"Absinthe" wrote in message
news:1109337305.e55dbb01c7550376150b1a40cd9c1a83@t eranews...
I have been doing a fair amount of woodwork, and am considering doing a
bit
more metalwork. Any hand tools or small machines that you love/can't live
without?

I know this is a broad question, and should probably bring about counter
response like "Depends on what you want to make." I think I just want to
be
able to do the most that I can as I learn the necessary skills. I have no
specific projects in mind, though I guess things involving bending and
shaping will be most difficult without some sort of aid.

For now, I have lots of files, a dremmel, and a bench grinder. I have been
considering either picking up a micro-mill or perhaps a cross slide vise
to
use on my drill press. Any advise or suggestions are welcomed.

You probably see by now that getting involved in metalworking is not much
like getting into woodworking. The range of processes and products in
metalworking is just too broad to chart any specific path on the way to
"metalworking."

There is a suggestion in your post that you may be more interested in the
doing than in what you make. If that's so, there are some very satisfying
and inexpensive options. If you want to get right into making *things*, then
it depends entirely upon what you want to make. If you want to start
yourself on a specific path, the way you would in workworking, by learning
the basic handtools, joints, and finishing methods, etc., the trouble you'll
face with metalworking is that there are dozens of such "paths," which
depend on where you want the path to lead.

Most of us here like to make useful mechanical things, or to entertain
ourselves by learning to make them, and we gravitate toward machine tools.
As others have suggested, a lathe is the basic tool, for reasons unrelated
to the use of lathes in woodworking. Lathes are big investments.

At other extremes are things like making jewelry; making structures (welding
and other fabricating); making sculpture; making complete machines
(mechanical things, writ large); even repairing and restoring things, from
decorative objects to car engines.

So you really have to think about what you want out of this. There is no
single path from beginner-to-general-metalworking-expert. I suspect that
most of flailed away with many processes in the beginning, getting our hands
on whatever tools we could and just having at it. A few were more
systematic, knowing they wanted to pursue it as a career or a specific
craft.

If you have an idea of where you want to go, we can help you a lot more if
you talk about it. There is a wide range of metalworking expertise on this
newsgroup.

Personally, I think everyone should start with chisels, hammers, files, and
a drillpress. g But that's only half joking.

Be patient and keep asking.

--
Ed Huntress