Metalworking Tools for Home Use

Metalworking, from basic touchups on metal tools to refinishing metal furniture, is a very utilitarian pursuit. Before diving into this activity, it is nice to know what sorts of tools are essential to have around the home. This article will focus primarily on what sorts of hand tools you may need to tackle a general task in metalworking around the home.

Cutting Tools

Especially when working with larger pieces of metal, cutting tools are essential. Cutting tools can be split into two categories: hot and cold cutters. Hot cutters consist of hot cutting chisels and torches. Hot cutting chisels are used to cut metals that have been heated before cutting. Torches used for cutting are usually fueled by an oxygen-acetylene mixture. Mapp gas torches can also be used for cutting metal but are less common than oxy-acetylene because they are far less efficient. Cold cutters consist of cold chisels and hacksaws. Cold chisels require much more force to use than hot chisels, for they are used to cut cold, hard metal. They are not only used for cutting, however. Cold chisels are commonly used for creating grooves in metal when necessary. Hacksaws are extremely versatile saws that can cut through very thick metal without much force. However, they usually go through blades very quickly as they cut, for the metals they cut wear through cutting teeth.

Most of the time, it is very hard to work on a piece of metal if you can only hold it in your hands, and it is extremely dangerous. This is why it is essential to have tools to hold down your work. These tools include pliers, vises and clamps. Pliers are useful when you are working with hot metal or handling pieces that have been coated in acid or other toxic substances for finishing. A vise, be it a post-leg or table vise, can be used as a holding tool for careful work on a piece without having to worry about moving the piece the wrong way. Clamps are especially useful for cutting or working with two pieces at the same time.

Stock removal tools can be especially useful for touching up used metal tools or scratched pieces. The two most common tools that can be used around the home are files and sanding devices. Files come in many shapes. The most common for use around the home are flat files and flat round files. Both of these, as well as other types of files, can be used to shave off some stock from an oversized piece, or reshape a project as necessary. Once you are done filing, however, the piece will usually appear rough and scratched. To remedy this, it is important to have sandpaper of various grits to finish the piece until it is smooth.