How to Make a Steel Funnel

Steel funnels are resistant to corrosion and high temperatures.

To transfer liquid or grainy substances into a container with a small opening, such as a jar or a bottle, you will need a funnel to obtain accurate measurement and avoid spillage. Both plastic and steel funnels accomplish the job, but steel funnels are more durable, hygienic and resistant to rust, and they retain strength even when exposed to heat. Low carbon steel is an ideal material for homemade steel funnels for its affordability and easy formability. Low carbon steel also has good weldability, but to complete this project, no welding is necessary. Does this Spark an idea?

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8-inch plate or lid
Sheet of paper
Pencil
Scissors
Low carbon steel sheet
Metal sheet scissors
Hammer
2-inch metal wire

Instructions

Making the Cone Template
- 1
  
  Turn an eight-inch plate or lid upside down and place it on a sheet of paper. Trace around the plate’s circumference with a pencil and cut around the outline using scissors.
- 2
  
  Cut out a small hole in the center of the paper about the size of a quarter.
- 3
  
  Fold the paper in half and then fold it in half again. Unfold the paper to reveal four triangles. Cut out one of the triangles.
Making the Steel Cone
- 4
  
  Place the cone template you made in Section 1 on top of the low carbon steel sheet. Trace around the template and cut it out using the metal sheet scissors.
- 5
  
  Fold down one edge of the steel sheet about one-quarter inch, then fold up the other edge about one-quarter inch. The edges have to be folded in opposite directions. To fold, place each edge against the corner edge of a metal table or a block of steel, then tap the fold repeatedly with a hammer.
- 6
  
  Clamp the folds together until they lock. You should now have a steel cone. Tap the seams with a hammer to secure the lock tightly.
Making the Funnel’s Stem
- 7
  
  Cut a piece of low carbon steel sheet 4 x 2 inches using the metal sheet scissors. Wrap the piece of steel sheet around a steel rod to form a cylinder. Tap the overlapped edge repeatedly with a hammer until the shape is nicely formed like a tube. Remove the rod.
- 8
  
  Take the steel cone and make four quarter-inch slits around the mouth of the hole using the metal scissors. Pull the flaps outward using pliers until they are against the side of the cone.
- 9
  
  Make four quarter-inch slits around one end of the tube or stem. Grab each small flap with pliers and pull it open. The flaps will hold the tube down, keeping it from sliding down the cone.
- 10
  
  Insert the tube into the cone’s hole until the flaps on the other end of the tube lay flat against the narrow side of the cone.
- 11
  
  Hold the funnel by its stem. Wrap the metal wire around the open flaps surrounding the neck of the tube until secured.