Metal Spinning is one of the oldest methods of forming metal, evidenced by silver chalices from the Egyptian days. Metal spinners today produce a wide variety of materials from soft tempered aluminum and copper to structural plate steel and stainless steels, using sketches, blue prints, PDF's, or other CADCAM drawings and their knowledge of the physical properties of metal.

Metal Spinning is the process of forming three dimensional symmetrical parts from flat circles of metal. It provides an economical alternative to stamping, casting, and many other metal forming processes. The flat circular blank is mounted on a spinning lathe and with a series of roller passes, the material “flows” and is laid down onto a mandrel. The mandrel or “spin chuck” is cut to the shape of the desired part and the material is spun over the spin chuck replicating its shape. The spin chuck is typically made from wood or steel materials. Wood tooling is far less expensive and easier to cut. A wood tool is used for shorter production runs and prototyping. Wood tooling is temporary; tolerances are larger and usually will not allow for a smooth finished part, depending on the material being spun. When spinning aluminum, the wood grain markings tend to transfer into the spun part. A steel tool is permanent and with some maintenance will last a lifetime. Most tooling is made from steel allowing the spinner to hold tighter tolerances and provide a smoother, more detailed spinning.

The basic metal spinning tool is called a spoon, though many other tools can be used to affect varied results. The spoon or roller is the hand tool a spinner uses to lay or “spin” the material on the mandrel. Spinning tools can be made of hardened steel, plastics, or synthetics for use on aluminum, brass, copper, mild steel, and stainless steel. Rollers vary in diameter and thickness and are hand or machine cut to size to aid in forming the desired shape and radius of the part being produced.

Metal Spinning ranges from an artisan's specialty to the most advantageous way to form round seamless metal parts for several applications. Artisans use the process to produce architectural detail, specialty lighting, decorative household goods and other custom designs. Commercial applications range from rocket nose cones to public waste receptacles. Other methods of forming round metal parts include hydro forming, stamping and forging or casting. Hydro forming and stamping generally have a higher fixed cost, but a lower variable cost than metal spinning. Forging or casting have a comparable fixed cost, but generally a higher variable cost. As machinery for commercial applications has improved, parts are being spun with thicker materials in excess of 1" thick steel.

Examples of spun products include pots and pans, light shades and reflectors, mutes for musical instruments, and vases. The auto industry uses spinning to make hubcaps, rims, wheel discs and drums. In the beginning, the original "Weber" grill was spun. Other examples include roofing vents, filter bodies and covers, fire prevention parts, horns, parabolic dishes, end caps, drum lids, cymbals, tank ends, pulleys, jet-engine and missile parts.

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