DIY metal crafts: examples of using metal to create interior design and decoration

Metal allows you to realize many creative ideas. But working with it requires special skills, abilities and devices. However, the result is durable, original and unique.

Thanks to the malleability of the material and the talent of the master, do-it-yourself metal crafts worthy of admiration appear. They become the pride of a personal plot, cottage or home interior. Let's look at a few examples and working methods:

Sheet metal owl

To work with a thin sheet of metal, strong and sharp scissors are sufficient. Thanks to them, beautiful metal crafts are created in the form of animal figures, various patterns or abstractions. What is needed to make a metal owl:

• Thin sheet and narrow strips of metal;
• Substrate in the form of a wooden rectangular board with a thickness of no more than 0.5 mm;
• A set of various nails and elements for fastening;
• A spoon with a rounded end. It will allow you to form the necessary image of an owl by squeezing out feathers and other parts of the body;
• Sharp scissors.

Stages of work completion

They are not particularly difficult, but will require patience and attention. Detailed review:

• A full sketch is created;
• Thanks to a permanent marker, the diagram is transferred to the metal from the inside;
• Use sharp scissors to cut out the necessary elements;
• To squeeze out a pattern on the inside of the metal or highlight grooves, use a spoon with a rounded end;
• The buttons create the owl's eyes. Can be replaced with metal elements with a similar shape. At the author's discretion, such details are used as additional decoration for the bird;
• When all the parts are ready, the owl is assembled;
• To secure parts of metal crafts, nails or other fasteners are used.

Metal owl

1. Prepare a template for the owl by drawing it in pencil or printing it on a piece of paper.
2. Cut out the outline of the figure and attach it to a metal sheet, outline the silhouette with a pencil.
3. 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.
4. Make the paws from a metal rod, giving them a corresponding curved shape.
5. Treat the surface of the owl with a special solution and paint.

How to use welding to create metal crafts?

Welding allows you to quickly and reliably connect metal parts, but this method requires compliance with safety precautions and developed skills in working with the appropriate equipment. Electric welding is used for this, since it is portable and accessible compared to its gas counterpart.

To create metal crafts by welding, a transformer, welding machine or inverter is used. The choice is related to accessibility, the nature of the work, and the preference of the author of the metal product.

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:

1. 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 curled bud in the center.
2. Process the sharp edges of the petals with a sharpening stone so that they become even and smooth to the touch.
3. Twist the steel rod into a spiral using pliers.
4. Weld the petals, bases down, to each other, folding them into a rose shape.
5. The rosette can be supplemented with thorns and leaves - two leaves on each stem on different sides.
6. Cover the finished craft with paint, for example, a silver shade.

What metal crafts are created using welding?

In fact, everything, right down to artistic work in the form of sculptures of people or animals. But most often welding creates:

• Installation of all kinds of structures;
• Repair work is being carried out;
• Garden supplies are made.

Photos of available examples are offered on our website dnevnikmastera.ru. Almost all illustrations are accompanied by detailed master classes on making metal crafts using welding and other methods.

Types of ferrous scrap

waste includes iron and its various alloys.

Scrap is divided into:

• cast iron (carbon content is more than 2%);
• steel (carbon content less than 2%);
• non-class waste.

In turn, alloys can have alloying elements (aluminum, nickel, molybdenum, etc.) and are divided into:

• carbon;
• alloyed.

According to qualitative indicators, the classification of ferrous metal scrap includes 25 types and 67 groups . You can read more about this in GOST 278-86.

How to work with a welding machine?

This requires experience, practice and strict adherence to safety regulations. First, the newly minted master practices on a damaged piece of metal. This is necessary to acquire knowledge of igniting and maintaining an arc based on maintaining a constant gap between the electrode and the workpiece.

After this, the technique of making a weld is studied. If it turns out smooth without difficulty, then you need to learn how to correctly regulate the current strength to work with different thicknesses of the workpiece.

At its core, welding in the process of creating metal crafts is used to connect two parts. This occurs by melting the surface of the future joint. A solid metal structure is formed through the use of an electrode.

However, this is not an easy task and requires a lot of practice and experience, since it is necessary to ensure that the top layer of the workpiece melts, otherwise holes may form.

After acquiring basic skills in creating metal crafts by welding, you can move on to doing simple work to gain experience. For this, it is more profitable to use an inverter, since it has increased mobility and consumes less electricity.

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.

What can you make from an old bicycle for your garden?

Old bicycles were found on the balcony and attic, but it was a pity to throw them away. Then you can give them a new life by transforming them into something useful for the garden. For this purpose, it is not necessary that the vehicles be in a suitable condition.

You can use the remaining parts to create an unusual flower bed. It is formed by attaching a flowerpot with flowers to an accessible metal structure left over from a two-wheeled product.

Stand for cucumbers and other cultivated plants

Wheels from several bicycles are used for this. If rust is found on them, it is cleaned with sandpaper. The bicycle is covered with 2-3 layers of metal paint.

Some skip this stage to create the effect of the presence of antiquity. What is needed to create this metal craft for the garden:

• Bicycle wheels;
• Wooden block;
• Heavy and small stones to secure the structure;
• Comfortable shovel;
• Antiseptic;
• Stretch film;
• Wire;
• Strong hammer;
• Scissors.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. A shovel is used to dig a hole for installing a wooden block at one of the ends. To protect against rotting, it is coated with an antiseptic in several layers. After drying, the edge chosen for immersion in the ground is wrapped in several layers of stretch film. This will provide insulation from moisture.
2. Help will be required for installation. One holds the post, the other fills it with heavy and small stones. A strong hammer is used for compaction.
3. If possible, the structure is filled with cement. If it is not there, then a mound of dense soil is created. It is carefully compacted.
4. If cement was used, you must wait until it is completely dry. Then the wheels are connected to the post using wire.

Cucumbers will be able to curl around the wheels and be attached to a support to receive maximum sunlight. But this design will also be useful for other plants that can grow vertically and twine around objects: grapes, beans. However, the height of the wheels should be comfortable for unhindered harvesting.

If you liked exploring the possibilities of metal crafts, check out other materials on the site. There is still a lot of interesting things here.

Manufacturing technology

Manufacturing metal products is a very popular way of earning money today. DIY metal objects can make any design more attractive. These may include:

• cornices;
• benches;
• pieces of furniture.

Moreover, the master can choose the style at will, paying special attention to ensuring that the item being performed looks harmonious in any room. In retail outlets, metal products are sold at fairly high prices, due to the fact that they are made by hand. However, if you wish, it becomes possible to master the science of creating such objects on your own. Metal products, firstly, are highly valued in certain markets, and secondly, you can save decent amounts. The only costs incurred may be related to the purchase of materials.

To produce steel parts and patterns, you can choose any technique you like. Quite popular among them are:

• filigree;
• cutting;
• bending;
• forging;
• stamping;
• coinage.

Once the drawing or diagram of the product and the necessary materials have been prepared, the master will be ready to implement the idea of ​​​​creating a beautiful and unusual product.

Metal is the material on the basis of which it becomes possible to create a whole composition of all kinds of crafts for the home or garden. For this reason, many methods have been developed that allow you to create very original things at home.

Example of work

The original idea is to create a metal owl. To do this you will need a stencil or template that can be made from paper. A drawing is applied to it. The design is cut out by applying it to a steel sheet.

An owl is trimmed with a grinder. Eyes are made by drilling holes. If the body is created, you can move on to the details:

• legs are made from a rod;
• any irregularities that appear are straightened with a grinder;
• the owl is treated with a special anti-rust agent;
• metal is painted.

Roses made of iron look great.
To make them you will need a welding machine, a hammer, a steel sheet, a grinder, and metal scissors. Welding work must be performed with gloves and a protective mask. Initially, 30 rose petals are cut out with metal scissors. During the cutting process, it is recommended to move from 15 to 80 mm. To keep the petals smooth, a sharpening stone is used. Since the base of the bud is ready, you will need to twist the steel cable into a spiral. To do this, use pliers. The petals are welded to the trunk one by one. If the flower is ready, the spikes are fixed with a welding machine. Seams and excess are cleaned with a grinder. The top of the rose is covered with protective paint.

Butterfly and patterns

Steel wire allows you to make shapes of different sizes. For example, you can do a butterfly. Experts advise using medium-thick wire for this. This material bends without problems. The body is created through spiral turns. The wings are made separately from two ovals. The last elements are fixed to the body.

Step-by-step DIY crafts made from galvanized sheet metal using a welding machine:

1. Making a sketch of the entire product and its elements.
2. Transferring the pattern to raw materials.
3. Tenderloin with a grinder.
4. Edge protection.
5. To create the image of feathers, a notch is applied with a hammer and chisel.
6. Formation of the beak and remaining body parts.
7. Connecting elements together.
8. Cleaning the metal surface from rust.
9. Varnish coating.

Flowers and leaves

Floral patterns decorate windows and fences in an original way. Using a bouquet of roses, you can decorate the room yourself. Hot and cold forging is used to make branches, flowers and leaves.

Stages of work using the latest technology:

1. Cut out a cardboard pattern of a sheet of the desired shape.
2. Transferring an image to metal.
3. Cutting out the sketch and sanding the edges.
4. Removing burrs, cleaning and grinding the surface.
5. Application of veins to raw materials.
6. Fine execution of petals by beating them with a hammer.
7. Folding the edges with round pliers.
8. Fixing the finished forms on the branch.
9. Coloring of the finished product.

To make patterns and flowers durable, medium, soft and hard grade steel is used. Experts advise using raw materials with 0.25% carbon. Steel should not contain phosphorus, chromium and sulfur. Experts consider the following to be original ideas for products for a summer cottage made from scrap metal:

• The barrel is cut lengthwise. Shelves are installed inside, and wheels are installed at the bottom. The resulting cabinet can be used to store small items.
• To make a coffee table, it is recommended to cut the barrel crosswise.
• If you decorate the walls of the barrel with openwork carvings and build a dining set, you can make a table and chairs.
• To create fairy-tale characters, they use unnecessary garden tools and pipes.
• Furniture made from profile pipes is installed at the dacha. The raw material is considered practical and inexpensive. It allows you to create different things: a greenhouse, furniture. Pipes go well with plastic and wood.

The original solution is to make a bench from a profile pipe with a cross-section of 0.03x0.03 m and a length of 11 m. You will need boards 2.3 m long and 0.06 m wide. If possible, a greenhouse will be built.

To create toys or jewelry, you can use old things. Tin and aluminum are considered soft metals. It is convenient to use for making dragonflies and other animals.

Printing images on metal

Today's technologies make it possible to transfer with amazing accuracy a copy of any full-color image - photographs, paintings or graphic works - onto a metal plate. Copies are durable, long lasting and are the fastest way to create a painting on metal. What is this printing method called?

Reproducing an image on a plate of anodized aluminum using organic dyes is called metallography. The color rendition and quality of such paintings is superior to printing. The metal base can have a glossy, matte, satin texture and color in gold, bronze, silver or one of the local colors.

A type of inkjet printing using ink that hardens under the influence of ultraviolet light is called UV printing. The color rendering of this method is inferior to metallography, but allows images to be transferred to the surface of any alloy, which provides ample opportunities for realizing creative ideas.

Like any reproduction, paintings made using UV printing and metallography cannot be called works of art. But artists use these methods as a way to print original photographs and convey individual elements in their unique works.

Safety precautions when working with metal

The habit of adhering to safety rules in such work will serve as a timely measure.

When working with one hammer, such rules will not be needed, but when the procedure is performed with sheet iron, then you need to be careful not to injure yourself and follow some rules.

• Therefore, you will need eye protection, gloves or mittens.
• When work involves welding, special protective clothing becomes especially necessary.
• This includes special gloves, clothing made of protective fabric, and a mask in the form of a shield.

It is important to ventilate the room periodically, including when painting or varnishing products.

Material

Surely every owner of a private house or cottage will have metal remains on his farm. For example, you were installing a gas pipeline, heating or water supply system, you had unused pipes lying around or just pieces of metal, pieces of fittings, nails, nuts, bolts, etc.

From all these seemingly unnecessary parts you can make excellent crafts that will find their application on your site.

Many users often use this material for repairs. Take a good look at your garage; perhaps there are old garden tools, dishes, or car or bicycle parts lying around. All this may also be useful to you.