The ArtMetal Resource To Metalworking

To serve those interested in the various aspects of working artistically with metals, the ArtMetal Project brings to the Net this collection of metalworking resources.

If you can't find what you are looking for here, please go to the ArtMetal Community Blogs and Events to post questions and get answers. Try it, you just might like it!

"Processes, methods, and apparatus presented herein have not been tested or verified by ArtMetal in any way. Anyone using any of this information is doing so at their own risk."

Safety in the Workplace

Literary Resources

Book Reviews

Metalsmith Suppliers (250 listed)

Coal and Coke Suppliers (24 listed)

Metalsmithing Schools (25 listed)

Additional Metalworking Resources on the Internet

Material Descriptions Used in Metalworking

Ferrous Metals

Iron
Stainless Steel
Steel
- Heat Treating of O1 Steel by Franklyn Garland
- Heat Treating of S-7 Steel by Franklyn Garland
Wrought Iron
- "Clearing the Confusion Over Wrought Iron" by Todd Daniel

Non Ferrous Metals

Aluminum
Copper and Its Alloys
- Brass
- Copper
Precious Metals
- Gold
- Silver
Other Metals
- Lead
- Monel
- Nickel
- Niobium
- Pewter
- Titanium
- Mokume-Gane Workshop by James E. Binnion

Related Articles

How Electrochemistry Affects Corrosion By Steve Smith
Composition and Physical Properties of Alloys

Processes Used in Metal Fabrication

Casting

History
Methods
- Lost-wax Casting
- Sand Casting
- Experimental and Other Methods
Source of Heat
- Coal
- Gas
  - Building an inexpensive small scale furnace for melting nonferrous metals by Hank Kaminsky
  - A Metal Melting Furnace by Klaas van Ditzhuyzen
- Electricity
- Wood
Related Articles
- How to Select a Foundry by Mark Parmenter
- A Simple Method of Making Raised Letters for Casting by Hank Kaminsky

Forging

Hot Forging
- Basic techniques and processes
  - Forging a Taper - Basic hand forging and mechanical hammer techniques including a QuickTime movie clip - by Enrique Vega
- History
  - The Medium is the Root of the Art by Walfrid Huber
- Tooling
  - Rivet Heading Vise by Steve Hackbart
  - Two Shop Built Air Hammers Described by Bramble Bush
- Sources of Heat
  - Charcoal
  - Coal
    - Cyberforge (264k) QuickTime movie of coal forge. (Best viewed by looping)
  - Gas
  - Electricity
- Related Articles
  - The Joy of Sharpening by Mike de Punte
  - Tapered Ring Forging by Toby Hickman
  - SLEDGE Team Striking Part IV or Head and Shoulders by Jeffrey D. Knight
  - SLEDGE Part V or Just Toollin' Around by Franklyn Garland
Cold Forging
- History
- Tooling
- Related Articles
  - The Almighty Acanthus Leaf by Enrique Vega

Fabrication and Joinery

Electric Welding
- MIG
- Stick
- TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas)
- Related Articles
Oxygen Acetylene
- The Nature of Acetylene Explained by Bramble Bush
- Related Articles
Traditional Joinery
- Collaring
- Forge Welding
- Riveting
- Soldering Non-Ferrous Metals by Dave Sebaste
- Related Articles
  - Soldering Closed Objects by Bramble Bush
Other
- Discovering Leunens "secrets" - An interesting use of metal application
- Fabrication of the Savannah Olympic Torch Sculpture by Ivan Bailey

Finishes for Metal

Ferrous Metal Finishes

Chemical Surface Treatment (Patinas)
Paint
Tooling
Related Articles

Non Ferrous Metal Finishes

Chemical Surface Treatment (Patinas)
- Anodizing by Bill Seeley
Paint
Tooling
Related Articles
- A Guide to Coloring Reactive Metals by Bill Seeley
- A Hydrogen Peroxide H₂O₂ Pickle by Bill Seeley

Business, Design, Office Tools and Processes

Business Matters
- Copyrights/Copywrongs by John S. Munday (Jack)
- Copyrights/Copywrongs - Part II by John S. Munday (Jack)
- Copyrights/Copywrongs - Part III by John S. Munday (Jack)
- "Working with an Artist Blacksmith" - by Peter Parkinson

Design Issues
- "Expressive Design in Iron" - a Penland Symposium

Drafting and Drawing
- Computerized Techniques and Equipment
- Manual Techniques and Equipment
- Related Articles
  - "Creativity and Computer Go Hand in Hand" by JÃ¼rgen Kull