Help me make a list of tools that I'd need to start metal working for a hobby.

[Micky89]

I enjoy doing what I do at work but there's no creativity there so I've decided to buy the tools I need to make a mini-workshop.

What are the basics I should get first?

What could I make? Such as bar twisters, benders etc

What could I use to cut into the centre of sheet or objects? Plasma cutter, angle grinder?

Where is best to get the small stuff?

Cheers guys.

 

[jordan1]

Just get the very best that you can afford, even s/h.

 

[Engineer1964]

theres no point in creating a mini workshop until you know what you want to do, you need to buy the right tools for that job, at the end of the day you'll have a room full of tools you'll never use. Once you've decided look on ebay

 

[CRB]

theres no point in creating a mini workshop until you know what you want to do, you need to buy the right tools for that job, at the end of the day you'll have a room full of tools you'll never use. Once you've decided look on ebay

....or otherwise it will all end up on ?Why did I buy this?

You need to know what you fancy doing, and then understand the tools and techniques required. Clock making and gates require very different disciplines.

MEWS over the years have drawings for bandsaws and lathes, but no good if you won't need them.

 

[bigbadbugga]

Computer with Internet.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Agree with all of the above, the easiest way is to start making the items you intend to make and when you get stuck because you don't have something..then thats what you need.

Check out the home made tools/jigs section of the forum as well.

Then if you need to buy an item, do a google on it, when you think you have found it at the right quality and price, post the link here and other members will let you have their opinion of it's worth or it's alternatives.

Then check on the bay to see if it's there secondhand and much cheaper.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Agree with all of the above, the easiest way is to start making the items you intend to make and when you get stuck because you don't have something..then thats what you need.

Check out the home made tools/jigs section of the forum as well.

Then if you need to buy an item, do a google on it, when you think you have found it at the right quality and price, post the link here and other members will let you have their opinion of it's worth or it's alternatives.

Then check on the bay to see if it's there secondhand and much cheaper.

Proper advice..
One of the problems is the tyro does not realise what he needs to solve his problems. Get the Super XXX metal worker, etc. In most cases he just needs a slightly better way than a hammer.
Case in point: Mate wanted to do some sculptoring in small sizes from old bits of iron, like garden tools. He has a history of creativaty and asked me for a short welding course. Started on stick, moved to Mig (all in a day). Then a bit later we built a bender to help out on some of the work and made up a cut off machine. He now exibits in a couple of gallerys and sells a few.
This forum is a great source of knowledge, helped me source a fix for my welder and answered a lot of 'back of the mind questions' that resulted from my working in Iberia with no local input.
The 'How to' stuff at the top is very useful, even to one like me, who has been at it for years, because it comes from very experienced guys with loads of experience in industry, who know the complete story.
KF

 

[KemppiFrog]

To ad: First tool is a welder. Probably a MMA. Next a simple shear, followed by a pillar drill. (not to mention a bench and vice) Abrasive cut off tool, hand held or bench mounted. This was the sequence that worked for me. Next a decent mig, followed by a plasma cutter. But is very dependant on the work. In my case: I was cutting 4mm sheet for stoves. Believe me, that is hard on a hand shear. So the plasma payed for itself in short order( not cheap in those days)
Go gently..
KF

 

[Micky89]

To ad: First tool is a welder. Probably a MMA. Next a simple shear, followed by a pillar drill. (not to mention a bench and vice) Abrasive cut off tool, hand held or bench mounted. This was the sequence that worked for me. Next a decent mig, followed by a plasma cutter. But is very dependant on the work. In my case: I was cutting 4mm sheet for stoves. Believe me, that is hard on a hand shear. So the plasma payed for itself in short order( not cheap in those days)
Go gently..
KF

Appreciate the advice. I, going to try and to some up cycling using used oil drums and attempt to produce planters, cabinets, tables, anything really and if what I end up managing to do is liked then I may try to sell. Primarily it's just a hobby to gain skills that I'm not gaining at work, but I'd like to try to make some extra cash.

I was wondering what would be the best way to cut into the drum. Cut curves and tight turns. Plasma I'm guessing would be best but could I achieve this with some other tool?

 

[eil]

Just have a butchers at this post first miky
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=34666&highlight=oil+drum

 

[Micky89]

Just have a butchers at this post first miky
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=34666&highlight=oil+drum

Already been linked that in a different thread. I'd like to think that I'd have washed it out. But I can be a tit so very useful info!

 

[Dev]

To ad: First tool is a welder. Probably a MMA. Next a simple shear, followed by a pillar drill. (not to mention a bench and vice) Abrasive cut off tool, hand held or bench mounted. This was the sequence that worked for me. Next a decent mig, followed by a plasma cutter. But is very dependant on the work. In my case: I was cutting 4mm sheet for stoves. Believe me, that is hard on a hand shear. So the plasma payed for itself in short order( not cheap in those days)
Go gently..
KF

You bought all that before you got an angle grinder?

 

[stuvy]

You bought all that before you got an angle grinder?

i thought that...

Mickey you really need to take this weekend or a day or two with no distractions, go for a walk cycle whatever helps you think and decide what your actually going to make.

Its all well and good thinking of making hundreds of bits but its bet to keep yourself on one or two to start with then see what people ask for.

As for tools,
arc welder for thick stuff
mig welder cheapy to start with
magnets and clamps
hammer
grinder
steel rule
set square
tin snips

that should be all you need to start you off... once youv decided what your doing!!

 

[Micky89]

i thought that...

Mickey you really need to take this weekend or a day or two with no distractions, go for a walk cycle whatever helps you think and decide what your actually going to make.

Its all well and good thinking of making hundreds of bits but its bet to keep yourself on one or two to start with then see what people ask for.

As for tools,
arc welder for thick stuff
mig welder cheapy to start with
magnets and clamps
hammer
grinder
steel rule
set square
tin snips

that should be all you need to start you off... once youv decided what your doing!!

I spend my days at wrk thinking of what to make (try to make). I've decided that Im going to try my hand at making cabinets or planters. Mate even tables out of used oil drums. The tables would have a glass top ( local glass cutters at the end of my road). It's all going to be trial and error but I enjoy working with metal at work and my boss would probably let me use the equipment at work inbetween jobs. And I pick the workers brains constantly so I will eventually gain the skills. But for now is all practice.

As for arc welder I think I wouldnt be welding anything over 5mm, possibly even 3mm for now, so a MIG will do, £200 enough for decent one?

I have the other gear. Would a grinder be blue to cut pretty intricately with curves into sheet like a plasma would? Aint got 500+ sheets to spend on a plasma just yet.

Also how much will a decent vernier cost?

Cheers guys.

Sorry for the amateurism.

 

[shed or dead]

As it's a hobby and time does not = money, have a practice with just drilling a series of holes along the line of a curve, then file to the shape you desire. I plodded along with a £15 Machine Mart hand drill in a drill stand for 10 years before buying a bench drill. Now I find that while the bench drill is quiet enough to be used at all hours, I use the hand drill more often because it can reach the center of large items.

 

[Dev]

Also how much will a decent vernier cost?

Not a lot. http://dx.com/s/Caliper

Use the reviews to give you a steer.

Fair warning: that site is addictive

 

[naughtyboy]

what about the most important workshop equipment?

a kettle or coffee machine

 

[KemppiFrog]

Ah yes, the small angle grinder. Sometime after the big one (cut off machine) but that was only because they were not generally available back then.
KF

I also used a (big) hand drill in a stand, but again, cheap pillar drills are available now.

 

[stuvy]

and they really are cheap now days(pillar drills)

the 4 or 4 1/2 grinder will do most then you have the drill and file method(power files are really cheap too) and a jigsaw, granted the blades are expensive or youl be replacing them after every cut if you use the cheapenese ones.

Edit; Almost forgot, i picked up my first mig for £30 it happily welds up to 5mm with a v'd edge and I use it more than my big machine. Theres nothing wrong with second hand tools and machinery.