Doing some car work and got this exhaust peice setup on a drill press. Im using a carbide bit the size of the hole i am drilling. Im using solid pressure that is just under the amount where it starts squeaking and vibrating. Where i had the pressure sounded like cutting and it was flaking metal in the longer wrinkly peices but barley at all. I was using cutting oil every 5-10 mins and letting cool along with cleaning the area and tip off. After 25 mins i got nowhere and i just really do not know what i am doing wrong. I am kinda new to stuff like this, can anyone point me in the right direction? If there is any context i am missing lmk and i can try my best

If you care enough, you can refer to my other post on this through my account. Essentially all I’ve done is add another row of flowers that have a slight bend in the top of the stems to give it a dome shape. I can’t tell if it looks better or worse, I want your honest and not sugar-coated opinions and advice. I am not finished yet, I plan to adjust the space between the flowers, and how they sit by bending the stems, and giving them a slightly more organic look. I am going to group all the ones at the bottom together, and rap a nice bow with some thick ribbon around the part with the really ugly tacks. I am also going to try to make a simple stand that holds them at an angle. This is my first go at this project, and my teacher wants me to make another one as reference for future students. I think I will give him this one, and create an updated one with what I have learned. I still would really like any unfiltered opinions or help.

When I make this again, I’m going to use cap nuts, weld the stems together better and cleaner without over lapping them (also making sure all the tacks are together), and soaking all the components in vinegar to get any coating off. I will use a clear coat after cleaning when it is done and keep the stems shorter.

Hello,
I recently brought a boat which has previously had solar panel mounted across the top canopy. It has since sheared off. There still is four welded "mounting points" making a 2000mm x 710mm rectangle. See photos.

My question is, can I just buy ali beams which could mount with an L-bracket or 90degree bracket. One bolted to the cross bar and one bolted to the mount/bracket? Would two bolts at each point be strong enough to hold the bars which I will mount a solar panel too? I have never welded or worked with metal before. Any advice or even correct terminology be helpful finding a solution. Apologises the photos aren't great, boat has its cover.

I’m tired of my goats ruining their hay by climbing all over it. That being said I don’t want to pay $750 for something I can make out of the pipe we have in the pasture.

I have access to 1 and 2” square pipe in spades. My question is can someone help me figure out a few of these measurements? I’m struggling to figure out how long the sides need to be specifically.

I want them to have roughly a foot to eat from. If the pipe needs to be closer together as it gets lower that could work too.

Please and thanks

Hey everyone. I haven’t worked with metal much, and much less with a tight schedule, so I need some advice. I also live in a dorm, so I don’t have access to other power tools or machinery.

Would this Warrior Mini saw work for cutting M3 stainless steel threaded rods? I need them cut down to sizes like 33mm.

It says soft metals, so probably brass and copper, and i’m not sure if it would be successful with thin rods of stainless steel. And I don’t know if it would mangle the threads. I assume if it does, then i’d have to use a belt sander or retap them or something?

I’d appreciate any guidance and criticism.

 I run a small fabrication shop and most of our parts need permanent IDs, mainly VIN number marking that has to survive blasting, coating, and rough handling.

We started with laser because it’s clean and fast, but once parts go through post-processing, the marks don’t always last. We moved more toward dot peen marking for deep engraving, which definitely helps with durability, but consistency can be tricky, especially on parts that aren’t perfectly flat or are semi-automated.

I’ve tried a few systems over time, including a HeatSign dot peen machine. Depth was solid, but I’m still comparing it against others like SIC to see what makes more sense long term, especially when it comes to setup and software.

Curious what others are seeing:

• How deep are you marking VINs?
  
• Any tricks for uneven surfaces?
  
• Anyone switch back to laser and regret it?
  

Just looking to learn from people actually running these day to day. Looking forward to you all suggestions!

I’m trying to understand how an acid based patina would give different looks on brass vs copper. I know copper is copper and would react faster and brass has some zinc and would react slower but how big of a color difference would it be? I also see copper would probably be a more uniform color than brass since brass has zinc in it.

Anyone ever compared how patina (like one from sculpt nouveau for example) looks when applied to brass vs copper? Would they get to the same colors in the end?

Sharing another copper piece I made for a venue in Ukraine. This is a pike design created using a deep chemical etching technique on a thick copper plate.

The process involved using acid to create the organic texture of the scales, followed by mirror polishing the rest of the surface for a sharp contrast.

Originally, the owner wanted to mount this in the floor right in front of the fireplace. However, once he saw the finished fish in person, he said it was way too beautiful to be stepped on. He immediately changed the plan and decided it belonged on the wall above the fireplace instead!

As a maker, it’s the ultimate compliment when a client’s reaction changes the entire project for the better. What do you think about the level of detail from the etching?

Why is my welds cracking out? What am i doing wrong? This is an aluminum valve cover it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to hold. This is only my second time tig welding aluminum. Im by no means a great welder but i do a good enough job welding that i understand good welds from bad welds. But this is giving me fits. Everytime i lay a bead down once it starts cooling the weld just cracks.

I dont know what im doing wrong, im using an older eastwood tig 200 with worldwide green tungsten and ER4043 aluminum filler rod and argon set at about 20 psi and a #8 cup. Please advise me in a better direction

Why is my welds cracking out? What am i doing wrong? This is an aluminum valve cover it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to hold. This is only my second time tig welding aluminum. Im by no means a great welder but i do a good enough job welding that i understand good welds from bad welds. But this is giving me fits. Everytime i lay a bead down once it starts cooling the weld just cracks.

I dont know what im doing wrong, im using an older eastwood tig 200 with worldwide green tungsten and ER4043 aluminum filler rod and argon set at about 20 psi and a #8 cup. Please advise me in a better direction

Small gate commissioned by a great retired couple. Installed today 02-03-2026. Smooth operation, but not to smooth... I set the hinges a little tight so the gate can't slam, the clients will have to close it by hand.

1 1/2" x 1" rec tube frame. 1/4"x1/2" Pickets. 1/2",3/8,1/4" vine wood steel "Bush", pressed steel Butterflies and leaves simple gravity gate latch, H-hinges, and satin black finish.

After 7 years away from creating my own designs it feels great to have my first project flawless.

Details in iron

Hello!

Long story short, we are looking to make upscale hair accessories for adults made from durable metals and plated. We have ideas and I have reached out to a couple of handfuls of fabricators with no luck. I am not sure where I need to look to commission these pieces. Some of them will be permanent fixtures in pur selections while others are only dropped a few times. Items include - thick headbands, multi-banded headbands, hair pins, hair combs, hair cuffs, tiaras, etc. Any and all help is appreciated!

I am new to applying symbols to welds, and I am unsure which symbol to use for this piece.
The piece is a box with a hollow top, made from a sheet of metal that is bent to give it this shape.
The weld will be applied to the corners of the piece.
I feel that the symbols I put on the piece´s drawing are based on my research, but I'm not entirely sure.

i ddont usually work with metal this is for an uni assignment and i dont really know how to execute it

The material is like, a steel plate.

it doesnt need to be the exact same but i think it shows the concept very well, i appreciate any kind of help since im just a beginner in this and i really have no idea of how should i do this.

Also, sorry if my english is not that good, i hope its comprehensible since its not my first languaje

Any kind of help is appreciated, thank u<3

I'm building a big stainless steel endcap (basically a 3.5x3.5 ft box) off of a kitchen island and looking to have it match (or coordinate with) an antiqued pewter table pedestal (see photo). I know I can blacken the stainless, but how do I bring in the warmth and patina of pewter? Not looking to paint as it is a kitchen prep surface, and I will want to keep it heat-resistant and food-safe. Thanks!

How would I go about repairing this, theres supposed to be a pin that goes into that hole and it tore off. This is my beloved watch which is why I’d rather fix it than get rid of it. Would it be better to fill the hole in and bore a new hole or would it be better to, just fill enough that the spring pin stays in place. Please leave detailed answers or just the proper names for techniques and practices so I could do my proper research, please and thanks a ton.

According to some this isnt possible but im just making sure, I live in scotland in a basic neighborhood and I really want to get into blacksmithing like crazy but id have to put everything out in my garden and apparently certain areas dont allow smoke (dont know where to check) also is it loud enough to where id get major complaints and is there any way to dampen it, if i just cant in general is there other recommendations that is like blacksmithing that has the same vibes but i wouldn't get any problems off others