Metalworking tools for woodworkers.

[Cheshirechappie]

From time to time, most woodworkers need to some basic metalworking, even if it's just trimming hinges to fit awkward spaces, or refurbishing a secondhand plane. It's a good thing to have some metalworking tools to hand, even if we don't need a full machine shop and fitter's toolkit.

What metalworking tools would you recommend a woodworker to have handy, or found indispensible to support your woodworking?

Just to kick things off, I'd suggest a 12" hacksaw and a selection of spare blades, a junior hacksaw, a couple of ball-pien hammers, one small and one large (say 4oz and 16oz), a centre punch and a couple of small pin punches, and a selection of files. A small metalworker's vice can be very handy, too.

What else?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Squares, pop riveter, hard chalk and blue?

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Small angle grinder with a selection of cutting, grinding discs and some wire brushes - indispensable for refurbishing and fettling.

Regards Mick

 

[RogerP]

Metal working is as a varied a hobby as wood working, both have many quite different endeavours within the coverall terms. Sheet metal bashing to super accurate machining. Stuff you can do with a hammer, a saw and a drill to that needing a lathe, a mill and whole host of other specialised gear.

All depends how far you want to go

 

[bugbear]

From time to time, most woodworkers need to some basic metalworking, even if it's just trimming hinges to fit awkward spaces, or refurbishing a secondhand plane. It's a good thing to have some metalworking tools to hand, even if we don't need a full machine shop and fitter's toolkit.

What metalworking tools would you recommend a woodworker to have handy, or found indispensible to support your woodworking?

Just to kick things off, I'd suggest a 12" hacksaw and a selection of spare blades, a junior hacksaw, a couple of ball-pien hammers, one small and one large (say 4oz and 16oz), a centre punch and a couple of small pin punches, and a selection of files. A small metalworker's vice can be very handy, too.

What else?

I think you've covered the basics, although I would say the vice is essential, not handy - you couldn't even cut a piece of rod without it; a woodworker's face vise is useless
for this.

BugBear

 

[Spindle]

Just to kick things off, I'd suggest a 12" hacksaw and a selection of spare blades, a junior hacksaw, a couple of ball-pien hammers, one small and one large (say 4oz and 16oz), a centre punch and a couple of small pin punches, and a selection of files. A small metalworker's vice can be very handy, too.

What else?

Hi

For general fettling / refurbishing your initial list has some poor choices in my opinion:

A junior hacksaw is virtually useless, the little that can't be accomplished with a full size hacksaw is easier tackled with a Dremel type cut off tool.
The small ball pein hammer is also a very specialised tool and a 16oz on the large side - I'd go for a 12oz.
Centre punch is a necessity and pin punches are useful - don't buy too cheap.
Files are a necessity, buy the best you can afford / justify.
An engineering vice should be your first buy - look for a good make, second hand is fine and will save ££££s
You'll also need to sort out some soft jaws for the vice.
A set of jobber drills - I recently bought this set, (metric set second down), and am very pleased with it
Engineering square - 4" or 6"
Good quality scriber.

I've probably missed something but in general you'll need to identify the task in hand and then buy tools to suit.

Regards Mick

http://chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/Engineer ... s_177.html

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Taps and dies, I've always found useful. They work in hardwood too for jigs and fixture making.

Mike.

 

[t8hants]

For a scriber use a flat sided tungsten tile cutter. You will have squares for your woodwork, just be aware that swarf will embed itself in in brass and wood if you don't keep the job clean. Junior hacksaws are not needed. A reasonable quality 4 1/2" angle-grinder with 1/16" slitting discs will do all the cutting a normal hacksaw can't. Grinding and sanding pads will add to its utility, and in extreme cases you can use the sanding disc on timber. I don't know if they still make the chainsaw toothed wheel for angle-grinders these days, but if they do and you fancy one - best of luck!

 

[Spindle]

I don't know if they still make the chainsaw toothed wheel for angle-grinders these days, but if they do and you fancy one - best of luck!

Hi

They do and I have one - a tool that DEMANDS care and attention in use

Regards Mick

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I forgot something - a selection of abrasive papers. Not for 'scary sharp' sharpening - you'll use the better lapping films if you use scary sharp - but for polishing up brass hinges, cleaning boot-fair finds and the like. I like wet-and-dry, though a few sheets of coarse emery cloth can be handy to have in stock.

On files, I don't think the woodworker needs many, but the ones I've found really handy are a small 4" super-file flat file for such things as smoothing plane mouths, de-burring tool castings and the like. A big 10" or 12" ******* cut flat file and an 8" second cut flat are constantly useful, too - the ******* can be used as a fine rasp substitute on wood at a pinch, though it'll need cleaning out (brass bristle brush) more often than a proper wood rasp. A couple of small round files - one coarse, one fine - for opening out tight screwholes, and a small selection of needle files in different shapes are always handy. Half-round files are indispensible when you need them, but that's not often. Fit the files with handles as soon as you get them - never use files without handles - and keep them in a tool roll or similar to stop the teeth knocking against each other - don't just sling them all in a drawer together, that'll blunt them all in double-quick time.

I'd also keep a couple of good quality adjustable spanners handy, and a pair of water-pump pliers (the slip-adjustable ones) are also useful, along with a good pair of heavy pliers and a nice, fine long-nosed pair. A set of Allen keys can be seriously useful, too - metric and imperial.

 

[bugbear]

I'd also keep a couple of good quality adjustable spanners handy, and a pair of water-pump pliers (the slip-adjustable ones) are also useful, along with a good pair of heavy pliers and a nice, fine long-nosed pair. A set of Allen keys can be seriously useful, too - metric and imperial.

IMHO that's all general purpose "household" tools, which everybody has - don't they?

BugBear

 

[Spindle]

IMHO that's all general purpose "household" tools, which everybody has - don't they?

- Well they're not metalworking tools, that's for sure - mechanic's tools in my opinion.

 

[-Matt-]

Out of all that has been mentioned... I don't think theres anything there that I don't own, and probably a couple of extra bits that have no use in wood at all thinking about it. Struggling to think of anything else to add, as all listed is perfectly adequate for machine maintenence and clean-up operations.

I may add actually, a decent selection of machine screws/bolts with nuts to suit, just incase a machine needs one. Washers too.

 

[wizard]

a good boxford lathe

 

[t8hants]

a good boxford lathe

I'd love a good Boxford lathe an AUD would do nicely

Gareth

 

[Cheshirechappie]

a good boxford lathe

What's wrong with a Dean Smith and Grace or a Colchester Mascot?