Metalworking Basics | I Can Do That!

When you're working on a woodworking project, there's more than a chance that you're going to stumble over some metalwork. In the spirit of those frequent occurrences, this I Can Do That! episode is a collection of helpful techniques for working with metal. Learn about cutting, drilling, tapping, grinding and finishing metal for your next project!

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[wguerra]

My tip on screw thread recovery: Before cutting to the desired size, thread a nut to the screw head. Make the desired cut. Then unscrew the nut and it will take care of recovering the thread.

[webdesigner]

Tip: most metal is dirty because at the mill they put a greasy coating to prevent rust. So remove the coating only if you are going to paint/work the area soon and not just for the shake of cleaness. Great video for beginners!

[jordandonovan]

Great video, thanks David! I'm an avid woodworker building mostly furniture and I've decided to start building my metal legs rather then purchasing them prefab. Wasn't sure how to get started so this video has given me some great tips to get going!

[AGregPalmer]

Your bolt cutting method will damage the thread.

Use spare nuts when cutting a bolt in a vice. 2 locked together means you can lock the vice on the lower nut. File the top of the bolt after cutting the run around and put a bit of a champer on it. Where the thread meets the top, use the file parallel to the thread angle and and cut the thin metal away to make the thread lead in. When you remove the top nut it may cut a small piece of metal out of if the lead in wasn't cleared. clean that up with a file.

When cutting thin bolts the top nut doesn't provide a stable support so put an extra nut on the bolt first and wind it down the bolt a ways. Then lock the 2 nuts on as before. Now wind the lower nut up so that it will be near the bottom of the vice jaw when the lower locked nut is in the top of the jaw. Lock it in the vice and go as above. No damage - nice lead in on the thread.

[YouCanMakeThisToo]

Great info! Thanks for sharing, David. This was a really good primer.

[kyly]

I had no idea how to work with metal until I have found this video. Great thanks!

[giorgioclavelli]

I'm a complete newbie on metal working, so no tips but a big thanks as I found your video very educational to me.

[hipjazzbone]

Lots of great information. I would really suggest using oil while drilling though. And WD-40 works well when drilling aluminum. I destroyed way too many twist bits before I realized the problem. Another tip that has been really useful for me is to put the tap into the drill press (don't turn it on), to make sure it stays square to the hole. I'm not trying to nitpick; that might be useful for your 2nd installment.

[barron]

One suggestion I have is to make aluminum covers (1/8 inch works) for your vice then when holding things like screws you will not mess up the threads. When I worked "with the tools, " we chucked a tap in the Bridgeport mill using the cycling on, off, reverse back and forth. Usually not anything smaller than 1/4 inch.

[tipsybo]

Great intro to working with metal thank you!!

[nigegrumlin]

Some great tips. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes from Yorkshire, England.

[ShemBoothSpain]

this is really helpful tutorial. great teacher

[ecrusch]

Smart idea trying to keep up with current trends.
There was a particular female editor who is no longer employed at PW that wouldn't have dreamt of doing this show.
Bravo to the new way of thinking.
You may actually bring me back as a fan.
Thank you

[varealestate]

thank you. that was very helpful. new welder here..DIY fan

[scotthiltonen]

Since you are making this for woodworkers, another common tool they will have is some sort of rotary tool (Dremel). For simple stuff like cutting aluminum, they work ok.

[michaelchambers]

I have never met a clean metal shop job. Woodworking gets dirty too. My company works with fiberglass, wood, polymer, metal, and wiring. I work in the metal shop section at my facility.

[erichdelossantos]

a good idea for cleaning the weld is not using the angle grinder but use a small pneumatic handgrinder. its for fine grinding and such . sorry for the imposing opinion

[robertf]

You didn't get a complete fill because it was a flux core welder :) time to learn SMAW! Thanks for your excellent video. I've referred it to a few people who are just starting.

[dinosaursandthewondersofpr]

Thanks sir, I am a 13 year old boy who just started metalwork after I have mastered woodwork. I am a hardworking man who is capable of doing hard extensive manual labour

[metals]

Great tips, thank you for sharing. What is the make/model of that metal chop saw?