Do you have a project that you'd like to build or finish, but you have no idea how to get started or what to do next? If so, drop it in the comments, and we can toss around some ideas. I'd love to brainstorm with y'all 🙂

This coming weekend, I'll be out at a Family reunion just off the North Saskatchewan River here in Alberta. I have NO idea what my cell service is going to be like. I'll try to do the live calls each day, but I can't make any promises as to the quality of my mobile connection.

this is 2 cords of poplar that needs resplitting to dry faster

just a short video outlining the last couple days of work. This should have only taken a day total but weather has been kind of getting in the way.

Metal fabrication can look intimidating when you're scrolling through YouTube videos or walking through a welding supply store. Every second person seems to have a shop full of expensive machines, fancy tools, and enough equipment to build a bridge. The good news? You don't need any of that to get started. Most beginner metalworkers can tackle a surprising number of projects with a handful of basic tools, some safety gear, and a willingness to learn. Whether you're building shop tables, trailer accessories, garden gates, firewood racks, or custom brackets, the tools below will get you moving without draining your bank account. Should you have any questions, please drop them in the comments below, and I'll reply ASAP. Start With Safety Gear Before buying your first power tool, buy the equipment that protects the only body you'll ever own. At minimum, every beginner fabricator should have: - Safety glasses - Face shield - Welding helmet (if welding) - Leather work gloves - Hearing protection ( I use earmuff-style protectors with an NRR of at least 23 decibels) - Steel-toe boots - Fire-resistant work clothing - A respirator for grinding and cutting dust, a half mask or full face with P100 filters, is common. Metal fabrication creates sparks, flying debris, noise, sharp edges, and hot surfaces. Getting hurt is expensive. Good safety gear generally isn't—the exception being fire-resistant clothing. Actual FR rated clothing can be pricey, but you can, however, make do with 100% cotton clothing such as denim jeans and Denim shirts. Synthetics and polyester blends should be avoided because the material can melt or ignite more readily and cause more severe injuries. Melted plastic is hard to get out of a burn, ask me how I know... :-( The Angle Grinder: The Most Important Tool in the Shop. If there is one tool that deserves a spot at the top of the list, it's the angle grinder. A quality 4½-inch grinder can: - Cut steel - Grind welds - Remove rust - Clean metal - Bevel edges - Polish surfaces - Sharpen tools