Articles
The metal worker's materials: copper, brass, bronze and tinMaterials · 8 minThe metal worker does not work in iron and steel like the blacksmith, but in the soft, coloured metals: copper, brass, bronze and tin. Each metal has its own temperament, its own glow colour and its own way of responding to hammer and heat. The article reviews the alloys, their properties and how the choice of material determines what the workpiece can be used for.Annealing: why copper must be heated to be shaped.Technique · 7 minCopper and brass work harden when hammered and driven — they become hard and eventually brittle. The solution is annealing: a heat treatment that restores softness so you can continue working. The article explains why the metal hardens how you read the glow color and why copper unlike steel does not become hard by rapid cooling.Upsetting and planing — shaping metal with hammer and anvilTechnique · 8 minDriving is the oldest and most characteristic method in the metalsmithing trade: a flat plate is shaped into a three-dimensional workpiece solely by thousands of controlled hammer blows over steel or wooden forms. The article covers drawing-out, raising, planishing and how annealing and hammer control work together.Metal spinning: turning a plate into a shapeTechnique · 8 minMetal spinning — internationally called metal spinning — forms a rotating metal plate over a mandrel using a pressure stick. It is the metal printer's speciality and an efficient way to produce round, seamless items such as bowls, lamp shades and instrument dials. The article explains setup, tools, materials and why heating is the key here too.Hard soldering and soft soldering — invisible joints in metalTechnique · 8 minSoldering is the metalsmith's most important joining technique. By melting a solder into a joint — without the base material melting — strong, tight and often nearly invisible connections are created. The article explains the difference between hard soldering and soft soldering, the choice of silver solder and flux, and how temperature is controlled so the joint succeeds.The brazier's trade: fittings, fixtures and chasingTechnique · 7 minThe brazier is the metalworker who works in brass and bronze with fittings, fixtures, lamps and building parts. The trade combines casting, turning, filing and chasing and has roots back to the old guilds. The article goes through the brazier's materials, techniques and typical works — and how the fittings specialization stands out.The engraver's craft: chisel, pantograph and laserTechnique · 7 minThe engraver cuts text, ornaments and motifs into metal surfaces — by hand with a chisel, mechanically with a pantograph or contactless with a laser. The article covers the three main methods, the engraver's tools and when hand engraving is still unbeaten.Grinding and polishing — the road to the right finishTechnique · 7 minThe surface is often what the customer sees first. The iron and metal grinder masters the path from coarse sanding to mirror-shiny polishing — a step-by-step process where each grain removes the scratches from the previous one. The article explains sanding steps polishing agents brush and satin finishes and the pitfalls that spoil an otherwise good job.Patina and surface finishing: from verdigris to bluedMaterials · 7 minCopper and bronze change color over time — it is patina. The metalsmith can let nature decide or produce the color artificially with browning patination baths and varnish. The article explains how patina forms the classic colorings and how the surface is protected so the result lasts.Welding and cutting torch fumes — extraction and respiratory protection in the metalworking shopSafety · 8 minSmoke from welding, soldering and cutting is not just annoying — it is harmful to health and for welding fumes is classified as carcinogenic. The article explains what the fumes contain, how extraction and ventilation must be set up according to the Working Environment Authority's requirements, and when respiratory protection is necessary.Pickling and acids: safe handling of pickle and fluxSafety · 7 minAfter annealing and soldering, the metal must be cleaned of oxide and flux residues — this is done by pickling in an acid bath. The acids are effective but corrosive, and improper handling causes burns and harmful vapors. The article explains what pickling does, which baths are used, and how you work safely with acid.Noise, vibrations and hearing protection in metalworkSafety · 7 minHammer blows, grinding machines and pneumatic tools make the metal workshop a noisy place, and the noise damages hearing permanently. The article explains the work environment authority's action values for noise, when hearing protection is a requirement, and how vibrations from hand tools should be handled.Fire, gas and open flame — safety when soldering and annealingSafety · 7 minThe metal worker works daily with open fire from gas burners for heating and soldering. This places demands on gas bottles, hoses, fire extinguishing and a tidy workplace. The article covers safe handling of flammable gases, fire prevention and what you do if disaster strikes.Joining without heat: hemming riveting and beadingTechnique · 7 minNot all joints should be soldered. The coppersmith and sheet metal worker often assemble sheet with lap joints, rivets and folded edges — mechanical joints that are strong, tight and durable without heat. The article covers the most important cold joints and when they are chosen over soldering.Copper on the roof: roof covering sheathing and building preservationMaterials · 8 minCopper has covered church roofs spires and domes for centuries because it is durable malleable and forms a protective patina. The coppersmith on the building works with roof covering sheathing roof gutters and restoration of historic roofs. The article reviews techniques durability and the considerations building preservation demands.The path to journeyman certificate: basic course, main course and journeyman examCareer · 7 minMetal worker is a vocational education that alternates between school and apprenticeship and concludes with a journeyman's examination. The article explains the structure of the course, the apprenticeship agreement, apprentice wages and what the journeyman's examination requires — and why the profession is under the Metal Industry's Training Committee.The specialties in the blacksmith trade – choose your pathCareer · 7 minMetal worker is an umbrella for several classic metal trades and you choose a speciality that determines what you will do. The article presents the specialities — chandler, chandler (fittings), coppersmith, metal printer, iron and metal grinder and engraver — so you can find the path that suits you.From journeyman to self-employed: workshop, restoration and craftsmanshipCareer · 7 minThe journeyman's certificate is the beginning, not the end. The metalsmith can continue as an employee in specialized workshops and industry, as an independent craftsperson or towards restoration and building conservation. The article looks at job opportunities, further training through AMU and what it takes to make a living from the trade.Setting out and unfolding — from drawing to unfolded plateTechnique · 7 minBefore a sheet is bent into a funnel, cylinder, or cone, the sheet metal worker must know how large the flat sheet should be and where to bend. This is layout and development — sheet metal geometry. The article explains development, allowances for flanges, and why care in the layout determines the finished piece.Reuse and sustainability: metal's infinite cycleMaterials · 7 minMetal is one of the most recyclable materials we have. Copper, brass and bronze can be remelted again and again without losing properties, and workshop clippings have real value. The article looks at the metal's cycle, how clippings are sorted, and why recycling is both good economics and good for the environment.