If your business is metalworking, there’s a lot of equipment you’ll need to get the job done right. To get you pointed in the right direction, here’s a list of some important tools that are commonly used in metalworking.
Flux Core Welder
Flux core welders are used mostly on stainless steel and other metal alloys. They can be automatic or semi-automatic. Welders are used to make repairs and fuse objects together, particularly underwater. As an added bonus, this equipment is mobile and doesn’t need to be hooked up to shielding gas.
Center Punch
As the name implies, a center punch drills a mark into the center of a target. This is a simple but useful device. Handling a drill inevitably leads to some shakiness. Having a clear, precise target of where you need to keep the drill can come in handy. Center punches work the best when the hole you’re trying to make comes up to half an inch in diameter.
Drill Press
This machine is fixed into place to help maintain its accuracy. Drilling a hole can always be accomplished manually, but having the drill remain stationary can make a big difference. Even the experts like the folks at Koma Precision matter how skilled a metalworker is, they’ll still be liable to shake or slip while they’re holding the drill.
Auto-Darkening Helmet
This tool is probably one of the more obscure items on this list. But if you’re doing any welding, an auto-darkening helmet would be a valuable addition to your project. The incredibly bright glare that occurs during welding can hurt your vision and cause other problems. Auto-dark helmets aren’t the only thing that can protect you from the glare, but since this item covers your whole head, you’re guaranteed decent protection.
Abrasives
Abrasives are key when you’re wrapping up your metalworking project. Even after you’re done working on whatever material it is, you’ll still need to smooth it out before it’s perfect. Rubbing the metal with a good abrasive will leave it gleaming. If you need to buff, polish, or sand anything down, abrasives should be in your toolbox.
Not every tool you’ll need will be prohibitively expensive, but the costs will start to add up depending on how big and complicated the job is. Try to start having the tools you need lined up as soon as you know you’ll need them to avoid last minute problems.
