Tired of trying to keep your metalworking community active and connected? Community Challenge templates make it easy to spark friendly competition, creativity, and learning. Use these ready-made ideas to turn passive members into enthusiastic participants.
Plan your content calendar and auto-post to Skool, Circle, or Mighty Networks
Community Challenges tap into our natural desire for achievement and recognition. By proposing fun, achievable tasks, you inspire members to get involved, share their work, and connect with others who have similar interests. Challenges also break the ice for new members and make experienced ones feel valued by showcasing their skills.
In metalworking, hands-on activities and problem-solving are at the heart of the craft. Challenges provide a structured way for members to show off their techniques, learn from each other, and receive feedback. Recognition and small rewards add an extra layer of motivation, making participation feel rewarding and worthwhile.
Show us your best weld bead this week. Share a photo or tip for beginners.
💡 Example: "Show us your best weld bead this week. Share a photo or tip for beginners."
Challenge: Make something useful from scrap metal. Post before-and-after shots.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Make something useful from scrap metal. Post before-and-after shots."
Weekly Tool Test: Try working with only hand tools for a small project. Who is in?
💡 Example: "Weekly Tool Test: Try working with only hand tools for a small project. Who is in?"
Can you identify this mystery metal object? Guess in the comments.
💡 Example: "Can you identify this mystery metal object? Guess in the comments."
Flash Challenge: Create a metal flower in 24 hours. Share your results.
💡 Example: "Flash Challenge: Create a metal flower in 24 hours. Share your results."
Share a tool hack you discovered this month. Best tip gets a shoutout.
💡 Example: "Share a tool hack you discovered this month. Best tip gets a shoutout."
Finish this shape: Start with a flat sheet and turn it into something cool. Pics please.
💡 Example: "Finish this shape: Start with a flat sheet and turn it into something cool. Pics please."
Who can make the smallest working hinge? Post your measurements.
💡 Example: "Who can make the smallest working hinge? Post your measurements."
Share your oldest metalworking tool still in use. Tell us its story.
💡 Example: "Share your oldest metalworking tool still in use. Tell us its story."
Repair Challenge: Fix a broken metal item at home and document your steps.
💡 Example: "Repair Challenge: Fix a broken metal item at home and document your steps."
Who can make the cleanest cut on 1 inch steel? Share your edge pics.
💡 Example: "Who can make the cleanest cut on 1 inch steel? Share your edge pics."
Speed Round: How fast can you drill 5 holes in mild steel? Post your time.
💡 Example: "Speed Round: How fast can you drill 5 holes in mild steel? Post your time."
Try a new metal finish technique this week. Share your before-and-after.
💡 Example: "Try a new metal finish technique this week. Share your before-and-after."
Teach us: Share a short clip or tip for beginners starting out in metalworking.
💡 Example: "Teach us: Share a short clip or tip for beginners starting out in metalworking."
Design Challenge: Sketch a new tool you wish existed. Show your drawing.
💡 Example: "Design Challenge: Sketch a new tool you wish existed. Show your drawing."
What is your favorite type of metal to work with and why?
💡 Example: "What is your favorite type of metal to work with and why?"
Mini Project: Make a keychain from leftovers. Share your steps and result.
💡 Example: "Mini Project: Make a keychain from leftovers. Share your steps and result."
Who can create the best texture on copper? Show us your samples.
💡 Example: "Who can create the best texture on copper? Show us your samples."
Share your metal shop safety tip of the week.
💡 Example: "Share your metal shop safety tip of the week."
Who can name three uses for aluminum in your projects?
💡 Example: "Who can name three uses for aluminum in your projects?"
Try a new joint type this week. Show us your process and results.
💡 Example: "Try a new joint type this week. Show us your process and results."
Before-and-after: Restore a rusty tool and share your pics.
💡 Example: "Before-and-after: Restore a rusty tool and share your pics."
Who can make the best metal pun? Drop yours below for a laugh.
💡 Example: "Who can make the best metal pun? Drop yours below for a laugh."
Challenge: Craft something that fits in your palm. Post a photo with your hand for scale.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Craft something that fits in your palm. Post a photo with your hand for scale."
Experiment: Try two ways to polish metal and compare results. Share your findings.
💡 Example: "Experiment: Try two ways to polish metal and compare results. Share your findings."
Welding Wednesday: Share a weld you are proud of and tell us why.
💡 Example: "Welding Wednesday: Share a weld you are proud of and tell us why."
Speed Sketch: Draw your dream metal shop in 10 minutes. Post your sketch.
💡 Example: "Speed Sketch: Draw your dream metal shop in 10 minutes. Post your sketch."
Who can spot the safety hazard in this photo? Comment with your answer.
💡 Example: "Who can spot the safety hazard in this photo? Comment with your answer."
Try a new patina recipe and show your results. What worked best?
💡 Example: "Try a new patina recipe and show your results. What worked best?"
What is one metalworking skill you want to master this month?
💡 Example: "What is one metalworking skill you want to master this month?"
Challenge: Make a small sculpture from only metal scraps. Share your creation.
💡 Example: "Challenge: Make a small sculpture from only metal scraps. Share your creation."
Who can write a metalworking haiku? Post your poem below.
💡 Example: "Who can write a metalworking haiku? Post your poem below."
Share your favorite mistake-turned-success story from the shop.
💡 Example: "Share your favorite mistake-turned-success story from the shop."
Try making a riveted joint and share a close-up photo.
💡 Example: "Try making a riveted joint and share a close-up photo."
Who can design the most ergonomic handle? Sketch and post your idea.
💡 Example: "Who can design the most ergonomic handle? Sketch and post your idea."
Speed Build: 30 minutes to make a coat hook from scrap. Show us your result.
💡 Example: "Speed Build: 30 minutes to make a coat hook from scrap. Show us your result."
Share your favorite book, article, or video about metalworking.
💡 Example: "Share your favorite book, article, or video about metalworking."
Fun Fact Friday: Share an unusual metalworking fact or trick.
💡 Example: "Fun Fact Friday: Share an unusual metalworking fact or trick."
Who can make a metalworking meme? Post your funniest creation.
💡 Example: "Who can make a metalworking meme? Post your funniest creation."
Show us your first ever metalworking project and your latest one. How have you improved?
💡 Example: "Show us your first ever metalworking project and your latest one. How have you improved?"
What is the most challenging project you have ever completed? Tell us your story.
💡 Example: "What is the most challenging project you have ever completed? Tell us your story."
Pick a challenge template that fits your current community vibe or learning goals. Announce the challenge clearly, outlining steps and rules. Encourage members to share updates, photos, or tips as they work through the challenge. Highlight progress and celebrate results, offering small rewards or shoutouts to keep momentum high. Rotate challenge types regularly to maintain interest and appeal to different skill levels.
For all platforms, use images or short videos to demonstrate the challenge, pin the challenge post for visibility, and use simple hashtags to track participation. Encourage replies and sharing in threads or comments for ongoing engagement. Adjust format for platform tools like polls, stories, or live streams where available.
You can adapt the templates to focus on welding-specific matchups or techniques. For example, create a challenge for members to showcase their best TIG weld versus their best MIG weld, or compare vertical and overhead weld joints. Encourage members to share photos of their bead quality, discuss difficulties faced, and vote on the cleanest or strongest weld, fostering technique improvement and peer learning.
Modify the templates for machining accuracy by asking members to machine a part to a specified tolerance (e.g., within ±0.01mm), then measure and post their results with caliper or micrometer readings. You can set up weekly or monthly 'precision rounds,' asking members to detail their process, tool selection, and any issues with material or tool wear, promoting discussion around measurement best practices.
Use the templates to launch safety-themed challenges. For instance, run a 'Show Your PPE Setup' week or a 'Spot the Safety Hazard' photo contest. Ask members to demonstrate correct glove, eyewear, and hearing protection, or to share creative solutions for common shop hazards. Encourage peer feedback on safety compliance and highlight best practices within the community.
Absolutely. Set up challenges where members fabricate a specified component using traditional manual tooling (e.g., hand files, manual lathes) and others using CNC technology. Have members document their workflow, time taken, and surface finish results. Use the template prompts to compare efficiency, accuracy, and tool choices, sparking discussions about process optimization.
Customize the templates for surface finishing by challenging members to achieve the lowest Ra value (surface roughness) using various abrasives, buffing compounds, or chemical patinas. Ask for before-and-after photos, grit progression details, and measurement of finish, if possible. This encourages knowledge-sharing around finishing techniques and tools specific to metalworking.
Adapt the templates to set up alloy identification contests. Post a photo and brief description of a 'mystery metal' item, and challenge members to guess the alloy based on clues like spark tests, color, and context. Encourage members to explain their reasoning and real-world testing methods, fostering critical thinking and material science discussion within the community.
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