Metalworking

How To: Tailor your chain mail armor for the best fit

Tailoring isn't just for fabric! To have the best chainmail shirt, that doesn't pull or hang too losely, you'll want to tailor it. Tailor your shirt around curves by slightly altering the pattern of your weave, and this video demonstrates how.

How To: Wire a candle holder into a lamp

Have a candle holder that would make a great lamp base? You can wire that candle holder and turn it into a working lamp for your living room's newest decorative piece. This video takes you through the process of how to do so... However, with no narration, this how-to tutorial falls a tad short of being helpful. Wire a candle holder into a lamp.

How To: Frame things cheaply by soldering picture frames

This video will teach you how to frame anything two-dimensional using inexpensive materials and a soldering iron. The technique used is called tinning, using beveled glass, copper foil, solder, and flux. Tinning is great for framing dried flowers and leaves and only takes about ten minutes to finish your professional looking frame.

How To: Make a recycled kaleidoscope out of a CD case

Watch to learn how to make a kaleidoscope out of an old CD case.

How To: Make your own chainmail cube

This two part video will show you how to make the Japanese 8 in 2 patter, an important part of making a chainmail cube.

How To: Use an anvil in blacksmithing

When getting started with metal work and blacksmithing, you may be confused as to what you can do with an anvil. In this video you will learn every aspect about the anvil and how to actually use each section of the anvil for cutting, shaping and more!

How To: Weave a suit of dragonscale style chain mail

No, it doesn't use actual dragonscales. This technique actually uses two different sizes of rings with the proper aspect ratio (at least three of the larger rings have to fit through the smaller ones). If you have enough rings, then just follow along to master this challenging technique.

How To: Make the classic Roman lorica segmentata armor

Make an authentic piece of Roman armor! You will need quite a lot of metalworking tools, including hammers, drills and rivets. But if you have access to a workshop and the raw materials, you can make a replica of classic Roman armor, the lorica segmentata.

How To: Make Chain Mail Armor from Start to Finish

This article is a guide for making Chainmail Armor from start (simple wire) to finish (a finished chainmail shirt). We will be using the European 4 in 1 weave, as this is the most common weave. This is the weave that you usually see in movies. There are several sections to this guide: Materials, Making the Rings, Weaving the Rings, and Making the shirt.

How To: Weave a suit of medieval scale mail

Scale mail is slightly superior to chain mail, since it has a greater ability to deflect blows. But it is a little trickier to make than chain mail - but not by much! This tutorial shows you how to make an excellent suit of scale mail.

How To: Use machine shop tools to build prototypes with MIT

This ten-part series on machining skills for prototype development comes straight from MIT & Erik Vaaler. It's one of the most extensive video tutorials available on the web for machining. MIT's artificial intelligence laboratory's primary work is done for their robotics group. And most of their equipment is unavailable to the public because they're machines that MIT have built directly in their machine shop, or items that came into the shop needing repair. But if you can get your hands on so...

How To: Attach a chain sleeve to a chainmail shirt

It can sometimes be confusing for new armorsmiths to figure out the best way to attach a sleeve to a chainmail vest. However, the technique is actually quite easy, and this tutorial demonstrates how you can add a sleeve to a four in one style chainmail shirt.

How To: Forge a medieval arrowhead, or long bodkin

Watch this video demonstration on how to forge a medieval arrowhead, or long bodkin, by Paul Selby at an English Heritage Living History event at Kenilworth Castle. This type of arrow head was commonly used during the War of the Roses. This arrow is a professional craft, but a blacksmith in training can also learn how to forge arrows like this. These long thin arrow tips are designed for penetrating chain mail.

How To: Weld figurines

Watch this instructional metalsmithing video to weld a set of figurines out of sheet metal, nails, and a coat hanger. Oxy-acetylene welding is the only gas flame type of welding that is hot enough to melt all commercial metals. Use 22 gauge sheet metal to make clean and safe metalwork. Use a plasma cutter to quickly cut out the basic pieces. You can also use a blacksmithing hammer to bend the metal into unique props fpr your metal figurines.

How To: Make chainmail quickly

Like A Flint demonstrates how to quickly make chainmail. First, find heavy gauge wire at a construction site or a craft store. Then, wrap the wire around a dowel or a tube until it forms a coiled spring. Remove the coiled spring from the tube and clip the spring into rings with a pair of wire cutters. Using two pairs of pliers, open up the ring and thread four rings inside of it. Close up the ring. Keep adding rings on top of rings until you achieve a chainmail like design. The process of mak...

How To: Make a tin frame out of soda cans

How to Make a Tin Frame with Soda Cans You don't have to throw out your old soda cans anymore. Laura and Claiborne show how to recycle old cans into a craft project that creates a frame. You will need a wooden frame, soda cans, 5/8 of an inch nails, tin snipers, and a glue gun. While cutting the cans, make sure to be careful to avoid cutting your hands. Smaller square scissors tend to be more effective at cutting the cans. When cutting, try to cut the can in a rectangular shape. Try to avoid ...

How To: Make a chain mail suit or shirt

For all your jousting and costume needs, finally, an instructional video guide to building a chain mail suit of armor. While periodically inaccurate for Renaissance Fairs, Medieval Times employees or reenactment actors might be curious to either learn how to make the suit or at least witness the process. Chain mail was used as a protective armor in Medieval times, and was nearly impervious to arms of the period, but new advances in weaponry caused it to become obsolete. Chain mail is essentia...

How To: Blacksmith air hammer techniques

Watch this blacksmithing video to practice air hammer techniques on a 75 lb small air hammer. You can use this technique for many types of free form metal forging. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and forge a useful tool.

How To: Make chainmail jewelry using the box chain or great queen chain

You can make jewelry out of chainmail! It will be bulky, unless you use incredibly tiny rings. This tutorial shows you how to make the box chain out of many small metal rings, which you can expand to a necklace, bracelet key chain or any other type of jewelry you can think of.

How To: Weave chainmail with a ring tool

This little ring is a frequently used chainmailing tool. The ring tool substitutes for a pair of pliers, and works for about eighty percent of chainmail patterns. Watch this metalsmithing video to see how the ring tool is used.

How To: Blacksmith decorative steel scrolls

Watch this instructional blacksmithing video to forge three different types of steel scrolls. You can use these techniques to forge fence posts and other decorative metal designs. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and add a creative flare to your blacksmithing projects.

How To: Make a wire bowl from a spiral wire bound notebook

In this tutorial, Michelle shows us how to make a lovely and functional wire bowl out of the spiral wire spines of old notebooks. This is a great eco-friendly project for the summertime, when the kids are done with their school notebooks. This bowl can be used to hold fruit or as a funky planter. Watch this how to video and you can make this cool wire bowl in no time at all.

How To: Build a 6X6 cube using magnets

Whoever said it's boring to be a square didn't make one out of shiny magnets. This video gives the phrase "thinking inside the box" a whole new dimension.

How To: Make a shopping cart chair with MAKE magazine

Kick back with John Park as he demonstrates how to upcycle a no-longer-usable shopping cart into an easy chair. This Make: magazine-based project offers an introductory look at how to cut, bend, and shape metal using metal cutters, saws, vice grips, and other tools common to home workshops. John also attempts a “deluxe” version of this project that employs motors and switches to transform it into a “go-kart chair.” View the clip to see his mixed results, and download the PDF.

How To: Blacksmith a mortise and tennon steel joint

Watch this blacksmithing video to forge a tennon and complete a mortise and tennon traditional joint in steel. The mortise and tenon joint is basic socket joint used for pick axes and other heavy duty tools. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and forge a useful tool.

How To: Choose welding gloves

Keeping the hands protected from burns or rough equipment is the main requirement of welding gloves. There are a few things to look out for: quality material (all leather), reinforcements, good stitching, softness, toughness, comfort, and length. Watch this video welding tutorial and learn how to choose an appropriate pair of welding gloves.

How To: Mimic the look of antique brass

You can easily copy the aged look on old brass jewelry and hardware. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, oxides naturally. But you can encourage the process to go faster by using vinegar and salt water, or a rag soaked in ammonia. Use these techniques to mimic an antique patina.

How To: Use a hardy tool and how to curve and form metal on an anvil

If you're looking to create curves and various shapes with metal, one way of doing it is using a hardy tool with your anvil. In this video you will learn what exactly a hardy tool is and also how to create your own curved S shapes out of metal.

How To: Forge texture on steel for blacksmithing

Watch this instructional blacksmithing video to use hammering and punch techniques to create different textures on the hot steel. You can use these techniques to forge textured metal gates and smaller decorative metal designs. Forge steel texture by hand or with an air hammer. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and add a creative flare to your blacksmithing projects.

How To: Forge blacksmith tools for working on an anvil

Watch this instructional blacksmithing video to make hold down tools on an anvil for securing work. Forge a mushroom cap hold down, a bicycle chain hold down, and a spring hold down. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and forge some useful tools.

How To: Blacksmith steel leaves

Watch this instructional blacksmithing video to forge different types of steel leaves. You can use these techniques to forge fence posts and other decorative metal designs. Forge steel leaves by hand or with an air hammer. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and add a creative flare to your blacksmithing projects.

How To: Craft a person-sized spiderweb out of rope

You can also make this person sized spiderweb out of chain for extra sturdiness. Aside from the rope or chain, you will also need a solid frame (either wood or metal wil work) and 24 eye bolts to run everything through.

How To: Weave a suit of elven chain mail

This tutorial shows you how to make an elven style of chainmail. This is an intricate style of chainmail that is nevertheless very sturdy and gives good coverage. Good for anyone looking to make their own armor for Renaissance Faires, larps, the SCA or other historial costuming events.

How To: Draw out metal in blacksmithing

When getting into blacksmithing, learning proper hammer strikes and heat levels for your metal and forge are good to know, but one of the most important techniques to know when hammering your metal is "Drawing Out", which is a method that you use to make your metal thinner and longer or thinner and flatter. In this video you will get a full tutorial on how to implement this basic, yet important, technique.

How To: Make a cool recycled license plate mail box

Laura and Charles are a thrifty couple to have around in this time of recession. Using old license plates, some rivets and lots of love, they will teach you how to make a license plate mailbox. A simple and easy craft project that could be fun for the whole family, imagine the look on the mailman's face when he sees your new creation sitting in the front of your house. Your mailbox will be the talk of the neighborhood and who knows you just might start a trend! A friendly video with simple in...

How To: Forge a steel striker for flint and steel

Watch this instructional blacksmithing video to forge a high carbon steel striker for flint and steel. The flint and steel striker served as the original portable lighter. Flint and steel lighters are also used on outdoor trips to light camp fires. These detailed instructions will allow you to begin the craft of metalsmithing and forge a useful tool.

News: Chinese Ironworkers Build Massive Transformers Megatron Tank

Jiiang Chen and Yang Junlin, of the Wing Wah metalcraft factory in Huizhou, China, forged together a 10,000-pound replica of the Megatron tank as seen in the movie Transformers 2. The tank is from a series of other massive works from the company's "Legend of Iron" project (see last year's insane Megatron below). The tank was assembled and welded together with mostly scrap metal by the two expert craftsmen. In a word... insane.

How To: Create a blacksmith forge in your backyard easily

Have a passion for metal working and metalsmithing? Want to get into the art without having to go to an expensive shop to set up a forge? Well this video has all the tips and tricks you will need! In it, you will learn what parts you will need and what steps you will need to take to create your own backyard forge easily!

How To: Make a chainmail cube

Watch this instructional metalsmithing video to make a chainmail cube. This is a simple pattern that takes a long time to complete, but creates an impressive design that differs from jewelry and armor chainmail projects. This metalwork cube is satisfying to hold in ones hand.

How To: Blacksmith a steel rose

Watch this instructional blacksmithing video to forge and sculpt a steel rose. This blacksmith demonstrates the techniques involved in making an ornamental metal rose as well as other organic shapes. Follow these clear instructions to begin the craft of metalsmithing and forge a decorative flower.