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How to Shape Steel Plates

Metal working with steel plates might seem like an overwhelmingly heavy duty job at first. However, shaping smaller steel plates does not necessarily require years of experience or heavy machinery. Many aspects of metal working are the same as they were hundreds of years ago, and you can use these time-tested methods for your personal projects with just a few simple tools. A certain degree of trial and error may be necessary, but practice and creativity will take you a long way.

Things You'll Need

Steel plates, 1/4-inch thick or less
Ear protection
Safety glasses
Work gloves
Sand bag
Wooden stump
Straight table edge
Hollowing hammer
Wooden mallet
Steel slapper
Metal filer
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Decide on the design you will make and purchase plates of the correct size and thickness. Thinner plates are easier to handle and shape with hand tools, so it is recommended that you use steel plates 1/4 inch thick or less.
- 2
  Put on your ear protection, safety glasses and work gloves. The loud clangs and flying shreds of sharp metal can make even simple steel shaping somewhat risky.
- 3
  Create the basic shape of your steel plate. Depending on the final design you desire, hammer on a variety of different surfaces. For a smooth curve, use a soft surface like a sandbag. To make defined curves, use something solid like a stump. If you want to make a right angle, use the edge of a table.
- 4
  Pound the steel plate into the shape you desire with tools such as a hollowing hammer and wooden mallet. The shapes and curves will not be perfect at this point, but can be smoothed out later on.
- 5
  Use the steel slapper to work out bumps and dents that are not a part of the final design.
- 6
  Smooth the shaped plate as much as you can with the metal filer and sandpaper. When the project is shaped and smoothed as you want it, it is ready to be displayed or joined with other pieces of the project.

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