• Metalworking reuires many tools.technical weld image by Brenton W Cooper from Fotolia.com
  
  Working in metal fabrication is an enjoyable and rewarding process and hobby. It requires a few tools to get started, and each of these requires a certain amount of skill to master. Working with metal allows you to create objects and finish projects that you would never before have completed yourself. Not only does this save you money, but there's a strong feeling of pride that comes from knowing you accomplished the project yourself without hiring an outside hand.
  
  

Drill Press

• The drill press is one of the most useful tools in a metal workshop. To work on metal, you must drill holes for various reasons. A drill press is typically used repetitively to make similar holes in many different pieces.
  
  

Welder

• To attach two pieces of metal, you must use a welder. Many types of welders are available, including arc, mig, tig and oxy-acetylene, but each one serves the same purpose. Every type of welder is made to heat up two metals to their melting point and join them with a third piece of metal. It is easiest to weld metals of similar types, using welding stock (wire/rod) of a similar metal. This process requires an enormous amount of skill to perform successfully on the first try, but practice helps, and you can always fill in welds and ground them down to make them look better.
  
  

Iron-worker

• An iron-worker is a hydraulic press that allows for certain processes to be completed quickly and accurately. They apply tons of force to a punch, a shear, or other attachments. A strong iron-worker can shear a piece of metal or punch a hole in a plate in seconds.
  
  

Band-saw

• A band saw is a machine that uses a blade in the form of a band of metal. This band goes around spinning wheels and allows you to cut pieces of metal. Most frequently this machine is used to cut lengths of some type of iron to an appropriate length. Sometimes you can manually maneuver band saws to follow a curved pattern along your working piece.
  
  

Grinder

• After a weld, the weld looks pretty bad. Use a grinder to clean up the weld to make sure that it measures up to specifications. Grinders are one of the most commonly used tools in a metal shop. They can also round corners, make small cuts and smooth out certain fabrication jobs.
  
  

Tap and Die Set

• After making a hold in a piece of metal, you frequently must prepare it to accept a bolt. A tap set is a set of cutting tools that cuts threads into the hole and allows you to adhere bolts to the piece. A die set, on the other hand, is a set of tools designed to cut threads onto the outside of rods or pipe.
  
  

Mill

• A mill is like a drill press on steroids. Not only can it drill holes, but it also can horizontally elongate holes. Mills allow you to make custom pieces when you cannot find or buy the right part. Although mills are expensive, most home metal shops can suffice with a drill press.