DIY Metalworking Crafts

Learn how to form metal bowls from thin sheet metal using a hammer. I'm sharing two methods to inspire your creative juices.

Blacksmithing and Chainmaille Classes in Carroll County, Frederick, Baltimore, and Henderson, Maryland

Have you ever thought of metal as your canvass? Probably not. But it is, and it's easier to create designs in metal than you think. Acid etching copper and brass yields endless possibilities with impressive results. The materials needed are fairly inexpensive, and you may already have some of them at home. Acid etching metals allows you to create beautiful designs in relief. If you can stamp it, draw it, or write it, you can etch it!

An explanation of the fuels you can use for your forge, focusing on the pros and cons of, and which is right for you. Charcoal, coal, or propane, plus an often overlooked alternative, induction.

The ability to add a deep, rich patina is an important tool in any metalsmith's arsenal. Discover how with liver of sulfur, an inexpensive and effective way to patina copper and brass.

Examining the various patinas and related finishes for steel. These finishes either involve oxidation of the metal or are nonreactive finishes.

A tutorial on building a charcoal blacksmith forge from an old propane grill. We will make a simple pipe tuyere forge from a discarded grill, a metal fence post, and a few inexpensive materials.

DIY step by step instructions for restoring and refinishing metal projects

How to make a man-sized welding table from rebar and used bed-frame metal for less than $60.

Simple project ideas for MIG, TIG, and ARC (Stick) welding.

A basic explanation of sheet metal forming, and how it's performed in stamping die engineering, design, and build.