Metal Man Pencil Holder
Intro: Metal Man Pencil Holder
This looks cool and makes a pretty generic gift (most people have pencils, right?)
STEP 1: What You Need:
- Hacksaw
- Coping saw
- Bench grinder, file, or DREMEL with grinding bit
- Sheet metal
- Vice grips (one pair the needle nose type)
- Protractor
- Blowtorch (if you want to heat treat the steel)
- Coping saw
- Bench grinder, file, or DREMEL with grinding bit
- Sheet metal
- Vice grips (one pair the needle nose type)
- Protractor
- Blowtorch (if you want to heat treat the steel)
STEP 2:
- Download the PDF below and print it off
- Cut out the metal man and attach it to your piece of steel ( I like using magnets to attach the paper)
- Cut out the metal man and attach it to your piece of steel ( I like using magnets to attach the paper)
STEP 3:
- Use the hacksaw to cut out the body and the coping saw to cut out the head
STEP 4:
- Use the bench grinder, file or DREMEL to round the head and shoulders, and touch up any rough cuts
- If you want the pencil holder to be shiny or want to heat colour it use the bench grinder, file or DREMEL to remove the scale (if there is any; the scale is usually dark grey)
- If you want the pencil holder to be shiny or want to heat colour it use the bench grinder, file or DREMEL to remove the scale (if there is any; the scale is usually dark grey)
STEP 5:
- Use the vice grips to bend the arms and leg to the angles specified in the template (you may need some leverage)
- The "wrists" are indicated by the black rectangles on the template
- You may need to grind or file the feet to make the pencil holder stand without wobbling
- Use a file to remove any marks left on the pencil holder by the vice grips
- The "wrists" are indicated by the black rectangles on the template
- You may need to grind or file the feet to make the pencil holder stand without wobbling
- Use a file to remove any marks left on the pencil holder by the vice grips
STEP 6: Heat Colouring; Optional
- To heat colour the pencil holder take the blowtorch and "paint" the pencil holder with heat, pausing for about a minute after every few "strokes" to let the colour sink in
- Here's a list of the approximate temperatures (Fahrenheit) at which colours form:
Pale yellow 400 – 420
Light Yellow 430 – 440
Yellow 450 – 460
Straw 470 – 480
Dark Straw 490
Bronze 500
Dark Brown 541 – 520
Light Purple 530
Purple 540
Dark Purple 550 – 560
Blue 570 – 580
Dark Blue 590 – 600
Light Blue 610 – 620
Blue Green 630 – 640
Grey 650
- Here's a list of the approximate temperatures (Fahrenheit) at which colours form:
Pale yellow 400 – 420
Light Yellow 430 – 440
Yellow 450 – 460
Straw 470 – 480
Dark Straw 490
Bronze 500
Dark Brown 541 – 520
Light Purple 530
Purple 540
Dark Purple 550 – 560
Blue 570 – 580
Dark Blue 590 – 600
Light Blue 610 – 620
Blue Green 630 – 640
Grey 650
19 Comments
T52535 4 years ago
T52535 4 years ago
MartinD30 6 years ago
On my desk
M3G 6 years ago
Awesome, great work!
squared59 6 years ago
Quick easy project. I added feet to mine. It makes it a little more stable
M3G 6 years ago
Looks great, thanks for sharing!
pclarke2 9 years ago
M3G 9 years ago
Tinworm 10 years ago
first off...I think this is a terrific project, very nicely presented!
But can I say a word on safety. Never hold a file by the tang (as in your generic picture of a file). Always have the tang firmly slotted in a wooden handle. It is so easy to jam the tang through your hand. I liked the way you used gloves when handling the steel.
M3G 10 years ago
lsaerens 10 years ago
M3G 10 years ago
3366carlos 11 years ago
M3G 11 years ago
Husham Samir 11 years ago
M3G 11 years ago
dee4402 11 years ago
M3G 11 years ago
artworker 11 years ago