Awesome Metal

Grid’s slimline metal wallet can hold up to 12 cards and cash with its exterior money clip. Beyond its durability, its copper construction offers two other big benefits: it blocks RFID scanning, and bacteria can’t live on its surface, keeping germs at bay. Save 52% in The Awesomer Shop.

This impressive piece of computer-controlled machinery from Germany’s J. Neu can take straight pieces of metal tubing, and bend them to its whim. We’re not getting the accompaniment of The Godfather music, but maybe it’s a threat that the machine will bend you like a pretzel if you go against it.

Do the birds in your neighborhood have an appreciation for contemporary art and architecture? Then set them up with one of sculptor Joe Papendick’s modern metal bird feeders. Each one is hand-welded from steel and coated with rust-proof enamel in a color of your choice. A stainless steel screen holds the bird seed in place.

The VersiCube is a unique object made from CNC-machined aluminum. KAD Models and Prototypes‘ cubes allow light to shine through, and provide a nice tactile feel. They come in 1.375″ and 0.5″ sizes, and a version with pegs for 3D Tic Tac Toe. Profits go to the Advanced Manufacturing Program at the Vermont Technical College.

The MagBolt pen features a unique mechanism that uses the power of repelling magnets to engage and retract its pen tip. Each one features a smoothly machined aluminum barrel, along with accents in copper, brass, or aluminum. Accepts a Schmidt 9000 M refill (included).

There are time-tested blacksmithing techniques for twisting metal into knot-like structures. But what if you want to tie a steel rod into an actual knot? Paul Pinto shows us how his method for making a tight overhand knot using a combination of bending, hammering, and stretching. The engine hoist trick is a good one.

Builder Phil Vandelay needed a door to separate two spaces in his workshop. Rather than just go with a traditional rectangular design, he fabricated a metal frame which folds into triangular sections when opening and closing it. The design was inspired by this one he previously saw online.

Olson Form makes high-end desk accessories, milling components from 6061 aluminum alloy. The set includes a phone stand, business card holder, bolt action pen, paperclip bowl, pen holder, money/paper clip, coaster, spinning top, letter opener, and a cable weight. In black or silver, with a grooved or straight edge.

This stainless steel tool helps draw circles, arcs, and straight lines, and can also measure. It combines a protractor, straight edge, T-square and compass functions, and can measure in inches, centimeters, picas, and pixels. It packs neatly in your wallet alongside your credit cards.

Machined from a solid hunk of aluminum or brass, the Flipo Flip offers a unique take on the desktop fidget toy. This metal plaything is designed to feel great in the hand, and is perfectly weighted for flipping, spinning, and manipulation with your fingers. Available in hexagonal and square designs.

BrainfooTV show us how he transformed an stainless steel connection nut into a piece of jewelry inspired by Tony Stark’s armored helmet. He first removed the threads, then cut and shaped it using a Dremel and hand tools, before polishing it to a high sheen. As a finishing touch, he added a pair of tritium tubes to give it glowing eyes.

In a scene that plays out like the end of Terminator 2, watch as these disused aluminum car rims are melted down in a hot furnace, so they can be reincarnated into other products. We kept waiting for some screaming heads to start bursting out of the molten metal.

Fabricator Brian Oltrogge walks us thorough a truly modern process for casting a custom hammer. He used a 3D printer to generate patterns, hand-sanded and smoothed the parts, then used them to make sand molds for its aluminum handle and lead head.

Looking for a good way to burn off a little stress? Fidgeting is a good way to occupy your mind and to focus on something other than the day’s worries. The guys over at Everyday Carry have picked out 10 of their favorite fidget toys, including one of our go-tos, the stainless steel Mechforce EDC Gyroscope.

This heavy duty carabiner-style keychain features a rustproof zinc alloy body with smooth chamfered edges that won’t catch on clothing or bags. The black and gold clip has two holes for key rings, along with a built-in bottle opener. Also available in a silver finish.

Microworld makes these intricate metal building kits of mech-animal hybrids. The collection includes a polar bear, crocodile, lion, flying tiger, scorpion, and a police dog. Each one is made from iron and brass, with fade-resistant color coatings. Expect a challenge for all but the most experienced builders.