Whether you’re just getting started in the metalworking world or you’ve been at it for a couple of years, you’re likely aware that one of the biggest financial burdens you deal with is all the expensive equipment that you need. Of course, the things you need vary greatly depending on what processes you specialize in, but some are still more important than others. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the essential equipment you need for your metalworking company.
Hacksaw
Even though you likely already have a decent bandsaw for cutting your metal, it never hurts to have a few hacksaws lying around to supplement the bandsaw’s usage. They are cheap and easy to use. Plus, their lack of motor will make it much easier on your ears for quick-cutting jobs. So, while they’ll never replace a bandsaw, they are still quite handy to have in your shop.
Flux Core Welder
If you or your employees aren’t overly skilled welders, then a flux core welder might be the perfect piece of equipment you can get. You will still have to learn how to use it, but it will be much easier than a standard welding machine. Plus, this one doesn’t need any extra gases. Its electrode’s flux can protect the pieces of metal from the oxidation process that can occur.
Drill Press
Sure, anyone can drill holes into metal that old-fashioned way, but if you want to do it like a pro, you’ll want to invest in a drill press. These machines make it ridiculously easy to punch holes into metal by cutting a clean hole in precisely the same way every time through the twist of a wheel. It’s that easy.
Die Grinders
Obviously, a piece of essential equipment you need for your metalworking company would be an angle grinder, but what many shop owners tend to overlook are the die grinders. These handheld tools are smaller and lighter than the angled ones and can fit into much tighter places. On top of that, they have a wide variety of bits that you can use, which makes them a great auxiliary tool for your arsenal.
Giant Finishing Machine
Finally, if you have the money for it, you should get yourself a giant finishing machine. There are so many benefits to getting one of these, but by far, the best is the fact that they’ll pay for themselves in time. Nobody likes when their metal looks unfinished, so being able to work on a bunch of pieces at once will save you a lot of extra time and effort that you can spend somewhere else. It’s an all-around great buy if you can get your hands on one.