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Awesome Metal

Talon Ice Tongs

Talon Ice Tongs
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Do the chickens have large talons? We’re not sure, Napoleon. But these tongs sure do, and their mighty metal claws will hold onto your ice cubes like a bird with its prey. They’re made from antique brass-plated stainless steel and measure 7-7/8″ long.

How “Invisible” Metal Cuts Are Made

How “Invisible” Metal Cuts Are Made

Metal objects like the Metmo Cube are fascinating because they feature parts that are so precisely cut that you can’t see where one piece begins and the other one ends. Science educator Steve Mould explains wire EDM machining, which enables the creation of such incredibly tight-fitting objects.

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Radar Metal Bowl Set

Radar Metal Bowl Set
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These unique serving bowls from Pendulux feature an embossed design inspired by the lines and icons used to identify flying objects on radar screens. The pattern looks like it came from some ancient alien civilization. The set includes 13″, 9″ and 6.75″ diameter bowls, and comes in nickel-plated brass or natural brass.

Turning a Rusty Drill Bit Into a Bolt-Action Pen

Turning a Rusty Drill Bit Into a Bolt-Action Pen

Random Hands took a piece of rusty metal from the shaft of an industrial drill bit and transformed it into a shiny new ballpoint pen. After sanding the surface rust off of the metal rod, he drilled out its center, added a cutout for a bolt-action mechanism, and gave its case a beautiful hammered texture with a rotary tool.

Flame-painting Metal

Flame-painting Metal

Watch as a talented craftsperson turns a metal disc into a beautiful work of art by applying heat from a torch. The control it must take to create such a precise pattern is extraordinary. We’re not sure who created this piece, but it looks a lot like the work of Skip and Racheal​ Mathews, who use the technique on copper.

Turning a Hair Dryer into a Jet Engine

Turning a Hair Dryer into a Jet Engine

Dyson’s Supersonic hair dryer pushes more air and dries hair faster than most. Integza figured out a way to use its tiny and powerful motor to create a handheld jet engine. First, he had to use an industrial 3D printer to produce a metal case for his project. Then he injected fuel into its combustion chamber and ignited it.

Metal Dragon Model

Metal Dragon Model

Magnetic Games walks us through the painstaking process of assembling a 2030-piece metal model that comes together to form an awe-inspiring dragon. It’s not for beginners and takes 20+ hours to put together, but the result is worth the effort. You can buy the kit from EngineDIY.

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Making Copper Mugs from Scratch

Making Copper Mugs from Scratch

Moscow mules are served in a copper mug for a reason. Not only does copper look awesome, it helps keep cold drinks cool. Not content with storebought mugs, Robinson Foundry decided to make his own. In this video, he shows how he made a pair of beautiful mugs using ceramic molds he created from 3D-printed forms.

Machining an Aluminum Isogrid Skateboard

Machining an Aluminum Isogrid Skateboard

An isogrid is a kind of metal structure that uses hollowed-out triangles to provide strength while reducing weight. Barry from Titans of CNC Machining used the technique to create a truly awesome skateboard. He started by plotting a design in SolidWorks, then used a CNC mill to carve the board from a block of aluminum.

Making Kung Lau’s Razor Hat from Mortal Kombat

Making Kung Lau’s Razor Hat from Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat’s Kung Lau wears one of the deadliest articles of clothing ever. Not only is his hat made out of metal, but it also has a razor-sharp brim that can slice his opponents into pieces. Koss shows us how he made a real-world replica of the killer hat using a jumbo circular saw blade as a starting point.

Machining a Ball Inside a Box

Machining a Ball Inside a Box

One of the more interesting items you can produce in a machine shop is a sphere inside of a cube. Emil Hogslätt shows how he produced one such object using a DMG Mori 5-axis milling machine. The finished product is immensely satisfying, as are the soothing noises the machine makes as it cuts and smooths the aluminum piece.

Engraved Metal Computer Mouse

Engraved Metal Computer Mouse

The vast majority of computer mice are made out of cheap plastic. Artist Uri Tuchman wanted to create something with a bit more substance, so he took the electronics out of a mouse and painstakingly crafted a new enclosure out of brass then engraved it with an ornate filigree pattern.

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Meta Clicker Titanium Fidget Gadget

Meta Clicker Titanium Fidget Gadget

This titanium fidget toy features a series of magnetic bars which tilt along a center beam and click into place like toggle switches. The interchangeable buttons let you choose between a mix of rectangular and square switches. Available in grey, purple, or blue anodized finishes.

Mini-Bolt Pen

Mini-Bolt Pen
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Vital Carry is back with another neat pen design. The Mini-Bolt pen has a machined metal case with a grooved non-slip surface and a bolt-action mechanism which can be ordered left- or right-handed. The 3″ long pen accepts a Schmidt D1 ink refill and comes in bright aluminum, titanium, bronze, brass, or copper.

ImpactRack Refurbished Newspaper Boxes

ImpactRack Refurbished Newspaper Boxes
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ImpactRack takes those old streetcorner newspaper vending machines, removes the coinboxes, and makes them look as good as new. The boxes can be used for storage, a sidewalk library, or for vinyl storage and a turntable stand. They’re available with classic newspaper logos or can be custom painted.

Making Fancy Manhole Covers

Making Fancy Manhole Covers

The manhole covers here in the U.S. are pretty utilitarian. But in Japan, manhole covers can be works of urban art. This video from Process X takes us inside a high-tech factory that turns raw steel into embossed discs, then has artists embellish them with colorful enamels applied with squeeze bottles.

Turning Nails into Liquid with Electricity

Turning Nails into Liquid with Electricity

Melting steel normally requires a very hot, gas-fired furnace. But NileRed shows us how a relatively inexpensive induction heater can be used to turn a pile of nails into a molten blob, thanks to the heat generated by 3500 watts of electricity being conducted through the metal.

Making a Metal Armor Shell for a Hermit Crab

Making a Metal Armor Shell for a Hermit Crab

Hermit crabs are known for their ability to reside in the abandoned shells of other sea creatures. I did a thing wanted to know if one of these crustaceans would wear a shell made out of metal, like a tiny suit of armor. So he got to work casting some metal seashells and put them in a tank to see if a crab would put one on.

Best Metal Wallets 2023

Best Metal Wallets 2023

Leather and other textile-based wallets look nice, but they wear out over time. If you want a wallet that will last decades, consider a metal wallet. Everyday Carry picked eight of the best metal wallets you can buy, from the rugged, skeletonized Trayvax Contour to the sleek and minimal Machiner Era Co. Ti5 titanium wallet.

Why Titanium Changes Colors

Why Titanium Changes Colors

We love the rainbow of colors that can be found on some titanium objects. If you’ve wondered how those colors appear without paint, The Action Lab explains the science at work when heating or anodizing titanium. By applying different voltages to the metal in an ionizing bath, you can change how light reflects off of its surface.

Forging a Corkscrew from Scratch

Forging a Corkscrew from Scratch

Blacksmith Mark Aspery walks us through the process of hand-forging a traditional corkscrew. He starts out with a rod of 3/8″ square chrome-molybdenum steel, which he hammers, stretches, bends, and twists into the final shape. Anyone got a good bottle of wine to test it on?

Brass Cobra Phone Stand

Brass Cobra Phone Stand
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The king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake – and one of the most intimidating. This small, but imposing brass cobra from Coppertist.wu will hold your phone and keep watch over your desk. Every detail is present in the casting, and hand-set zircon eyes bring it to life. It measures 3.76″ high and weighs 8 oz.

Most Satisfying Knurling

Most Satisfying Knurling

The process of knurling metal involves applying a criss-cross pattern to create a grippy, textured surface. This satisfying video from My Mechanics Insights shows how the metalworker created the handle for a dumbbell and applied knurling to both ends of the shaft, along with an overlapping section in the middle.

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