In Ding Lu, a person surnamed Chen in the Southern Dynasties recorded that the Yellow Emperor once lived in Shicheng Mountain, south of Yongkang, where he made alchemy and cast Huangdi Ding. Since then, smelting has begun to sprout in Yongkang. Since then, the sword casting in the Spring and Autumn Period, the crossbow machine in the Han Dynasty, the copper spear in the Tang Dynasty, the copper mining in the Song Dynasty, the gun barrel in the Qing Dynasty and the hardware of Yongkang have always changed with history. According to relevant historical records, during the Tang and Song Dynasties, there were hardware craftsmen in Yongkang to process hardware products. During the Yuan, Ming, Qing and Republic of China, Yongkang had a large group of hardware craftsmen, and they were all skilled craftsmen, and the number was the hometown of all kinds of workers. The Records of Yongkang County in Guangxu of Qing Dynasty stated: "The manufacture of weighing instruments began in the Northern Song Dynasty." The "Yongkang County Records" in Guangxu period of Qing Dynasty recorded: "There are craftsmen in earth, stone, bamboo, wood, gold, silver, copper, iron and tin ... and they are also very skilled in other places."

At present, "Yongkang Gold and Silver Craft", "Yongkang Copper Craft" and "Yongkang Ironing Craft" are listed as intangible protection projects in Zhejiang Province.

In Yongkang, tin sculpture, commonly known as "beating" or "beating tin", is a unique folk handicraft with a history of thousands of years. According to Yongkang County Records, "Tin-playing" was formed in the Five Dynasties. With the popularity of tin-playing among the people, it has become a necessity in people's daily life, and tin-playing has gradually become an important folk handicraft. Its products are antique and shiny, which are mostly used to make traditional dowry, etiquette props, Buddhist utensils and daily necessities, and have high practical and ornamental value. In Yongkang, people can see iron pot, teapots and tea pots everywhere. Yongkang custom, when a girl gets married, her family often gives her a set of tin utensils. In 2008, tin sculpture was selected into the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.