Metalworking
Metalworking is a skill which allows a player to barricade windows and doors, craft metal structures and containers, repair car parts, and disassemble metal objects in the world.
Metalworking
Metalworking is a rarely sought after skill within Project Zomboid. Unfortunately, due to the lack of content related to the metalworking skill, many players do not see the time investment in higher levels as a good use of their survival time. In comparison to the carpentry skill, there is little to construct, and fewer ways to gain XP.
Character creation
The process of character creation can be a daunting one. You are required to dedicate yourself to particular traits and skills, before you can even begin playing.
Players should experiment with what they are comfortable with, or what skills they want to build into, while being aware that some traits have major bugs, that in some cases can make them worthless.
The skill levels you start with will also contribute an XP gain boost to those skills, based on the level, as seen below.
Starting skill level and experience boost
- Level 0 – 50%
- Level 1 – 75%
- Level 2 – 100%
- Level 3+ – 125%
Occupations
| Name | Starting points | Major skills | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Metalworker
|
-6 | +3 Metalworking | Can weld foraged metal to create items and barricades. | Ideal for any player looking to start with metalworking recipes known. |
The metalwork menu can be accessed by right-clicking while carrying a propane torch and a welding mask. By hovering over the metalwork option in the context menu, a sub-menu will open showing each category of buildable. Items will show in red if you do not have the ability or materials to construct an item.
Types of buildables
Multi-stage building
Some buildables require multiple stages of building to complete. The most common of these is the metal wall and window.
First, you must build the wall frame, in the location you want to build the wall (a metal wall can be built on a wooden or metal frame). Note that zombies can climb through wall frames. Once completed, you can right-click the built wall frame, and then choose the level of wall or window you want to, and are able to build.
Note, doors cannot be built this way, and must be built using a wooden door frame.
| Wall/Window Level | Metalworking Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 8 |
Walls/windows of level 1 can be upgraded to the next higher level after building.
The health of a wall is directly affected by your metalworking level.
Milestones
The most notable items that can be crafted with metalworking are below:
Getting started
Tools
- A propane torch and welding mask are required for construction and disassembly.
- Welding rods are required for construction of items.
- A propane tank can be used to refill propane torches with fuel. Disassembly and assembly uses fuel from the torch.
Gathering materials
Materials used in metalworking can be found in containers throughout the world, or obtained by disassembling objects. These materials include:
Other requirements
Unless a character has started with the Metalworker occupation, they will also need to read the relevant metalworking magazines before items can be constructed.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Teaches Recipes: Make Metal Walls, Make Metal Roof | |
| Teaches Recipes: Make Metal Containers | |
| Teaches Recipes: Make Metal Fences | |
| Teaches Recipes: Make Metal Sheet, |
Levelling
Metal barricades can be constructed at Level 0, without reading any recipe magazines or using welding rods. These barricades have much more HP than planks, making them an excellent choice for fortifying windows and doors.
| Product | Ingredients | Tools | Requirements | Workstation | XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Barricade (Metal Sheet) |
One of: Door ×1 Window ×1 Metal Sheet ×1
|
 Propane Torch 1 unit(s)
 Welder Mask |
none | none | 1.5 Metalworking |
 Barricade (Metal Bars) |
One of: Door ×1 Window ×1 Metal Bar ×3
|
Propane Torch 1 unit(s)
Welder Mask |
none | none | 1.5 Metalworking |
Media
Skill books
Due to the scarcity of material, if a higher level is desired, it's important to maximize XP gain by reading the Metalworking skill books.
- Metalwork Vol. 1 (Levels 1-2)
- Metalwork Vol. 2 (Levels 3-4)
- Metalwork Vol. 3 (Levels 5-6)
- Metalwork Vol. 4 (Levels 7-8)
- Metalwork Vol. 5 (Levels 9-10)
Actions
The following actions all provide metalworking XP;
- Dismantling car wrecks.
- Dismantling other metal objects and furniture
- Barricading windows and doors with metal barricades.
Other actions may also provide metalworking XP, but these are the most common.
Dismantling
With the propane torch and welding mask equipped, objects in the world can be disassembled by right-clicking. Depending on the skill level, one of three things can happen:
- Regular materials + scrap metal will be awarded
- Only scrap metal will be awarded (partial failure)
- No items will be awarded (total failure)
The full experience amount will be given in all cases.
Below is a list of some of the objects that can be taken apart;
- Car Wreck
- Playground Slide
- Dumpster
- Large Metal Shelf
- Bath
- Fridge
- Vending Machine
- Big Locker
- Bin
- File Cabinet
- Metal Door
- Large Locker
- Oven
- Steel Counter
- Road Sign
- Clothing Dryer
- Washing Machine
- Chest Freezer
- Charcoal BBQ
- Small Locker
- Microwave
- Shower
- Sink
- Toilet
- Metal Chair
Trivia
- Metal constructions can be destroyed by fire.
- It was originally planned to have blacksmithRemoved skill in addition to metalworking for build 34[1][2]. They were briefly implemented in the internal build of the game, with some items such as Smithing MagazinesRemoved! and tiles still being in game, however it was toned down and postponed with including the smelting part[3]. Blacksmithing is expected to return as part of build 42.