The decoration of any cottage or mansion in the suburbs can be not only a purchased accessory, but also metal crafts made by hand. Any person can make them, since no special knowledge is required.
When thinking about making metal crafts, everyone is given the chance to choose the desired production process, relying on their own skills and experience. The chosen work technique will always imply certain expenses necessary to create or purchase the necessary equipment.
Everyone can create many different metal crafts and, thanks to them, transform the interior of a home or garden.
Product technology
Today, creating crafts from wood and metal is considered a modern way to make money. Metal structures made by hand decorate the cornices and benches. In this case, the master has the right to choose the desired style that is suitable in the house.
In stores, metal objects are sold at high prices, because they are made by hand. Therefore, today it is important to create such products yourself.
For the production of metal parts and patterned images, it is recommended to choose a suitable working process.
The most modern are considered to be: filigree, cutting, bending, forging, stamping, embossing. Upon completion of the preparation of the drawing of the metal product and the required list of materials, the master can begin work.
Metal is the material from which entire compositions of various crafts for home and garden are created. In this regard, many ways have been developed to make it possible to create characteristic things at home.
Methods for creating metal products
Casting. The essence is to fill the mold with liquefied steel. Once frozen, it becomes durable. This makes a beautiful uniform product.
Forging. It is based on exerting an action on the workpiece using a hammer, temperature, press, etc.
Bending. This technique is similar to forging. The essence of the technique is welding and riveting of elements.
Difovka. This method is characterized by the use of a hammer. This is how the iron sheets acquire the desired appearance.
Cutting and stamping. Using this technology, the shaped appearance of the workpiece changes and holes are made.
Filigree. The raw material is wire of any shape. The craft is created by soldering the bent components of the pattern.
Coinage. The method is considered the simplest. Its essence is the location of the equipment on the workpiece, subject to further impact with a hammer. This changes the shape of the product.
How to make a drawing
Nowadays, many methods are used to make drawings of metal crafts. You can actually do them yourself, or using automated programs.
Thanks to the diagram, there is a specific understanding of how much material is needed for the work. Initially, it will be needed when making large objects, for example metal gates. Having a prepared sketch, the master will be able to understand whether the craft will look harmonious in the desired location.
DIY metal rose
Crafts made from sheet metal can be used to decorate the garden in a country house. Among them, the most common is a beautiful flower called a rose. The completed product will be able to please you for many years.
To complete the craft, the following teaching method will be useful:
When carrying out work, it is necessary to take into account safety precautions, using special gloves and a mask for welding work.
Take sheet metal and cut out flower petals and leaves from it. The petals should be cut in the following order: from smallest to largest, starting at 15 mm and ending at 80 mm. You will need to make approximately 30 petals. This way the flower bud will look compact and beautiful. Afterwards, the edges of all petals should be smoothed with a sharpening stone.
From the remaining sheet metal it is necessary to cut triangular shapes of at least 10 mm in size, which serve as rose thorns.
Making a bud. Take the two smallest petals, squeeze them in a yew, then fold them into two parts. Then we form eight petals in an arc, keeping to the middle of the bud. Each detail of a metal craft is fixed by welding. After this, you need to do a cleanup.
All other leaves are formed in a similar way along an arc, but with the top bent. The bend is carried out with a hammer. All other petals are fixed by welding and cleaned again.
It's time to weld the thorns to the prepared stem. Afterwards the cleaning is done.
And finally, the rose leaves themselves. You need to clamp and unclench the leaf in a yew so that the vein comes out. The edges of the leaves are bent with pliers. We fix the leaves to the stem by welding and clean the seams.
The final stage is welding the bud to the stem. Cleaning is also done in those places where the parts are connected. Afterwards, the entire rose is painted with a special paint.
DIY metal rat craft
Metal crafts for the garden and cottage have an excellent appearance. For example, you can make a metal rat or other animal by following step-by-step instructions.
Step-by-step process of creating crafts:
Take a couple of pieces of metal pipe (for a rat size of 50 cm). One of them will serve as a head: we cut equal parts in diameter, and the workpiece comes out.
Then, using electric welding, we attach the parts and use a grinder to clean the seam area. When working, you should take into account the proportional dimensions: the head is larger than the body. We weld these two parts together.
On a thin metal sheet 2 mm wide we apply samples of the animal’s ears and paws, then cut them out. For the correct shape of the legs, the workpieces are rolled up in the form of a funnel. We use a welding machine to connect the legs to the body and clean the seams. Work with the ears is done in a similar way.
Afterwards we make the paw hands from twigs. Smaller rods are suitable for the upper and lower legs. We weld them and clean them.
To make the tail you will need a rod 14 mm long. It is attached to the rat's body by welding.
Now let's take care of the muzzle. Initially, two openings are made in the head for the eye sockets. They are smaller in size than ball bearings.
We carefully clean the entire animal with an angle grinder. We make welding lines along the length of the rat, located nearby. This will resemble elements of wool.
Finally, a non-colored varnish is applied to the rat to obtain the best effect. In the photo of a metal craft, the animal is coated with a colorless varnish that has a shiny effect. Now the craft is ready, you can give it to your loved ones, or place it at your own dacha.
Photos of metal crafts
To decorate the interior or exterior of your home, it is not at all necessary to purchase various store-bought trinkets. Metal crafts made by welding or other methods are excellent for this purpose. Moreover, this craft is accessible to everyone, because you just need to follow the instructions, and all the necessary tools can be found at hand.
There are several different manufacturing technologies, and you can choose any of them based on personal preferences, knowledge and capabilities. Anything that can be made from metal is always closely related to the method of manufacture.
As is known, using metal and with a little effort you can make almost any design attractive and practical. This includes various benches, cornices, furniture and other interior items.
Since iron crafts are manual labor, their cost in stores is quite high, so it will be much easier to master this craft yourself and save your money. The only thing you have to spend money on is materials for production.
The first thing you need to do is choose the direction you like in which you will work. Equipment for bending and forging, stamping, cutting, and embossing is especially often needed. After this, a drawing of the future craft and the necessary materials are prepared.
There is a whole list of different methods using which you can do DIY metal product for sale or for personal use.
As for the design drawing, it can be made manually on paper or using specialized computer programs, which can be found in a wide range throughout the Internet.
In principle, you can do without a diagram if we are talking about simple products. But for large objects such as gates, gratings and the like, a drawing is extremely necessary.
Simple products
If you have never done this kind of craft, it is best to start with making simpler iron products. To do this, you do not need to have special skills or experience in this field. Just follow the instructions described, and everything will work out.
Tin box
This craft is not only beautiful room decor, but also a useful thing. Therefore, you can start with it. Prepare all the tools:
First you need to clean the can of paint. For this you will need sandpaper. It is best to carry out the step when the tin has not yet been opened, otherwise there is a high probability of accidental material deformation, and this is extremely undesirable.
Then you need to cut the jar as follows: remove the bottom and cut the top lengthwise. Using sandpaper, sharpen all the rough edges and sharp edges. This will help give the product a neater look and also avoid cuts.
Now you need to apply the pattern. Here there is complete freedom of choice. You can use any accessories and paint the picture you like.
After this, all that remains is to assemble the fake according to the drawing and find a suitable place for it.
Metal owl
If you have experience with a welding machine, then after making the box you can take on a more complex design - a metal owl. To do this you will need the following tools:
First you need to make a sketch of an owl in pencil on paper, what the future craft will look like. Therefore, make every effort to create a beautiful picture. Then you need to transfer the drawing onto cardboard.
Now you will need a grinder and thin metal. For an owl, you need to have materials for the eyes, body with feathers, wings and tail. This is all cut out from iron parts using a grinder:
- When creating the eyes, try to make holes in them for the bolts to be inserted into.
- Make notches around the perimeter of the body that will create the effect of an owl's plumage. For this you need a chisel.
- A piece of bent metal can serve as a beak.
- When creating paws, use various rods, connecting them by welding.
After making all the parts of the owl separately, combine them with a welding machine. In general, at this stage the product is already ready, all that remains is to apply color and treat the owl with a special varnish. You can add your own elements.
Cold forging
If you have a press, you can do cold forging. With its help you can create more interesting and attractive designs for decoration. This method is simple, but it requires special tools that not every craftsman has:
- Bend for making bends.
- Snail for deformation of iron sheet.
- Flashlight for weaving.
- Wave for making wavy patterns.
- Twister for twisting rods together. This will allow you to create spiral elements.
As in other cases, the first step is to prepare a sketch or diagram. Afterwards, the stage of manufacturing the elements of the general structure separately begins. As with the owl, welding will be required to finally put all the parts together.
Now all seams are removed, the entire structure is sanded using sandpaper, and at the end a special varnish is applied. The structure is ready.
As you can see, in order to decorate your home or cottage it is not at all necessary to buy expensive decorative elements; a little effort is enough to invent your own crafts. Of course, if you do not have at least minimal skills in making such structures, everything will not be so simple. But starting with simple options, you can gradually achieve serious heights in this craft.
Metal crafts with or without welding are best suited for decorating a private home or country cottage. Choosing a technology for creating such products requires taking into account your skills and abilities. In addition, we should not forget about certain financial expenses for the purchase or manufacture of special tools.
A little history
The history of homemade metal products goes back more than a thousand years. Gradually, such crafts turned into one of the areas of artistic art. And from the beginning of the 11th century they became an obligatory attribute of European architecture.
In our time, their popularity has not faded. Despite the high cost, beautiful handmade metal crafts remain loved by both interior designers and ordinary people, as they are a great way to add uniqueness and originality to a setting.
Techniques for creating decorative items from metal
Hand-made metal products will add attractiveness to any type of structure, from cornices to furniture. As you can see in the photo of metal crafts, there are the following techniques for their manufacture:
- casting;
- difovka;
- forging;
- bending;
- stamping;
- cutting;
- filigree;
- coinage.
The last six are the most common. The uniqueness of metal as a material lies in the fact that it can be used to create a wide variety of compositions for both interiors and exteriors.
You will be ready to realize your idea of making a creative and interesting little thing only after you choose an idea and instructions for making a craft.
The simplest forged decorative items
If you are a beginner who is just beginning to comprehend the intricacies of forging, then it is advisable for you to start by making simple metal crafts with your own hands, for example, from a box or casket.
Rat made of metal
A figurine of a rat would be a good option. To create it you will need the following materials:
- steel rods with a diameter of 4, 6, 10, 12, 14 mm;
- metal sheet 2 mm thick;
- wire;
- bearings – 3 pcs.
You should also prepare a grinder, drill, metal scissors, electric welding, and a grinding circle.
Here's a quick step-by-step guide:
- We make a head and a torso from two pieces of pipe. To do this, we cut out the required parts along the entire diameter of the pipes and weld them.
- We clean the elements with a grinder with a circle;
- We weld the rat's head to the body.
- We make sketches of the ears and paws and transfer them to a sheet of metal. Cut out the resulting blanks.
- We roll the paw blanks into a funnel, scald them and clean the seams.
- We collect the rat.
- We make paws-brushes from twigs. To do this, we connect a 4 mm rod with a 10 mm rod by welding, and the lower 6 mm with a 12 mm rod. Then insert into funnels and scald.
- We make a tail from a 14 mm rod and attach it to the rat.
- We make a hole for the eyes, insert bearings into them and weld them. The third bearing should be used to create the spout.
- We drill holes for the mustache and insert the wire into them.
- We clean everything with a grinder and make fur. To do this, it is necessary to apply longitudinal welds close to each other.
- We coat the finished rat with varnish.
Panel "Fish"
Let's look at one of the popular children's metal crafts with manufacturing - the "Fish" panel. To create it you need to prepare wire of different thicknesses, beads, beads, paper, scissors and a pencil.
Here is a small master class:
- Draw a sketch of a fish.
- Accordingly, we make a wire frame with curves.
- We construct jumpers from thin wire.
- We fill the body of the fish with beads and beads. To do this, we attach a wire to the curves on the frame and string decorative material onto it. Then we fix it on the back side of the panel. Beads are used to highlight large scales and eyes.
- In this way we gradually fill the entire fish. Its color depends on the color of the beads.
The finished image can be used to decorate a corridor wall or a child’s room. This panel is a wonderful gift for a fisherman.
In conclusion, we note that making metal crafts looks complicated only at first glance. In fact, anyone can make them. Therefore, do not be afraid - try, experiment. And perhaps a real work of art will come out of your hands.
Photos of metal crafts
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Crafts made from metal such as steel using welding turn out to be quite durable and reliable, and even a person who has had no experience with such technology before can make them. The main thing at the first stage is to fully comply with safety precautions during work, that is, not to get exposed to hot sparks or hot metal, and also not to get an eye burn.
Crafts made from metal blanks using welding will be very useful in a private or country house, as well as in the country. Thanks to these products, you can very quickly and easily develop even a large area, build a fence, make a gate, gazebo, canopy, and so on.
First of all, you need to get a reliable welding machine. In domestic conditions, where it is not necessary to obtain very high quality connections, unlike industrial work, transformer or inverter equipment is used. Each of these devices has its own positive and negative characteristics.
Transformer structures are distinguished by their large dimensions and large mass, which makes it difficult to carry out work if the device needs to be moved over significant distances, for example, when constructing a fence or other large iron products. Another disadvantage of transformer welding is the fairly heavy load on the electrical network, and they cannot be connected to gasoline or diesel generators.
The positive aspects of this equipment include the simplicity of the device, which allows you to assemble it yourself in a short time. It does not provide for the presence of any serious electrical circuits, so, by and large, there is nothing to break there.
Inverter-type welding machines have a more complex design, so it is not possible to assemble them yourself. They work using a completely different technology, which allows you to work not only with steel, but also with various types of non-ferrous metals. The manufacturing technology involves the use of a smaller transformer, which makes it more compact and lighter. Largely due to this, the equipment is much easier to transport than transformer devices. Electric current consumption is much less, the load on the network even from the most powerful device is minimal. It is allowed to connect the structure to generators.
Basics of welding work
If you have to weld for the first time, then you should not immediately start producing a complex structure. First, you should try your hand at unnecessary metal parts. At the first stage, you should learn how to light an arc and hold it at the required distance from the metal so that it produces a constant voltage. In the future, you need to understand how a welded joint is formed by surfacing molten sections of workpieces on top of each other.
You should definitely play with the current strength to figure out how to regulate it correctly, since this indicator will vary greatly depending on the thickness of the workpieces. The current strength is selected so that through-melted holes do not appear in the metal. The diameter of the electrode also plays an important role. To obtain high-quality metal products with your own hands at home, it is enough to use electrodes whose diameter will be within 2-3 m. Electrodes should be taken new and completely dry; even slightly damp products will not allow you to obtain a high-quality arc and will ultimately create a poor-quality arc the seam.
The production process of simple products
As mentioned above, it is best to start with the manufacture of the simplest, even elementary, structures. For example, it could be an ordinary metal box that will perform not only decorative, but also certain practical functions. You can make it from an ordinary tin can. To make your work as convenient as possible, you need to keep a number of certain tools on hand:
- inverter or transformer type welding machine;
- scissors;
- sanding paper;
- ruler and pencil for making markings;
- a fireproof and non-melting surface that will act as a working base;
- paper for drawing the future product.
Initially, old paint should be removed from the surface of the workpiece - this can be done using coarse sanding paper. The fact is that it is strictly forbidden to weld painted surfaces together. When exposed to high temperatures, paint will burn out, turning into toxic fumes that are very harmful to human health, and it will also heat up the metal too much, which can lead to burns.
Old paintwork should be removed very carefully, since tin is a very soft metal that can be easily damaged, for example, dented. Now the jar needs to be cut with metal scissors or an ordinary hacksaw. First, the bottom is removed, then the upper part is cut lengthwise. It is highly likely that there will be burrs or other irregularities along the edges, which should be removed immediately by cleaning them off with a file. When the workpiece is made, it is bent so as to form a box. Be sure to check all corners with a square. All bends will need to be carefully welded, as tin will form burns very quickly. Thanks to welding, the structure acquires the necessary strength, and special stiffeners are also formed. It is better to make the lid on small hinges. They can be fixed to the surface using small rivets, or you can try to weld them to the product. To close the box, make a small hook of the cap type.
Safety precautions when carrying out welding work
Welding work should be carried out taking into account safety precautions, since this is a rather dangerous type of activity, both the welding itself and a number of preparatory works, which include cutting, milling, securing workpieces, and so on. The following points pose a danger:
- electric shock;
- damage to the organs of vision by ultraviolet radiation, which comes quite intensely from the lit arc;
- possible contact with scale, sparks and other foreign objects in the eyes;
- penetration of toxic fumes into the lungs;
- if there are open areas of the body, they can receive burns from molten metal or sparks;
- When using balloon welding, you should protect yourself from a possible explosion of the balloon.
It is best to protect your eyes from radiation using a special mask or safety glasses. There are relatively cheap masks on sale with darkened glass, through which the arc is very clearly visible, but at the same time this glass will absorb ultraviolet radiation well, thereby preventing damage to the organs of vision.
It is much more convenient to use a chameleon type mask, since it will turn dark immediately after the arc is lit. This can be achieved due to the presence of special automation and sensors that instantly respond to the occurrence of a strong source of ultraviolet radiation. Many craftsmen use welding glasses at home, as they perfectly protect the eyes from radiation, but significantly less restrict movement, and also allow you to make the viewing angle much larger, which is important when carrying out welding work. With the right approach to welding, you will be able to obtain a high-quality connection without any harm to your own health.
The advantage of metal crafts is the availability of materials. The work uses any available parts: screws, washers, nails, old devices with a metal mechanism, and much more.
Currently, metal fences, doors, fences are popular, which can be supplemented with forged patterns or toys made of metal parts.
Materials and tools
The following devices and materials will be needed:
- paper and pencil for creating a sketch;
- welding device;
- hammer;
- grinder for cutting metal;
- rust dissolving agent;
- sharp scissors;
- washers and bolts for decoration;
- steel rods of various lengths;
- sheet of iron
The specific set of materials depends on the type of craft.
Prepare all the parts in advance; if necessary, treat the surface of the iron with a special anti-rust agent so that the surface is clean - thanks to this, the finished craft will not be covered with rust and will last for a long time.
Metal owl
- Prepare a template for the owl by drawing it in pencil or printing it on a piece of paper.
- Cut out the outline of the figure and attach it to a metal sheet, outline the silhouette with a pencil.
- Using a grinder, carefully cut out the edges of the workpiece. Using a drill, drill holes for attaching the future craft and for creating eyes.
- Make the paws from a metal rod, giving them a corresponding curved shape.
- Treat the surface of the owl with a special solution and paint.
Rose of steel
Prepare the following tools:
- welding machine;
- hammer;
- Bulgarian;
- paint for metal surfaces;
- sharpening stone;
- pliers;
- wire;
- scissors for cutting metal.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Cut rose petals from a steel sheet - the larger, the more magnificent the bud will be. Make them in different sizes: for the lower tiers of the flower - larger, and then smaller and shorter, so that you get a rolled bud in the center.
- Process the sharp edges of the petals with a sharpening stone so that they become even and smooth to the touch.
- Twist the steel rod into a spiral using pliers.
- Weld the petals, bases down, to each other, folding them into a rose shape.
- The rosette can be supplemented with thorns and leaves - two leaves on each stem on different sides.
- Cover the finished craft with paint, for example, a silver shade.
Simple metal toys
Some crafts can be created from scrap metal materials without using special tools for welding and cutting metal sheets.
This uses wire, screws, washers, nuts and other small parts that can be glued or twisted together with children.
Dog made from bolts
- Take a large nut and hot weld or glue gun four upside down bolts to it. You will get a blank body with legs.
- Make the muzzle from a short wide screw, gluing it with its leg to the front upper part of the body, slightly lifting the head up at an angle.
- Make the eyes from small nuts, attaching them on top behind the head of the screw representing the muzzle.
- Give the figurine the appearance of a puppy by gluing on a tail and ears.
- With the help of such a base, you can make other animals - a cat, a horse, an elephant, supplementing the blank for the body with the corresponding elements in the form of ears, nose, etc.
Typewriter
Prepare materials for making crafts. You will need 4 small wheels, metal parts for the body and additional parts for decoration: headlights, exhaust pipe, chair seats. The more detailed the car is, the more beautiful and realistic the craft will be.
Both boys and girls will enjoy watching the process of creating a toy car.
The body of the machine can be assembled in advance, the parts can be welded or glued together.
Attach the wheels to the workpiece, stick on additional decorative elements.
The finished machine can be coated with varnish or paint.
Wire butterfly
The technology for creating this craft is very simple and is suitable for making together with children.
In this case, the work consists of twisting the wire in the form of curved parts for the wings and antennae of the butterfly.
The wire must be strong, but flexible enough so that it does not break during work and can easily take the required shape with the help of your hands.
Make the wings from twisted ovals, decorating them with patterned patterns in the form of curls and spirals.
For the body, take a thicker piece of wire or twist several thin wires together to form a body.
Make antennae from thin twisted pieces of wire thread and attach to the butterfly's head.
Cover the finished craft with colored paint or clear varnish.
Other insects, such as dragonflies, are created using a similar technique. They differ from the butterfly in their larger body and thin, elongated wings.
It is important not to forget about precautions when working with tools such as grinders and welding; be sure to use protective equipment - a mask, gloves.