MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I am on leave all week with nothing planned and having watched the rain swirling in the wind all morning I was bored by lunchtime. I decided to have a go at some more welding sculpture and thought I would share the work so far.
Please remember this is about 2 hours elapsed from having the idea and includes time driving to get the metal rod from the Metal Supermarket although I accept I may not be the fastest welder/worker in the world.
First you start with detailed sketches and dimensions
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Then get your tools and equipment in a nice clear working area
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After buying 6 metres of metal rod, 3m of 8mm and 3 of 6mm, as the main working materials I started to measure and cut
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5820/32707973114_7dc419e661_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5820/32707973114_7dc419e661_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RQhUSW ]20170320_133829[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
It is hard to use an angle grinder one handed while taking a photo left habded so sorry about the quality
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The drawing show gracefully bent and flowing rods reflecting the grace and beauty of the bird in flight. How could I recreate these bends without any metal bending tools?
Easy, mount some old bike forks in a clamp and use body weight and muscle
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3673/33395449702_7253ed41f9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3673/33395449702_7253ed41f9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/ST3pHy ]20170320_134038[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
I am not sure if you are more surprised or I am that it actually worked
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Flaring the 'tail' of the bird also worked well in my customer created metal bending tool
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3674/33552205735_1d685e1d36_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3674/33552205735_1d685e1d36_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/T7TPPM ]20170320_134343[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
And here is the 'body' of the bird ready to fit the wings to
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Bending the wings worked initially on the bike fork bending machine but for some bends I had to resort to using the vice with some sacrificial wood to protect the metal finish
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3689/33168690920_1b74e2056e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3689/33168690920_1b74e2056e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Sx1deo ]20170320_135334[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
So far this has basically been bending lengths of rod and although I had played with the angle grinder I felt I needed to add some proper danger so got ready to weld
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2920/33423440111_5b9f51264f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2920/33423440111_5b9f51264f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SVvShP ]20170320_140822[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
For those of you interested or knowledgable about welding, here are the sticks I used. Carefully chosen for this job as they were the only ones Screwfix had in stock. Advice on such matters welcome.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3763/33511259066_3b2790aa7e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3763/33511259066_3b2790aa7e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/T4gXNJ ]20170320_140829[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
The tail section is welded together. This photo looks like there is a big gap but that is because I took the picture from the top and the weld is along the underside, d'oh!
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To try and keep the top of the bird tidy I welded the wings on from underneath too. It was a bit awkward to position everything and keep the metal from moving while welding. I have some blue welding magnets but they seem pretty rubbish, perhaps I am using them for the wrong kind of stuff. I ended up resorting to gaffer taping the bird to the bench (oo-err) and doing one side of the wing before removing the tape and doing the other. Anyway, it worked
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This shows the same thing but from a different angle. Here you can see and comment on the welding I did on the tail earlier
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It currently looks more like a plane than a bird but once I have worked out how to make a head and some feathers...
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😆 well done
It is hard to use an angle grinder one handed while taking a photo....
There is definitely a (WC)Accident waiting to happen.
Is it flying fish? 😉
Injury potential high, I think arc eye or burns.
11 minutes too late....
if you started with a wire coat-hanger it wouldve taken far fewer steps to get to the end pic 🙂
Love these threads! Keep us updated..
Meh, you need a [url= https://m.facebook.com/BrazingHussy/?locale2=en_GB ]Brazing Hussy[/url]
Very nice so what's it for? 😛
Well I managed to staunch the bleeding, dress the wound and get back for another hour of work before the Duval started calling
The wings obviously needed feathers or at least the evocation of feathers
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And after a frustrating hour of welding badly while watching my gloves smoke as I tried to hold the bloody bits together.
But behold! I have turned a flying fish into a bloody reindeer.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/711/33398864982_f49e571921_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/711/33398864982_f49e571921_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/STkUXG ]20170320_182450[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
[i]Very nice so what's it for? [/i]
WHAT IS IT FOR?
It is art, it has no purpose other than existing to provoke thought and stimulate pleasure.
Answer 2 = It is for sale, or will be if I finish it without to much further injury
Excellent, a man of many talents most visible.
Seen as though everyone is being so nice and making me feel sick I'll play devil's advocate.
Your drawing is child like, garage is a mess, welds look like you've spat them out and your flippant attitude to safety disturbs me.
Other than that. Top job 🙂
Good work
Survivor - it has been my life's mission to be an example to others.
Mostly an example of what could go wrong....
...but in a snow storm in Toronto I did manage to 'Drink Canada dry' so that is an advert success and one off the bucket list
Top dude.
More threads like this please.
can you pick up Canal+ on the TV now?
i feel that you should point your security camera to your "studio area' set it up on motion capture and then you could just upload the footage, or set it up on a live stream!
again top work, makes working so much more fun when your threads pop up. look forward to seeing it on Thursday 😀
To turn the reindeer head / TV antennae into something more bird like, this morning I decided to add a few more 'feathers' to the wings and stick a head on it.
After the amount of faffing I did yesterday with the feathers I was pleased that this morning they all went on remarkably easily. Amazing what difference sunshine makes.
I moved swiftly onto making the head, so swiftly I forgot to take any pictures of the improved wings but you can see them in later pictures.
I first drew a birds head on a piece of paper - you can see why I didn't become a more traditional artist.
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Folded the paper in half and cut around the edges to give me a template
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I found what was a bash guard for one of my car exhausts at some point and cut a square to use for the head
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2896/33410862422_7da67b0b46_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2896/33410862422_7da67b0b46_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SUppo7 ]20170321_093639[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
I used a mix of angle grinder and tin snips to cut out the shape
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/731/33526918716_1e7ccf3e54_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/731/33526918716_1e7ccf3e54_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/T5EdSG ]20170321_093747[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
and this was the end result.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3909/33567562865_4febc3db7a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3909/33567562865_4febc3db7a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/T9fwXT ]20170321_094354[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
All I needed to do now was fold carefully along the middle, drill eye holes and polish it up a bit before welding carefully in place.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3893/33439027071_51650e77f7_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3893/33439027071_51650e77f7_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SWTKKv ]20170321_105338[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
Stick a pole up it's bum and you have the finished article
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Then realise how hard it is to photograph as the camera refuses to focus on it properly and just shows the trees in the background. Take it from me that it looks a bit more like a startled parrot than a swooping hawk but on the whole I am happy.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2910/33439507881_a363459cc6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2910/33439507881_a363459cc6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/SWWdFk ]20170321_113207[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
Now do I let it develop a surface patina of rust or do I seal it now to keep it real in steel?
Your views and comments are welcome
Good work fella!
Give it talons. That will make it look like a hawk*.
You've been quiet on here recently. I assumed that you were dead.
*or an angry parrot.
Give it talons and go hunting for fresh roadkill to hang off the talons 🙂
misleading thread title, I am writing to my MP.
Nice work are you still in one piece? that baby Robin is bigger than the last one i saw
I tried talons but when I put them in position it looked more like a parrot with ducks feet 🙁
Looks really good! The head came out really well I think. I'd seal it to keep it shiny 🙂
I was hoping for a Baby Robin 😥
WCAwaitingtohappen
How long before you catch some part of your anatomy on that?
Talons upgrade required!
Talons holding a salmon?
Ok, I will have another go at talons tomorrow. Outspread for attack at the last moment of the dive.
Then maybe a scared rabbit on the ground in front of it...
WorldClassAccident - Member
What sort of bird do you have in mind when you made it?
Is that seagull ? 
You should make a flying fox. 😛
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Mostly an example of what could go wrong...
I think Murphy's Law covers that rather effectively.
Well I managed to staunch the bleeding, dress the wound and get back for another hour of work before the Duval started calling
I keep plenty of superglue around for just those sort of occasions! 😀
So here is the latest update. I will call this update "Britain's got Talons"
Start with some raw materials
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Three forward facing talons and one rear facing. Need to cut the nail heads off before welding.
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Carefully clamp the front toes in place ready to weld
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Well that didn't work so I had to weld the toes on one by one
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3736/32748183084_12a32a417a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3736/32748183084_12a32a417a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RTQZUh ]20170322_163325[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
But the end result looks better I think
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2931/33591264365_24d2f25d7d_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2931/33591264365_24d2f25d7d_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Tbm1Ar ]20170322_172928[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/89686376@N04/ ]WCA![/url], on Flickr
Fantastic, if a little terrifying.
You can admire it from your filthy sex pond.
It's like a flamingo shagged a stag.
I'm concerned about the hight of it, will it take your eye out ?
I like all of it except the head. I think a less solid one, perhaps wire or rod bent to an approximation of the shape would be better?
IMO of course.
I want you to make a sheep for my front garden.
[i]It's like a flamingo shagged a stag.[/i]
Genuinely just spat beer on the keyboard. I love the description and will re-use it regularly!!!
Sheep for the front garden?
More bespoke commissioned art? You must be rich after buying the Kia. I will ask my people to talk to your people...
Mat - do you have an old mattress?
[i] 
[/i]
It looks great. The head just looks really happy to me 🙂
Maybe add some tail feathers, but I like it as is.
Oddly enough Nick, I've got a king size going spare...
Matt - we will talk on thursday
Brilliant for drying your g strings .
Attacking a small animal
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Hopefully it will spring* out of the way...
*Did you see what I did there?
Is it a dog? Looks like a Coillie
That ashtray is massive!