METAL WORKS

LESSON 1. Types of metals: specifications and properties

Metalworks is one of the popular industries in the country today. Every house and building needs
metal for construction and security measures.

Metal is one of the basic elements in nature. Of the 92 or more elements more than 70 are
metals. Metals are good conductors of electricity and heat. They are generally hard, heavy, and
tenacious.

Metals of outstanding property possess a luster or clean surface, when polished and once
reflected with light look like a mirror. Properties common to metals are hardness, malleability and
ductility. This allow metals to be hammered, rolled or drawn out into sheets or wire without
breaking. Metals easily conduct heat and electricity.
TYPES OF METALS: SPECIFICATIONS AND PROPERTIES

There are more than 70 known varieties of metals. Each has its own distinct properties that suit a
specific use. There are two basic types of metals, ferrous and non-ferrous. Ferrous metals contain
iron; while non-ferrous metals are those which do not contain iron. An alloy is a mixture of two or
more kinds of metals.

Example of common Ferrous Metals:

1. Pure iron is silvery white in color. It is very soft and ductile. It is alloyed with other metals
to suit a specific purpose.
2. Wrought iron is commonly used for ornamental purposes. It contains only one to two
Percent slag but does not contain carbon.
3. Cast iron is produced when melted iron ore is combined with carbon from the coal or coke

used to heat it.

4. White cast iron contains 2.0 – 2.5% iron which makes it very hard. Hardness, however,

makes the metal brittle. White cast iron is mostly used in production of machine parts.

5. Malleable cast iron is very ductile. It can be stretched, bent or distorted without breaking.

6. Gray cast iron contains about 2.5 to 3.5% carbon. This kind of metal is used for casting.

7. Steel is an alloy containing great percentage of carbon. To produce different properties for various uses,

other elements such as phosphorous, manganese, nickel and sulfur are added.
Example of Non-Ferrous Metals:

1. Gold – The most widely used metal for jewelry and gold plating. It is very soft, but very
ductile and malleable.
2. Silver – Considered as the best conductor of heat and electricity. It is slightly harder than gold. It is used in
electricity and takes the places of copper.
3. Aluminum – Considered second to gold in malleability and sixth in ductility. It can be alloyed with cobalt,
copper, zinc, magnesium and berkelium. It is used as a good conductor of electricity and commonly used for
kitchen utensils.
4. Copper – A reddish metal which is commonly used as electrical conductor. When alloyed with tin, it turns
to bronze; with zinc, it becomes brass.
5. Nickel – Also a good conductor of electricity; it is hard, malleable and ductile and is usually alloyed with
German silver and steel.
6. Tin – A silvery-white and very malleable and ductile metal, which can be rolled into very thin sheets. This
is mostly used for coating other metals and made into food containers.
7. Lead – A poor conductor of electricity because of its very soft, ductile and malleable qualities.

It can be cut with a knife and bent with bare hands. It is used extremely in plumbing, as galvanize iron for

roofing where lead washes are used.

8. Chromium – A metal very resistant to corrosion; often alloyed with steel to produce building materials.

9. Platinum – An expensive white metal that is hard, malleable and ductile and very resistant to heat and

corrosion. It is used for making chemical and scientific apparatus and in jewelry.

10. Tungsten – A grayish-black hard metal that melts easily; It is used as filaments for incandescent bulbs.

11. Monel Metal – An alloy of nickel, copper and a small percentage of iron which is made into the

propellers of ships.

12. Muntz’s Metal – Consist of a mixture of 60% copper and 40% zinc to make up very hard brass. It is

used where hard brass is required to make it harder.

Metals in general have the following properties:

1. Malleability is the quality of being hammered and flattened into thin sheets without breaking.

2. Ductility allows a metal to be drawn out into fine wires without breaking.

3. Hardness enables a metal to resist force without changing its shape.

4. Brittleness makes a metal break easily.

5. Elasticity enables a metal to return to its original shape after bending and pulling it out of shape.

6. Fusibility melts a metal easily and is usually combined with other metals to make an alloy.

7. Machinability refers to the extent to which a metal can be shaped, chipped or smoothened by a

machine.

8. Permeability is the measure of the ease with which magnetic flux can be established in a material.

9. Luster is the quality and intensity of light reflected from the surface of materials.
LESSON 2: Basic Tools and Equipment in Metalworks and their Uses

Be a critique! Study the picture below and give your observation.

 Basic Tools and Equipment in Metalworks and their uses

You need skills in using the basic tools and equipment in working with your project.
Knowing the basic tools and equipment will enable one to make quality projects.

Some of the commonly used tools in metalworks are the following:

1. Standard steel rule – One of the most used tools for measuring lengths, widths and thickness.
2. Bevel protractor – Used to measure angles from 0 – 180 degrees as well as to straighten edges with its
steel rule.
3. Try square – An L-shapes tool used for testing the squareness of corners and flatness of surfaces.
4. Divider – A two-legged pointed instrument used for drawing arcs and circles and for transferring
measurements.
5. Calipers
5.1. Inside Caliper – measures inside dimensions
5.2. Outside Caliper – measures outside dimensions
5.3. Hermaphrodite Caliper – scribes arcs in layout work
6. Micrometer – Measures very small dimensions such as the diameter of a single hair strand

7. Scribers – Pen-like tools with a sharp point and made of hard steel used to draw straight lines.

8. Layout punch – A prick punch, similar to a center punch, except that its point is ground to an angle of 30 to

60 degrees; marks lay-out lines permanently.

9. Center punch – Looks like a prick punch except that its point is ground to an angle of 90 degrees; marks

center holes accurately.

10. Bench vise – Holds small objects securely when chipping, drilling, polishing, sawing, reaming, tapping or

drilling.

11. Hammer – A hand tool for pounding. Also, a power tool used to drive and pull-out nails. Examples are

ballpeen hammer, cross peens, claw hammer and etc.

12. Screwdrivers – Drives in and remove screws.

13. Wrench – Rotates or drives nuts, bolts and screws.

14. Pliers – Used for gripping, bending and holding small parts.

15. File – A tool made of hard steel for hand cutting metal sheets and removing portions from a metal

stock.

16. Hacksaw – Cuts metals and other materials.

17. Scraper – Removes small amounts of metal to produce an accurate surface.

18. Chisel – Cuts and chips metals to clean out corners, correct errors and cut grooves.
19. Snips – A scissor-like tool used to cut very thin metal sheets.

20. Hand drills – Drills small holes on metals, wood or plastic.

21. Twist drill – Bores small holes on different materials.

22. Reamer – Smoothens the surface of a hole made by a drill to finish it to a standard size.

23. Working bench Iris – Used as the table for metalwork while working.

24. Drill press – It is used for drilling holes in metal.

25. Mallet – Used to drive wooden handed tools.

 Proper Care and Maintenance of Tools and Equipment

Proper care and maintenance of tools and equipment maintains their usefulness and minimizes repair or
replacement. The following are tips on how to maintain tools and equipment.

1. Use tools for their intended purpose only.

2. Clean the tools immediately after using them. Wipe them with oiled cloth regularly to prevent
rusting.
3. Keep tools in their proper places. Store small tools in a separate box to prevent them from
being damaged.
4. Always cover sharp pointed tools with cork when not in use.
5. Be sure tools are in good working condition before using them.
6. Handle and use tools properly.
 LESSON 3: Dustpan Making with an integration of safety precautions

Keep in Mind the following Safety Precautions

1. Ask permission from your teacher before touching or operating machines. Do not use a machine with

which you are not familiar with.

2. Hand tools such as scribers, screwdrivers, files, dividers should be kept in a tool cabinet when not in use,

never in your pockets.

3. Use only tools in good working condition. Damaged tools should be repaired or replaced.

4. Make sure your hands are dry and you are not standing on wet floor before touching any electric machine.
5. Wear protective clothing and gadgets such as a cap for your hair and googles or eye shields when chipping,

grinding, buffing or pouring hot metal.

6. Remove all jewelry before starting to work. Avoid long sleeve clothes when working.

7. Keep flammable materials away from the working area.

8. Pick up immediately tools and materials dropped on the floor to prevent accidents.

9. Report accidents to your teacher immediately, no matter how minor these are.

10. Avoid playing and teasing inside the shop.

Project making: Dustpan

Planning is a very important stage in shopwork. It prevents and minimizes errors and
facilitates work.

Dustpan is one of the easiest outputs to make with while learning metalworks. Aside
that it is easy to make it has a lot of purpose also especially in doing household chores and
keeping our home clean.

Below are the links to be used in making the dustpan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u0G98LYFGw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04A9Q_1xjQ&t=26s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRaX_pLjZ8c