Must-Have Metalworking Tools

Metalworking is the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large-scale structures. The term covers a wide range of work from large ships and bridges to precise engine parts and delicate jewelry. 

Metal supports our buildings and bridges, allows us to fly, sail and get around, and are fundamental in industry and trade. Because of its mass use, metalworking encompasses a wide range of skills, processes, and tools.

Modern metalworking processes, though diverse and specialized, are typically categorized as forming, cutting, or joining. Today's machine shops rely on a number of tools capable of creating precise, accurate and dependable cuts every time. 

Those processes include drilling, casting, and smelting for production. To create each of these different pieces, users utilize an array of tools, such as calipers, boring bars, deburring wheels, grinders, chisels, hammers, and drills. While the exact choice of equipment depends on the nature of the job, regardless of the end product, there are some tools that are essential for all metalworking projects. 

Drill Press - Used for tasks such as drilling holes, sanding, and polishing.

Milling Machine - Used for a range of operations, such as planing, cutting, drilling, and contouring.

Lathe - Used for cutting, drilling, turning, and sanding. It works similar to a potter's wheel in allowing users to shape a particular piece of metal to match the design of their choice.

Angle Grinder - Used for grinding and polishing different metals. They are used for removing excess metal from an item by finely polishing it and for cutting a piece of metal in the required shape.

Metal Shears - Also known as snips, shears are used for cutting sheets of metal. They look like scissors and have sharp blades to cut through metal.

Welding Machine - Used to join different pieces of metals by melting them and adding a filler to keep them together. When the filler cools, it hardens the joint, thereby increasing its strength.

Regardless of the exact tool, all industrial metalworking tools require lubrication oils to keep them running well and cutting precisely. Contact MagLube lubrication system company to learn more about our organic state-of-the-art systems and technology.