Whether you are creating intricate jewelry or repairs on large machinery and vehicles, metalworking can help make your projects come to life. But it’s not enough to just have the right equipment; knowing a few tips and tricks of the trade will take your creations to the next level! In this blog post, we’ll be discussing some essential metalworking tips that all makers should know in order to perfect their craft.
Brooklyn-based maker Chris Hackett is founder and director of the Madagascar Institute, whose slogan is: “Fear is never boring.” Can’t argue with that! In MAKE Volume 33, Hackett shows us how to make our own welding rods. In his intro he writes: There are a bunch of DIY welder articles and how-tos out in the […]
A pump drill is an ancient tool traditionally been used to generate friction heat for starting fires, as well as for boring holes. The principle of a pump drill’s operation is similar to the button spinner or whirligig, in which rotational momentum is built and maintained by repeated twisting and untwisting of a cord. After reading about them in a book about primitive technology, I got interested in the idea of a “modern” pump drill, operating on the same principle as the ancient tool but manufactured from industrial-age materials instead of wood, stone, and bone.
Back in the old days, pioneers traveled with round cast iron skillets. You could make round pancakes, round eggs, and throw some rectangular strips of bacon on the side. But today, thanks to Alisa Toninato of FeLion Studios, you can cook a quiche in the shape of your home state.
The amount of shop experience packed into the book Welding Know-How is amazing.
Manekinen has come up with this home-brew spot welder that’s powered by a guitar amp transformer.
Todd Barricklow builds his pedal-powered racer and talks about the Death Defying Figure 8 racetrack at Bay Area Maker Faire.
I like these hand-forged oyster knives from Kirk Davis and Michael Waller of Carolina Shuckers enough to actually consider eating a raw oyster, so long as I got to use one to open it, first. Reminds me of the work of Tai Goo. [via Dude Craft] More:Railroad Spike Rope Dart
