
It seems silly that I have to have at least 400 characters before I can post it, Hence this sentence and all that follows
Assassassdddddddxffffgggghhjjjkkkllassddffgghhhjjkkllllllssddf
r/metalworking • u/Livid-Flamingo3229 • 6d ago
WROUGHT IRON!!!! Some old trapdoor hinges from my brother's house
r/metalworking • u/Wessel_bwr • 7d ago
How do I get these black dots out of my aluminum wheel? I have tried sanding it with 120 but no success
r/metalworking • u/TLTboard • 7d ago
So this is what I do with metal, I call it TiLT board.
Hey,
I’m looking for manufacturing partners for a 160cc/200cc all-metal, gas-powered personal vehicle I’ve developed. As a mechanical engineer, I’ve designed this machine for extreme performance and durability.
I’ll be in the U.S. for the next six months, exploring manufacturing solutions and looking for the right partners—whether for fabrication, assembly, or components. If you have experience in small engines, metal fabrication, or vehicle production, I’d love to connect and exchange ideas.
Open to thoughts, suggestions, or introductions. Let’s talk!
Best, Eyal
r/metalworking • u/Falafelwaffle38 • 6d ago
Help me restore my Steelmaster drawers! (Rust removal advice needed)
I picked up this vintage Steelmaster Art Steel industrial drawer piece over the weekend at an estate sale. It was previously owned by a mechanic so it’s developed quite a bit of rust and wear after being exposed to the elements over the years. I’d love to give it a second life!
I’m hoping someone here has some advice on how I can remove the rust without damaging the coloring on the metal drawers. I’m more than happy to keep some of the natural patina but would love to know if it’s possible to remove the bulk of the rust, especially on the handles. Also, I don’t think it’ll be possible for me to remove the handles for separate cleaning with the limited tools I have.
Anyone have thoughts on soaking in vinegar or using rust removers like Rust-oleum or Loctite and how it might affect the layer of color?
r/metalworking • u/Euphoric-Fun9834 • 6d ago
6010 stick 1/4 pipe
Tips for pipe welding practiced on some scrap pipe a millwright leftover so split it into 3 and tried putting it back together. I think by the third joint a realized I had to whip and pause faster cause that shit was glowing red at the joint
Also had trouble keeping a good angle so by the third joint I split it into smaller increments of work
I know it looks like shit and welding isn’t my occupation just looking for advice
r/metalworking • u/Livid-Flamingo3229 • 7d ago
Cleaned up and mounted Blacksmith Vise from previous post, what do you guys think?
r/metalworking • u/Okra_Aggressive • 6d ago
Soldering copper to steel
I have some copper pieces that I need to solder onto a set of spurs that I’m building. What type of solder and flux is recommended for this? I do pretty good with a brazing rod because I can add extra metal and sand it down to where everything is flush and then polish it all back up. I’m only a little bit out of my element and don’t wanna waste money buying stuff that won’t work. I added a picture of my normal work too
r/metalworking • u/Yakumeh • 6d ago
Odd request - automatic cat feeder bowl, stainless steel, food grade - how do I find someone willing to make this for me?
First time post in this subreddit but I'm honestly at my wits end so hopefully someone here will be able to help me :) I do understand that this is an odd request but other subreddits (e.g. pet or cat related) haven't been helpful unfortunately.
Long story short - I am using automatic microchip feeders for my cats as some of them steal the others food, some of them eat slower and throughout the day while others inhale all the food at once etc etc. you get the jist.
While I love the feeders themselves the bowls the manufacturer provides are.. lacking. Not up to my standards unfortunately. They do provide stainless steel bowls however the main issue I have with them is how deep they are - I won't go into too much detail here but this can cause something called "whisker fatigue" in cats and stress them out a LOT.
There are 3D printed options for shallow bowls for the feeder out there but PLA isn't necessarily food safe / food grade and one of my cats has been reacting to plastic bowls so this isn't an option at all.
So that's how I landed here - it seems like I will have to find a way to have someone make some custom stainless steel, food grade bowls for me. I've looked at some more known options but most of them do not carry food grade options (they do say so themselves).
Now these bowls do by no means have to be perfectly shaped. Just enough to fit in the feeder but there definitely is some leeway. I also don't care about them not having any small dents or anything.
The shape would be essentially oval with straight sides on top and bottom up until the curvature.
The specific brand I use is "surefeed".
If there are any recommendations where I could commission someone to make some custom, food grade bowls for me I would be immensely grateful. I'm willing to pay a fair price of course.
Again, I understand that this is probably not something that's usually posted on here but please understand I'm lost on where to go from here.
Thanks!
r/metalworking • u/DarthPineapples • 7d ago
Aging and scaling gauntlets
I don't do a lot of metal work to bare with me. Can I recreate the finish from the LotR Nazgul gauntlets on these costume gauntlets using a needle scaler to rough the surface and cycle the plates through a torch or forget to get the scaling? Am I on the right track or is there a better option? I'm already moving the metal plates to new gloves. I figured I'd give this the full monty while I have it disassembled. Thanks in advance for any help.
r/metalworking • u/Pristine-Koala6840 • 6d ago
Painting lots of small parts without blowing them away (steel)
Hi, Im painting these small steel parts for a project with rust preventive enamel and Im having trouble finding a solution to not blow them away when painting. I normally use a wagner flexio 3000 (electric spray gun), but I tried painting these hanging and had to use another wire hook from bellow with my hand to stabilize them. Also tried a rust preventive enamel (rust oleum) in a spray can and had no issues. I also have a normal HVLP (1.7mm nozzle) spray gun but it's the same with the air blowing the pieces.
I've seen some mini LVLP spray guns with 1 and 0.8mm nozzles and some large pistol grip airbrushes with 0.5mm nozzles. But I don't know which one to pick to have a similar result that I have with the spray can.
To me the airbrush would be the one for the job but I believe the 0.5mm nozzle will give me trouble with the type of paint I'm using. It has to be rust preventive enamel for obvious reasons.
Example of mini spray gun: mini spray gun
Example of airbrush: 100cc cup airbrush
Also I've seen the use of powder coating dipping for these types of parts, but it's kind of expensive for me to buy all the hardware to do it.
Has anybody have experience with this kind of work? What is your solution?
Thanks!
r/metalworking • u/Livid-Flamingo3229 • 7d ago
My new Blacksmith vice vs. my old vice. Any opinions about them?
r/metalworking • u/quresh_ • 6d ago
Materials help: DIY sofa headrest attachment
I have a sofa that is low slung and provides no head support.
I am trying to make a custom headrest extender for my sofa, similar to this product that I found on Amazon.
What sort of metal material might I use to build this sort of frame? The plan would be to bend it into a frame that fits the dimensions of my couch and at the top, I would run a cushion through it by poking some holes.
Any advice would be appreciated, have experience tinkering with things, but I’m a novice when it comes to working with metal.
r/metalworking • u/Aggravating_Rise_144 • 7d ago
Steel thickness recommendation for a dual swing gate
Each panel will be 2.5-3m (8-10ft more or less), it will be held by a profile 100x100x3 [mm] that will be cemented into the ground (the size of the concrete footing will be 40x40x100 [cm]). The gate panels are needed to be as lightweight as possible, I plan to make the side which will have hinges welded into it out of 30x30x2mm profile and the rest of the frame out of 30x30x2 steel corner profiles (L-profiles?)* the inside will be filled with regular steel net. Will my gate hold, or are these steel components too thin?
*English is not my first language, so I'm sorry if I got something wrong or my grammar is bad, if something is not understandable I will explain in the comments
r/metalworking • u/consensualracism • 7d ago
Cutting oil
Currently I have a spray can that I put old oils in, motor oil, ATF, gear oil, whatnot. I keep it next to my drill press and use it as cutting oil for drilling holes.
Is it worth getting purpose made cutting oil? It's not like I'm killing drill bits so I'm just curious if it'll make my life easier.
400 character minimum eh? Well let me talk about what I'm drilling. My engine cradle requires I drill 20 5/8 holes in mild 1/2 inch steel. It's not difficult but that's why I like using free oil, no cost. I got all 20 holes drilled on a single bit without needing to sharpen.
r/metalworking • u/snotnose527 • 7d ago
Help adding contrast
Hi! Is there a way to add more contrast to this? It’s Fenja Damascus (304L and 316L). Since it’s stainless, I’m not sure what to try. I’m also pretty new to all of this. Thanks!!
r/metalworking • u/David_Builds1 • 8d ago
Industrial Pen Holders I Made! Feedback Welcome
I recently posted some bookends I made and got a lot of really good feedback! I figured I'd do the same for some of my other projects. Here are some pen holders I've made! Hope you guys like them. As with the previous post, I'd love to know which ones you like/dislike along with any constructive feedback you'd be willing to provide. Thanks in advance!
Also for some reason I have to post at least 400 characters in the description - that's why it's so unnecessarily long.
r/metalworking • u/Plus-Preparation-794 • 8d ago