Making Heavy Metal Cones

This video shows how to make cones from 1/8-inch (3.2mm) steel, using simple shop-made equipment.
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[@nathaniellangston5130]

I am a machinist at the Green Bank Observatory and we make parts for radio telescopes. We have to make MASSIVE cones that end up connecting together to be often 6ft tall that starts at 4-5 ft diameter and ends at 5 inches or so!! We do it COMPLETELY out of either billet stainless steel or aluminum. It would be amazing to be able to save so much material by doing it this way!

[@RonCovell]

My hat is off to you for making such large and precise parts. You must fill up multiple dumpsters with chips!

[@stevewalston7089]

@Nathaniel Langston - I just met someone randomly yesterday while doing some volunteer work and we got to talking about all kinds of things and he mentioned visiting the observatory and how close it is to us in Ohio. I had never heard of it before and here you are. Pretty wild the small world experiences sometimes. Are these components structural or for wave guide?

[@RonCovell]

Rich - I hope Nathaniel Langston sees your comment, and replies. I don't know how this works - I can certainly see all comments on my videos, and the comments on the comments, but I don't know what the commenters see when someone comments on their comment. If YOU know - let ME know.

[@stevewalston7089]

@@RonCovell I added the @Nathaniel Langston just in case, but he still should have gotten a notification. Sometimes it is added automatically but other times not. I stopped getting new video reminders from all of the channels I'm subscribed to years ago and have never figured out why. Some things just remain a mystery.

[@RonCovell]

Yes, Google and KZbin work in mysterious ways!

[@markmatt9174]

So many KZbin channels claim to be "Experts" yet the average people can see their flaws. This channel is THE metal forming expert.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@ogreunderbridge5204]

I will never grow tired of your minimalist approach to no need of fancy expensive tools videos :D

[@RonCovell]

Thanks. I learned a couple of years ago that people enjoy seeing how to do work with the simplest of tools.

[@alexhb12333]

You are the Bob Ross of metal forming, so relaxing and enjoyable to watch! As a CAD guy that took some manual drafting classes, the contructions and template making are so interesting. Thanks for sharing Ron!

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you enjoy my videos!

[@deconteesawyer5758]

In the 60s Jr high schools had a thing called metal shop classes. Kids would layout and make this wonderful thing called a funnel. I guess nowadays well paid youtube geniuses like this guy have to reinvent the basics that are now long gone.

[@redwhiteandbluebonnets8180]

Gonna put some happy little cones right over here...

[@babcockcopper]

I roll cones all the time up to 1/2" for mines and industrial applications. This is absolutely awesome, especially for branch and takeoffs in the field. Thank Ron!

[@BD-hy8bl]

As always. Amazing series. Thanks for being around and sharing your knowledge.

[@RonCovell]

I appreciate that!

[@BuckJolicoeur]

I love watching these videos. Consistently, I realize a huge part of your success with these builds is the easily overlooked preparation and tool building aspect of a project.

[@RonCovell]

Yeah, carefully thinking through a project and doing adequate preparation pay huge dividends!

[@sjoemie_himself]

Ron you have done it again, you have blown my mind. Making seemingly impossible shapes by using simple but ingenious tools and techniques. Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. It is truly a pleasure to watch a master at work. Greetings from the Netherlands, Mark

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thanks, Mark. I do appreciate your continued interest in my videos.

[@markhedquist9597]

I so appreciate your videos, Ron. The quality of your work is amazing. And your demeanor is a joy to experience. I absolutely love learning the processes you demonstrate for us. Thank you for passing on your vast knowledge of fabrication!

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thank you!

[@nathaniellangston5130]

That is an absolutely beautiful finished product!! Fantastic explanation as always!!!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much 😊

[@DavidGuyton]

this is brilliant.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@fineliferarestylekustomkin8197]

Your a badd ass I've looked to your work for many years especially when I was starting to shape metal. It's been about 20years now &hundred or so cars and motorcycle competed. I love that your still teaching me new things. Thank you for your commitment and love for this industry. It wouldn't be where it is today without you an your great teachings and knowledge nor would I... thanks Ron!!!!!

[@RonCovell]

Wow - it takes a lot of doing to complete 100 cars and motorcycles. My hat is off to you for becoming a lifetime professional, and I'm glad I could teach you a few tricks along the way!

[@wexy021]

You have such talent and wisdom. I greatly appreciate you sharing all that you have. I also use your videos to prove to my friend that fit up and layout are as important as the finished part!

[@RonCovell]

Whoo, boy are fit up and layout important!

[@threeriversforge1997]

Great stuff. As a blacksmith, I've had to forge a lot of cones over the years for various projects, and it's always a bugger. I'm starting to learn a lot about sheet metal thanks to this channel and can see me doing more with it. Anything that doesn't involve tons of heat scorching me is a good thing in my book!

[@RonCovell]

Well, certainly sometimes you need heat to make metal do what it doesn't 'want' to do - but with the right tools and techniques you can do a lot at room temperature.

[@Maker238DeLoach]

Another beautiful job Ron. It’s amazing what a little flat plate in threaded rod will help us with. I can’t express the amount of knowledge I learned from this video as always. Make On man.

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thank you!

[@JohnWilson-wi2ud]

I am a retired Sheet Metal Worker,I still get a buzz watching a craftsman at work.

[@robschaffer2189]

What a great explanation and fantastic results. Thank you for your videos Ron!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching!

[@dave0110aaaa]

Ron, I get so excited whenever I see you have posted a new video! I always learn from you! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@RonCovell]

So nice of you!

[@joell439]

Calmly creating fixtures and anything is possible. 👍👍😎👍👍. Thank you Ron for another tutorial on how to form metal. The art pieces were really cool.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked the furniture pieces, as well as the car parts.

[@markd6777]

Ron, As always, you do nothing but impress! I have a project coming up that I was bouncing around in my head as to the best way to get a good form on 1/8" material. Needless to say I now have a very simple and elegant answer. Keep up the videos if you can they are always very interesting and useful to the less experienced and not so widely exposed of us. Thanks again for this. Mark.

[@RonCovell]

Hey, I'm very glad you found this video interesting, and that it might actually help on a future project. I've been consistently uploading new videos every two weeks, and I'm trying hard to keep on that schedule.

[@g.posselt]

yesterday i used your rolation technique for the first time. Worked great. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge

[@RonCovell]

Hey, I'm delighted that it worked well for you!

[@MJ-nb1qn]

Ron, you are a true Master. Your work has amazed me for years. Thank You!

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thank you!

[@stonewallace379]

Ron, your instruction is incredible. Thank you and cheers from New Zealand!

[@RonCovell]

You are very welcome! I hope to return to New Zealand - I've taught many workshops there, and toured quite a bit on both islands. It's a wonderful place!

[@jameslezak8179]

Wow Ron! You make these cones look so easy to make! Brilliant, as an earlier comment stated! Thanks for all your time and sharing all of your great technics! 👍😎

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you liked this video!

[@Dev_Everything]

Tremendous work as always. Thanks for making this video!

[@RonCovell]

I'm very glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Alanbataar]

Thank you, Ron, for sharing your technique! That will undoubtedly come in handy someday.

[@RonCovell]

I hope so!

[@Stuart_Cox1969]

Always a pleasure watching you work.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you, sir!

[@gerhardb1227]

Ron, if you explain an do it, it seems and looks so easy! Every time when I am watching your videos, I am also impressed what you are able to realize with such easy tools!

[@RonCovell]

Glad you are enjoying my videos!

[@davidmattey3065]

Holy smokes, Ron. This is super cool. Thanks for sharing your extensive knowledge - it's really enjoyable watching your videos.

[@RonCovell]

My pleasure!

[@toddcott9510]

Another truly inspiring demonstration.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jasonbenjamin1464]

another thoughtful piece of work! stellar

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much!

[@outsidescrewball]

The Covell standard…excellent video production/discussion/demonstration/build….thank you for sharing/mentoring

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly!

[@robertrainford301]

Calm, confident and very clear voiced instruction. You are surely a master teacher! Bending my ear and making me cone-sistant will make me a better teacher!

[@RonCovell]

Wow, thank you!

[@EMcL88]

I love all the approaches you have to various problems, gives me so many ideas

[@RonCovell]

Great - I hope they will be useful someday soon!

[@tamasmihaly1]

What a master! Innovative, imaginative and practical.

[@RonCovell]

Wow - thanks for the high praise!

[@H4rleyBoy]

WoW!! so much work for such a simple shape (ostensibly) thanks for a great video.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@your_utube]

Amazing ingenuity. Thanks Ron!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching!

[@ddistrbd1]

Well done again ,I love projects like this, watched this video already three times , I am truly amazed at how your mind works in finding simple/practical solution to different problems.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you very much!

[@travishayes2205]

Once again, I am reminded that preparation and being patient enough to build the tool or jig rather than trying to take shortcuts are key.

[@RonCovell]

You got it!

[@dennisleadbetter7721]

@@RonCovell and to always use the KISS principle (keep it simple S) many over complicate things. Regards Dennis

[@wombatillo]

Fantastic presentation and clearly the author has a lot of knowledge and experience.

[@Just1GuyMetalworks]

I always fund myself fascinated by your level of skill, Ron 😊. Well done! Cheers!

[@zaprodk]

Pure magic. Amazing handywork!

[@RonCovell]

We aim to please!

[@gregdeluca7581]

Great work Ron, very informative.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tropicalspeedbmw]

This is absolute top notch how to! Thank you, Sir This Old Tony brought me here.

[@RonCovell]

Awesome, thank you!

[@springwoodcottage4248]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful technique for making such beautiful cones. The video was a great delight and joy for me to watch, such mastery over such a complicated and beautifully symmetric shape.

[@RonCovell]

You are so welcome!

[@1924ab]

What a great video Ron, I'm going to use this method to make some cones for my smithing.

[@RonCovell]

Go for it!

[@Dr.CandanEsin]

Stunning craftmanship.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you!

[@jetenginethrust863]

Awesome job, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@RonCovell]

My pleasure!

[@handlesrstupid123]

These builds are great to watch so much to learn from these videos

[@RonCovell]

Glad you like them! More on the way.

[@davidminarik1210]

Another excellent tutorial! Thank you!

[@RonCovell]

You are so welcome!

[@gnemois]

As usual, thank you very much Mr. Covell!

[@RonCovell]

You're very welcome!

[@simonstininato5851]

Wonderful work Ron. You make it a pleasure to watch & learn with clear video work without loud music. 5 star. Machinist.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@TalRohan]

I am feeling my creative juices salivating having watched just these few shaping videos...Thanks very much Ron

[@RonCovell]

Glad you like them!

[@thestone3849]

You have done it quite nicely and made it look like very simple and easy too. Great Brain

[@RonCovell]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@ianjeffrey3637]

excellent tutorial - keep on keepin on Ron

[@RonCovell]

More to come!

[@MrFredsDIY]

Fantastic work!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@andrel3]

Wow! This is genius, truly it is Ron! Thank you

[@RonCovell]

Glad you like it!

[@22squish]

Nice work, you are a master craftsman. Innovative methods and great results. Thanks for sharing.

[@RonCovell]

My pleasure!

[@yohellghost2115]

Simply amazing yet again. Such clever thinking.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you very much!

[@davelewis2174]

another weapon in my frabracation arsenal , I've been looking for a way to roll cone's Thanks Ron

[@RonCovell]

Hey, this could be just the ticket!

[@hugokappes4077]

years ago I had a small business custom making motorcycle mufflers in stainless steel,, cones cones and more cone, intersecting cones and perfect polishes,, I dont miss it I make knives and swords now , but this vid did bring back some memories,, I was one of the last old school sheet metal workers, industrial manufacturing is so different now a days, I dont miss working in the big stainless fabrication shops, I have my small workshop and still have the rollers I made,, Nicely done on the video , good explanations and I like the jigs you used, some good ideas there,,

[@RonCovell]

Hugo - thanks for chiming in. I'd be interested to know how you rolled those cones from thin stainless. It's not easy to do!

[@nikolan3148]

Thank you for approach!

[@RonCovell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@adambergendorff2702]

your fixturing is genius, will probably never make something like this but will use the idea for other projects for sure, Thank You!!

[@RonCovell]

I certainly hope this idea comes in handy for you.

[@dustinhaas2518]

Very nice work! Learned a lot

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video/1

[@billmaguire6216]

THAT was extremely COOL! Thank you for that!

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@cristianavena9434]

your works are always great!!

[@RonCovell]

Glad you like 'em!

[@Texsoroban]

I remeber trying to make a cone out of coke can tin back when I was a teen. I just saw you overcome every problem I had from that experience. I am so thankful I found you on KZbin.

[@RonCovell]

That's very good news!

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Very nice method, worked well.

[@RonCovell]

Randy - thanks so much! That means a lot, coming from you.

[@oneyaker]

I love your methods! Excellent.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you like them!

[@ssskids123]

You, sir, are a wizard! Beautiful work!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly!

[@LordCarpenter]

Wow! Very impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@maxheadroom1506]

such precision work you do using this sheet metal techniques amazing skills and problem solving.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you very much!

[@WestBerlinCustoms]

Hi Ron, thanks a lot for sharing your impressive knowledge with so many people around the world! It's always great to watch your videos and learn. even if I might not need to shape a thick wall cone it's very helpful to see the kind of finding a solution for a unique issue. Best regards, TOBi 👋😉👍

[@RonCovell]

Hey, you just never know when you might need thick-walled cone!

[@WestBerlinCustoms]

@Ron Covell 👍😄👍 #WordsOfWisdom

[@syf13]

Clever fixture, Ron. Beautiful results!

[@RonCovell]

Many thanks!

[@leecurry8170]

Awesome work!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mr.ranyhomemade2466]

i'm so glad to see your video and how to make

[@RonCovell]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! More videos on the way.

[@jadymulqueeney]

Brilliant work, thanks

[@RonCovell]

Many thanks!

[@johnanderson2991]

Great job Ron!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@kevinhgreaves]

WOW, awesome talent Ron,

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly!

[@yt66228]

Always impressed!

[@RonCovell]

Glad to hear it!

[@bemusedindian8571]

Oh. That weld job. Pro job, if there ever was one. It was a treat to watch. Thanks.

[@RonCovell]

Thanks!

[@onepairofhands]

clever stuff Ron

[@RonCovell]

Thanks - glad you liked it!

[@peterpeterson7665]

I just stumbled across this video randomly. Great technique 👌 subbed

[@RonCovell]

Awesome! Thank you! Be sure to check out some of my other videos - I have around 80 available on KZbin.

[@davidchavez81]

Thank you for keeping on going.

[@RonCovell]

Lots more videos on the way, including one on making a LOOOONG cone!

[@gofastwclass]

Genius! Thanks Ron!

[@RonCovell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@alex4alexn]

you are a metal wizard, just amazing

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@nkcwilliams]

Ron, I am excited to learn from you at the Metal Bash. See you in a couple weeks.

[@RonCovell]

I'm sure we'll have a fantastic weekend!

[@ODGColornChrome]

Awesome work!!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@cheewurz]

Ron... That was an Amazing Video!!!

[@RonCovell]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@chrisdaniel1339]

That was very interesting. A well thought out execution.

[@RonCovell]

Glad you liked it!

[@joeo6378]

Finally I can make a legit "The Cones of Dunshire" set! Being serious, this is a very cool method. Thank you for sharing.

[@RonCovell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yeboscrebo4451]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@RonCovell]

You bet!

[@leonardovargas4489]

I never get tired of seeing this master doing his amazing job

[@RonCovell]

Thanks so much!

[@svpetarSR]

Thank you. This is great!

[@RonCovell]

You're very welcome, and I have more videos on the way!!

[@arktik75]

Hi Ron..my first visit to your channel and you had me.Beautiful , clear, precise, on topic, presentation.I'm a subscriber from now on.Great work!

[@RonCovell]

Awesome, thank you!

[@sanikam6079]

Very educational, i learnt something today, thanks

[@RonCovell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@KevinKimmich44024]

thanks! I've been wondering how to make cones for various applications. Very useful for me!

[@RonCovell]

Glad it was helpful!

[@erichuff3572]

Great video sir. Very talented. God bless you.

[@RonCovell]

Thank you kindly!

[@davemay6014]

Just outstanding!

[@RonCovell]

Thanks for watching, and for commenting!

[@timothylawson4518]

WOW!!! You are a Super genius !!! An amazing video !!!

[@RonCovell]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@davidliddle7998]

That's awesome work brilliant

[@RonCovell]

Thank you very much!