5 Steel Fabrication Tools I Wish I'd Bought Sooner

[@te01guy]

Most people forget that transfer punching is a two step process, light tap on the transfer and then deepen it with a proper center punch. Even in machine shops I’ve seen too many sets with flattened over punch nibs and mushroomed heads. A good set in careful hands will last a lifetime

[@donaldross1077]

I learned welding the hard way from Dad. Now I just turned 68 last week. My father was a shipyard welder in Bremerton Washington after WW11. When I got old enough he handed me the welder and his 'sugar scoop' hood and said there it is. I was not as coordinated getting the hood down in time and burnt my eyes. For about three days I could not see anything. When Dad passed away 2017 at 94, he had 9 welders. Everything from stick to wire feed and band saw blade welders. Because you never have too many. Dad could make and repair anything in metal with a full machine shop. I decided to do the same with wood. Thanks for the video.

[@avmech2126]

Never have too many……the old two is one, one is none train of thought, love it and definitely follow it 👍

[@leerosenhan1952]

“….because it’s my channel”, love it! Thanks for the tips.

[@kevinthomas895]

I believe that Magswitch is the same one I sent you. I'm glad to see it's getting high mileage in your shop.

[@Quietvibes07]

Better tools can mean better work. Another classic quote from Scott.

[@stephk5255]

Glad you brought up fireball. The tools I've bought from him have completely changed my fabrication life.

[@maximus-6788]

that guy is a genius!

[@LimestoneCoastCustoms]

I bought a box of "engineers chalk" as we call it here in Australia many years ago, I agree, it's my go to if I can't put my hands on a piece straight away! As a fabricator, I've never seen a silver streak pencil before, I'll have to look that up! Thanks!! On a trip to the States some years ago, I brought back some great tools (many of them just small) My suitcase was full of them, most had never been seen in out country before. Such tools like those transfer punches, adjustable angle welding magnets, profile gauges, a magnetic angle gauge with a level bubble (for finding angles) etc etc!! many of my mates couldn't believe what was available over there compared to here. Now, thank goodness for the internet, we get to see most of these tools now days, but back then we had no idea what we were missing out on. Yes, weld aid is good, but can you believe mark out blue was unheard of in our country? especially in a spray can!! 😯Some how I snuck one of those back in my luggage too 🤣🤣

[@psidvicious]

It is strange how some tools are available in some places and completely unheard of in others. I’ve noticed in some of the Asian woodworking YT videos, they’re using what looks like a regular, hand-held circular saw but it’s able to use a stacked dado head cutter blade, enabling you to make rebate joints or dado cuts. In the US, I’ve never seen anything even remotely like it and I have no idea why.

[@offroad6309]

White out works great as well for marking lines and is easy to see. Yes the white out you use for hiding words on paper.

[@wrstew1272]

What is really bad is when you know that a tool will make your job easier, and you don’t have it 😂

[@radaraacf]

I really need to buy some marking blue I keep forgetting

[@mcdlb181]

Fireball tools, very cool . As an old guy with old guy ways🤨🤨 , it’s good to see a young guy with great ideas/skills, work smarter not harder

[@dustinjones274]

I got the pleasure of working at the Vise Grip factory. It was created in my home town of DeWitt Nebraska. I was too young to understand the genius design it is.

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

Last I heard, Malco Tools had bought the actual factory in DeWitt. And they are making...locking pliers again. A bit more expensive than Irwin's current Vise Grip brand.

[@bc65925]

Magswitch has two magnets, one inside the other, which either align or un-align the poles when rotated.

[@firemanj35]

Lol, "I'm not going to show you the welds I don't want to because it's my channel " 😂😂 great stuff EC I also am a fan of Fireball tools.

[@nicholasmiceli2689]

I got my start in fabrication/machine work at the only American made transfer punch machine shop R.L. Spellman MFG (Now the Rehn Company). Handy tools! Thanks for the great video

[@Livvy720]

Old school brother….I love it…..keep teaching these kids

[@avmech2126]

As usual, another great video with superior content. Learned gas, stick, and TIG in my mid to late teens. Not much use in aircraft maintenance these days but, in lean times welding kept our heads above water financially (always good to have skills one can fall back on…..). Now closing in on 70 years on this earth and planning retirement, welding and metal fab will occupy my time.

[@mikelgeren149]

Mr. Pete on youtube is the best shop teacher ever ! In my area of East Tenn they dropped highschool shop . Went to computer lab . It would not surpise me if the schools have pronoun expression classes now .

[@PhotonFlightTeam]

Nice shout out for Fireball. Town of Glide has held a special place in my heart for.....30 years now?......when I first learned of annual Wildflower Festival. so hard to know of the great fire losses there. God bless, keep up the Good work! Darrell

[@donfrank4429]

I still have and use my welding helmet my welding shop teacher gave in 12 th grade A in the class at the end of the school year back in 1974. I keep it in a military Helmet bag . Shop classes were so helpful back in the day now schools look at shop classes as waste of money. You learned skills from welding, wood, auto, electric, machinery shop also from Ag classes

[@kiwigrunt330]

One reason why Scott is such an enthralling narrator just occurred to me. When he need to think about the second half of a sentence, he stops. He does not fill the gap with annoying "um"s and "you know"s.

[@stevegibbs9695]

Thank you brother for the video. I too started my journey of welding in high school ag,Mr Sisco was my teacher. I had a dad that taught me how to do things, how to be a man. But we didn't the ability to weld at home.Thank God,fer teachers that cared about thier students enuff to teach them and drive them to get better.A love welding was born then and still is evident in my life today,sum almost 35years later.... Thank you kind sir fer all your hard work, a True Craftsman,I judge you to be!!! Fer those of coming along behind,please continue too share the wisdom. We need it!!! May The Lord Jesus Christ Bless All your endeavors, my friend...

[@Comm0ut]

Try whiteout correction pens as welding markers. They're brighter than silver pencils and more precise than chalk (I use those too of course).

[@keithtappe6505]

I have that same magswitch except mine has a ¼-20 threaded hole on one side and a 5/16-18 threaded hole on the other for hooking your ground cable to for a magnetic ground. I absolutely love it!

[@atVVV1]

The end cap of the markal pencil is a sharpener

[@nannesoar]

Holy crap I'm hoping to get a steel fabrication job tomorrow! You know me too well, EC!! Always there when I need ya!

[@ajs96350]

Fireball Tool is legit. Dude is a genius.

[@SegoMan]

@@ajs96350 Yes he is, the shop he normally shows in his vids is his private shop, the mfr shop is a different one..

[@russellanderson3901]

Switchable magnets are a god send for machining too. They work by aligning and "un-aligning" the magnetic field.

[@jaredf5828]

I bought a few things from Fireball Tools, and they have good stuff!

[@dannythompson1948]

My HS ag teacher was a guy named lyn Culver. He taught me how to weld and he kinda took me under his wing. I doubt he's still alive, but i bet he'd be shocked that im an engineer and can TIG weld now... Lol i do like soap stone, but often i draw a line that wont be cut for til the end of a project, so i switched to a scribe. I go through about 3 a year though.. haha

[@RT440Robert]

The whiteout pen works really really good for marking metal.

[@tylerfoss3346]

Great job once again, young man! Bravo!!!

[@gtbkts]

Thanks for the awesome content and all the amazing videos!!!

[@OldMan_PJ]

I took a "trades" class in High School my senior year that taught welding, woodworking, casting, and some other skills. The teacher pulled me aside the first day and questioned why I had signed up for the class saying that it was meant for remedial students to try and interest them in a trade job before dropping out, he couldn't fathom someone might actually want to learn trade skills of their own free will. The guidance counselor wouldn't let me sign up for vocational school either for the same reason.

[@RichardMerrill3Hawk]

I always wondered what that white marker was that people used to draw on metal in YT videos of metal working. Thanks for solving that mystery!

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep your videos coming please.

[@bacbladerunner]

A tip for you. There should be a threaded hole on the back of the mini-mag angle to bolt your welder ground lead to, if needed. It is rated for 200 or 300 amps.

[@kw77827]

I love the channel, one of the best out there hands down. The new dark mood lighting could probably contend with a Hollywood film in terms of quality (at least to my eye) but when Scott is showing off tools, I think it's a little too dark to see properly. Best to the entire Wadsworth family.

[@OligosFew]

I went to welding school in 89. I learned of these then, am I to believe these are drops of wisdom from years of experience?

[@bobmartin6055]

Fireball tools are a huge help!!!

[@ohwowthatsgood]

lasquare combo square. nice wide combo square for metalwork. I forget who first mentioned that. Probably Jody. great tool.

[@BCVS777]

Markal Silver Streak pencils are great too!

[@douglasgaunt9806]

What ever makes your life easier works for me

[@TheRealFOSFOR]

I always carry a 'torpedo level' (with magnets) in my side pocket. When I need to use a regular square on a piece of stock with a rounded edge, I attach the level on the corner of the stock to get a sharp edge. - Also, when I need to use the square in a rounded inside corner, such as on tubing, I attach the torpedo level to the square itself to create a gap in the corner of the square.

[@mesh1248]

White out pen is what i love using for marking steel

[@nicolashuffman4312]

How about a set of non-serrated vise jaws? I can't stand leaving 'apprentice marks' on the things I make. Just make smooth jaws and clamp the bejesus out of it.

[@brianlittle3452]

Transfer Screws - a cousin to transfer punches. Transfer screws or screws with a point to mark threaded holes. Are not required every day but useful when needed, Come in inch and mm sizes.

[@JacobStegeman]

I don’t know if you read the comments much anymore, but I’d love to see an in depth video about what fasteners you carry in the truck on a daily basis. Nails and Screws, thank ya.

[@MichaelDillin]

Thank you, thank you thank you my shop teachers were the best. Hopefully you will continue to make educational videos. I will buy all five of the products you mentioned and yes, fireball tool is awesome.

[@JDeWittDIY]

The magswitch moves internal magnets to align the poles in such a way so the magnetic force cancels out in order to turn it off.

[@EvLSpectre]

The magnet is just two magnets that are either aligned when it is "on". Or the poles are flipped when it is "off" as the magnets cancel each other out.

[@russelltreat4572]

Anti splatter is great stuff an old welder told me once if your welder is set right you don't need it on the work use it for jigs and your nozzle. And I have found out the hard way WD 40 will mess with a paint job if you don't get it cleaned off really good

[@jasonhahn4470]

Expandable transfer punches can step up your game. They allow for in between sizes when the center needs to be dead nuts

[@carrionpinata7163]

The blacksmith that got me started in that craft showed me that the SilverStreak pencil mark actually glows on the hot steel unlike the mark left by soapstone. "Measure it with calipers. Mark it with soapstone. Cut it with an axe."

[@thechickensaladsandwichman9171]

Thanks scott! Keep up the good work

[@johnmcmunn3827]

Solid practical advise and real tools ...no BS top 10 ...... many thx

[@sustainwind9340]

Morning motivation video !

[@horneygeorgeforge7079]

regarding marking metal, i like all the methods you mentioned, but i have just discovered one more. the line it make isn't as fine as the pencil but more viable being a nice white mark , and doesn't go away as you weld like soapstone. that is a "White Out Pen" it lasts longer in the heat! Including in the FORGE! try it you too will like it too. thank you for your video!

[@bobireland1256]

Saw that on another guy’s video. Headed out to get a couple now. Thanks for mentioning.

[@larion3296]

Regarding the magnet, I have been thinking that I need one. And was looking for a electromagnet. But later I realised that at least some of them have a much more clever design. When you turn the knob you are actually changing the magnet field from having two opposing fields that cancels each other to two concurrent fields that grip.

[@schultzf350]

Good video. This is one of those videos that needs better lighting.👍🏻

[@ColeVanWeezy1991]

Whiteout also doesn't burn off 👍

[@DustinKreidler]

I'm increasingly annoyed by the late-80s, early-90s approach to education that shunted all the "smart" kids into honors classes, and everyone else into shop classes. I've never (yet) learned to weld, and have had to pick up all sorts of other skills (carpentry, plumbing) on the fly. Whatever dumbass decided "smart" kids don't need to learn any of that is, indeed, a dumbass. I guess no one assumed that we'd ever own homes or want to try DIY. Ugh. Thanks for all the great content! I love feeling like a smarty-pants because you called out Fireball Tools, one of my other YT subscriptions.

[@fisharmor]

I was just talking to a guy from Nebraska who was compelled to take shop in the 90s because everyone at his high school had to. I graduated in 1992 on the East coast and like you, I "tested out" of shop classes. Within five years of my graduation every high school in the county had gotten rid of their shops entirely. I'm not just annoyed at it - I've spent 25 years sitting at a computer chasing buffer overruns. If I had shop classes, I easily would have gravitated toward engineering and would have spent my life making actual things in a non-corporate environment. I'm not annoyed about it - I'm quite bitter.

[@jollyroger6258]

@@fisharmor- I concur. I got my A.A.S. in electrical technology from the local community college. In the 4th semester we all had to breadboard an 8088 microcomputer and write some assembly code for it. From that experience, I taught myself how to write software, thinking "if I can build the car, I can figure outhow todrive the car". Forty years later, I'm the senior software engineer on my team, and the only one who understands the hardware that my software runs on.

[@garychaiken808]

Great job. Thank you 😊

[@russelltreat4572]

A handy square I believe it is called a universal square made by husky it's great for layout on large radius tubing

[@ric_gatewood]

More lighting please.

[@thomasginn4709]

Fireball tools is definitely a must if you want to produce high end metal working projects and a good healthy dose of Essential Craftsman

[@sungear]

You've probably already noticed the problem with lighting, but I'm commenting just in case. Otherwise great video.

[@larion3296]

Yes, slightly difficult to see some of the tools.

[@GaryT1952]

More lighting please 🌘

[@Backstabbio]

nice chat, señor

[@FidoHouse]

I wish I'd had a Shop Class. It wasn't open to girls back then.

[@ian9toes]

A step drill should be on that list

[@smartgorilla]

Might need to go visit the black Bear forge. Heard he has a channel too. John I bet would love collaboration. Just saying and mentions the EC channel a few times.

[@nopriors]

I cried with joy the first time i used my transfer punches. I returned to prayer...

[@rossmarkle1713]

Great advice 👍

[@NathanS__]

Tools don't make the craftsman but they can make a job easier.

[@edbigtruck]

Great tips

[@danielwessinger1495]

One can use spray pan release like “Pam” for splatter

[@gills3141]

it kind of hurt me when you broke the soap stone. God bless sir, and remember all things for Gods glory and you seem to know that already.

[@SegoMan]

You can never have to many tools - however the shop can be to small...

[@plumhillfarm7285]

also SilverStreak for marking dark wood like walnut when a pencil line won't show up

[@barnyardbrio7597]

good advice

[@garthland]

I wish I could have afforded a Miller 'pipepro 400' sooner,It has a better arc than my Lincoln 350MP

[@akbychoice]

I’ve broken down much soap stone and flat silver streaks. Now I have the pencils, where were they 40 years ago?

[@Richie_-_]

white out markers are a lot better then soap stone try one out for cutting

[@msbmotorsports]

That extending vise grip clamp - what's the name of that tool?

[@msbmotorsports]

Found it myself - "Sliding arm locking c clamp"

[@lauraleedavid9955]

Nice

[@tristanconnolly5675]

Nice.

[@paulhaworth1824]

Sometimes I just have a good guess before I cut

[@billfarrell223]

for the life of me i cant find a set of vise clamps like one in the video anyone know where i can grab a few?

[@royreynolds108]

You could probably adapt some ViceGrips(like they did) or other tools to your needs. This has always been an option.

[@mmtimy]

Hey. For my shop 2 things I wish that started early. Have 2 Small box at my entry door. One box is for entry the shop, ever is in my pocket, key Walt phone I just drop all in box. The other box is for leaving the shop everything in my pocket dorp in the box, I have an old cell phone in the shop box, that has my music on it. be for leave I the shop I will do a video diary what I'm doing and what my thoughts are

[@patc9102]

Too add to the tool talk. If you are looking for even more precision when making, consider a scribed. Also for making long cut with a torch, a shop built burn bar is a must. All it is, is a ¼ x 3" flatbar with a ¼ round bar welded ⅛ off center on the edge with a handle on the top. This allows you to run your torch effortlessly.

[@dinglesdingler1211]

I buy all my consumables in bulk...pencils, marking paint, oil filters, electrical tape, screws...you know youre going to use it. Just buy it all once and then itll always be there when you want it. Stop wasting time on the little crap. $80 for a box of marking paint is alot...but it lasted 2 years and I never had to go find it. Thats worth it.

[@gabewhisen3446]

I’ve known guys who were so experienced they could produce quality fast work with junk tools But I can’t so better tools mean better faster work for me

[@1988texasaggie]

Most of the Amazon links for the products you discuss do not work. Appears there was an error in the cut/paste process as looking at the actual link reveals typos.

[@essentialcraftsman]

Thank you! We fixed it!!

[@jdlives8992]

light

[@dcrog69]

This is gonna sound silly, but it took me a while before I figured out there was a sharpener under the cap for the silver streak.

[@JasonAWilliams-IS]

Wish the lighting was bright enough to actually see the tools he was holding.

[@Zedsdead83]

The white enginering chalk, i take a box, break a and sharpen a hand full and leave them randomly across the shop, then there is always a piece handy most of the time.

[@patricklucki5368]

Great video, too dark though

[@erimendo6150]

Awesome ep. but your lighting needs super improvement. It's like a spot light is only on Scotts face 🤦

[@TrevorDennis100]

Jason at Fireball Tools used to have one of the best channels on KZbin, but he got a bit desperate after he developed the jigs and tables he is selling now, and it is not a good look on him. He started getting negative comments because he was not entertaining anymore, so he turned off comments for his videos, and that is an even worse look. I think he is under a lot of pressure to make money, but he does sell some excellent products. I hope he turns things around and gets his business well into the black, so he can start making incredible tools like the bandsaw and go kart belt sander.

[@WEIMERANERZ]

With all due respect i think your lighting is terrible i can hardly see your background or what you were showing in front of you, i enjoy your channel keep up the excellent work

[@trevermccall6762]

👍

[@firstlast-yn4qg]

"vice grip makes a clamp like that" i have a welder, i can make me a clamp like that.