FAQs

No - none whatsoever. All our metal craft tools are safe and easy to use and do not require any heat or electrical power. All functions are carried out by hand power and are designed for beginners and professionals alike to work with metal without having to heat it up. To join metalwork together, some of the tools make use of an ingenious riveting system which creates attractive looking traditional joints but avoids the need to be able to weld. However, for those of our customers with the appropriate equipment and skills, welding can be used, to join the metalwork created by Metalcraft tools together.

Metalcraft is proud to stock and sell a comprehensive range of decorative accessories to finish your project off in style.

The comprehensive range includes:

• Candle Accessories
• Lighting Accessories
• Back & Base Plates
• EasyFix Craft Accessories
• SelfFix Craft Accessories
• Connector Plates & Collars
• Clock Kit components
• Letters & Numbers
• Outdoor Living Accessories
• Gate & Fencing Decorations
• Gate Hardware
• Organiser Boxes

We also stock and supply a wide range of tools, packs of steel, fixings, rivets, nuts & bolts.

Where it is physically not possible to rivet, or where a temporary fixing is required, our 3mm nut & bolt fixings can be used with the aid of a screwdriver and one of our special spanners. One other useful tip is that if the longest (12mm) bolt is used on a candle tray with the thread pointing upwards, the thread can act as a useful spike on which to secure the candle. A further tip to make this type of joint permanent, is use a dab of strong adhesive (superglue) in the thread of the nut after it is tightened to stop the nut from working loose.

Our range of Easy-fix craft accessories have a special mounting tag on the back that allow it to be either riveted in position or where this is not possible a nut and bolt fixing can be used.

By contrast our larger range of Self-Fix Craft accessories do not have the fixing tag on the back. However, with our new ultra-strong J-B Weld Epoxy Steel Resin you can attach your own custom-made fixing tags made from a bent and punched section of our 10mm x 1.6mm steel strip. This gives you the ability to fix the tag in the most appropriate position to suit its position on the finished project.

To bond the fixing tag effectively make sure the face of the tag that makes contact with the back of the accessory is as long as possible and ideally punched with a few holes to improve the flow of the JB Weld around two surfaces.

When the fixing tag has bonded to the back of the accessory, you can then attach it anywhere you want on your Metalcraft project using rivets, nuts & bolts in a similar fashion to the Easy-fix accessories or even by careful welding or soldering. Adding this wider range of attractive decorations gives greater scope for individual styling of your projects especially if the accessories are made even more eye-catching when painted in contrasting colours.

All of our metalcraft tools and the components on them are guaranteed for one year from the date of supply. The only exception to this are consumables (punch pins and cutting blades). In the unlikely event of a fault occurring in fair and normal use, we need to know about it as soon as possible. We will then repair the item concerned, replace it or refund your money if you are still not satisfied.

The range consists of different multi-function tools to scroll, twist, cut, punch, bend, roll, and join metal strips together. They provide you with everything you need to produce professional looking practical or ornamental metalwork in a classic wrought iron style. You can buy individual tools for making specific elements or components, or even buy a complete workshop package of tools containing all the essential elements needed to start a new and exciting DIY/Craft hobby or business venture. They are available in three size ranges starting with the smaller Practical range, the mid-size Master range and the hugely-impressive XL range.

No training is required whatsoever, so it’s easy to get started.

Metalcraft is backed by a comprehensive set of useful instructions and aides. Each tool we sell is supplied with a detailed operating instruction booklet showing how to set up and use the tool. We always suggest that it is worth reading through this before you get started.

In addition, our brand-new Demonstration DVD provides a demonstration of how to use all the Metalcraft tools and includes a demonstration of how to make a great looking project in a few minutes.

Metalcraft offer starter and design packs great for novices, it’s the perfect starting point to successful Metalcrafting. Each pack contains all the necessary materials, fixings and accessories to make three straightforward design projects which have been carefully selected to introduce you to the different tool functions and techniques needed to make things with Metalcraft.

Each project has an easy-to-follow instruction sheet that ensures you will achieve great results and shows how you can go on to develop each idea further, thus giving you the confidence to move on to our Design Packs and/or onto designing your own ideas.

We also offer variety of free to download design instructions containing a step-by-step guide of how to make each individual project plus the details of materials needed. These are a great starting point for any new to Metalcraft.

Our User Guide booklet is a useful resource full of design tips for those wanting to create their own designs. It also has several additional design projects for Practical & Master Tools included in the back.

Finally, our Design & Ideas Booklet contains more projects to make but is also packed with over 100 illustrations of design ideas to inspire you in creating your own designs. All these books and guides should ensure you get the most from your Metalcraft tools. However, whether you are contemplating buying our tools for the first time or you are regular customer, if you have any queries or technical issues, we are only a call or e-mail away and we will do our utmost to answer your question as fully and as helpfully as we can.

Because we have manufactured Metalcraft tools since the 1950s you can be assured that as the designers, patentees and manufacturers of the true Metalcraft tool range, our success and reputation as the world leaders in this type of equipment has been built on experience and after sales service. This sets us apart from the competition and poor-quality imitations that you may encounter.

Over time any punch pin we manufacture will gradually wear and eventually break. For this reason, it should be regarded as a consumable part but following the information below will make sure you get the maximum time from your pin:

Always keep punch pins well lubricated using oil this will ensure you get the maximum life out of a punch pin.

Incorrect use through forgetting to follow the instructions supplied with all tools performing the punching operation. The most common mistake we encounter is users not supporting the metal bar that is being punched during the punching operation or not fully retracting the pin after punching as they try to remove the metal bar from the slot in the punch block. In both cases, large movements of the punched metal bar whilst the punch pin is still protruding through the bar and into exit hole of the block, will exert a large lateral shear force on the pin which it is not designed to withstand. By fitting a replacement pin and observing these guidelines you should minimize your pin breakages.

The life of a punch pin can sometimes be affected by the quality of the steel being punched. Some black mild steel bar can vary in hardness along the length of the bar and occasionally, you can hit a particularly hard spot which may lead to a pin breaking. If you replace the broken pin and try punching more holes and encounter breakages, we would be interested to hear of your problem and if possible to receive a sample of the material that was being punched at the time of the breakage to see if we replicate the problem at our factory.

First work out the size of circle you’d like to make. Then we need to know the circumference for that circle –that is what length of steel needed to make that circle. If you know your desired diameter, the formula is:

π X diameter = circumference (π = 3.14125)

Also, the thickness of the steel being used must be allowed for. Example: for a circle of 200mm inside diameter using 3mm thick steel, to find the length of metal needed, the calculation would be:

3.14125 x 203 = 638mm

If it is the outside diameter you want to be 200mm, subtract the 3mm:

3.14125 x 197 = 619mm

For more details on rolling the right sized circle download the free to download PDF from the free Instructions section.