Does A Metalwork Area Have A Place In A Woodworking Workshop?

Although it sounds simple, this is a bit of a ticklish area to discuss. It is liable to raise the hackles of some makers who might rightly argue that metalwork has no place in a fine woodworking workshop. However, this argument doesn’t really hold water as the messiest job in the workshop is tool sharpening. I couldn’t see any real reason why an equally dirty metalwork area shouldn’t be included in the workshop, with the caveat that it’s kept well away from the main bench.

What's the problem?

The reason, of course, is the danger that dirty, oily pieces of swarf steel filings and bits of old rag could somehow contaminate the current work at the bench. I was of this persuasion for many years. But it gradually dawned on me that there could be a place for a metalwork area, if it was organised properly.

I found that in my particular woodworking workshop, I needed to occasionally partake in a bit of ‘tin bashing’ or similar. Nothing too onerous, but sufficient to accumulate offcuts of dirty steel or brass and copious amounts of swarf in the form of tiny bits of metal, that should really be kept in a self contained area.

Sharpening area

In the same way that I have a dedicated sharpening area, I decided to create a metalworking bench. This area isn’t very big. It is just over a metre long and fitted at one end with a small mechanic’s vice. The top is a hardboard over 18mm ply, which provides a smooth surface. I don’t need to be too careful with it and as such I can afford to let it become oily and a bit mucky. On my vice, the soft jaws are made from oddments of 90° aluminium extrusion epoxied to the steel jaws. As it’s in a fairly dark area of the workshop, there’s a 60W spotlight to provide sufficient lighting. It’s also a useful area for silver soldering, which was recently included as part of the project to make a Japanese Marking Gauge.

What else?

The type of work done on the metalwork bench isn’t serious engineering, model making or anything too precise. It’s been racked out with some fairly basic hand tools, some of which were acquired or made as an apprentice in the 60s. They consist of: Hacksaws Calipers Engineer’s square Scriber Centre Punch Cold chisel 100mm long Ball pein hammer Screwdriver Die holder Tap wrench Files Needle files 300mm rule Electrician’s pliers Instrument wire cutters Instrument long nosed pliers Combination spanners 8, 10 & 13mm Adjustable wrench Adjustable locking wrench Brass brush Tool maker’s clamp

Very occasionally there’s been a need to turn a small metal component of some sort and, although there’s no room for a big engineering lathe, the C1 micro, which weighs 22kg, would be just about the right size to lift onto the bench. The other alternative is the diminutive C0 which tips the scales at a lightweight 13kg and can almost be lifted with one hand.

The metalwork area does take up a small amount of space, which could, if pushed, be used for another machine, say a spindle sander. But the usefulness of having a dedicated ‘dirty area’ far outweighs the need for another piece of machinery.

You may agree or violently disagree with the idea of a metalwork area in your woodworking workshop. But however you feel about it, we’d like to hear your views or suggestions.