Interesting metal crafts. DIY metal crafts - choice of material, interesting ideas, photo examples

The fastest and most reliable way to attach metal parts is by electric welding. Anyone can learn to handle it. Having bought or an inverter, as well as having spent half a pack of electrodes to gain practical skills, you can safely try to create crafts from metal with your own hands. Installation of structures, repairs in the country, the manufacture of garden accessories and much more from this moment becomes available.

The first metal crafts

Many people now have welding. Often the device is purchased in case of construction or repair. Not even necessary for yourself. If there is a need for it, you can call a self-taught neighbor or a familiar welder-specialist. After the completion of the work, the unit is simply idle.

But sooner or later the moment comes when you should make up your mind and try to cook something yourself. There is nothing wrong with that, there would be a desire. The main thing at this stage is not to get burned and not to catch bunnies, and experience comes with practice. If there is either a country house, there will always be an application for welding. With its help, it is possible to solve the problems of territory development much faster.

Not always and not everything can be bought in the store. To weld a gate, to build a base for a bench or a table, to "grab" a hook to a metal post for attaching a rope or an additional support for weaving grapes is kind of a trifle, but it seems inconvenient to call a welder on such an occasion. So you need to master the basics and solve everyday problems with your own hands.

Basics of welding

Of course, it's not worth taking on serious work with responsible connections right away. You can practice on a piece of scrap metal. The first step is to learn how to ignite the arc and hold it, maintaining a constant working gap between the workpiece and the electrode as it burns out.

After that, you need to work out the technique of forming a weld by fusing a layer of metal onto a flat surface. Then you can proceed to adjusting the current for different thicknesses of the workpieces being welded. Welding is a technique of joining two metal parts, based on melting their surfaces at the junction. In one piece, they are connected by adding a layer of bonding material of the electrode.

The current is chosen in such a way as to ensure that only the surface layer melts without the formation of holes. It is better to master the technique on electrodes with a diameter of 2.5-3 mm. They must not be old and must be dry, otherwise the first experience will most likely be ineffective, which may discourage learning to create crafts from metal.

Welding makes it possible to correct minor and sometimes serious flaws in work or installation errors. It is enough to cut the "tack" seam, and the parts are disconnected. After cleaning the place of unsuccessful welding, the process can be repeated.

Material

Any owner of a country house or owner of a summer house will surely have metal waste on the farm. These can be the remains of pipes after the installation of a gas pipeline, water supply or heating systems. The real owner usually does not throw away the remains of the channel or pieces of reinforcement. You can also find used nails, bolts and nuts.

Such scrap metal very often becomes material for new repairs or improvement of the old one. Surely you will find in the garage or shed outdated garden tools, chains, old dishes, as well as spare parts from a car, motorcycle or bicycle that have not yet been handed over to collection points.

All of this can be used to make useful and practical metal crafts. With your own hands, with the help of welding and existing assistants, you can repair old garden tools or make new ones from waste, taking into account personal experience, your preferences and business conditions.

You can equip comfort in your backyard without buying new equipment. From used, but still strong metal, you can build a base for a country table or bench. Finding the right particle board sheet for your table top and bench board is no problem. Racks can even be made of substandard inch pipe.

If there is a supply of material, you can swing on the swing. It is better to make the structure capital, with concreting of the base. You need two sidewalls of angled welded pipes with bridges for rigidity. The more massive the swing seat is, the larger this angle should be. Jumpers can be welded at ground level or even lower so they cannot be seen.

Hangers are best made from chains, but a reliable rope can also be used. The beam for fastening must be massive. A thick-walled pipe, a piece of rail or channel is suitable. It is best to fasten the frame parts and hanger brackets by welding.

At any cottage, with rare exceptions, there is a barbecue or other similar device. A couple of logs for sitting, an old stump as a table and burnt bricks to restrict the fire pit and stack skewers - for some, this may be relaxation, but it is better and more convenient to use a more perfect structure.

The brazier can be knowledgeable. It can be brought with you to the dacha, it can also have a permanent place of registration with the possibility of transporting it to the place of storage. For such a solution, a brazier from an old steel barrel is quite suitable. It can be made on your own and you can do only with a grinder and a drill. However, it will be better and easier if you use a welding machine.

The empty and washed drum is cut along the vertical centerline into two halves. Legs from a rod, fittings or pipe sections are welded to one part. The upper part serves as a hinged cover and can be mounted for convenience on welded old door curtains.

Crafts made from sheet metal can be fastened by welding only after gaining some experience. In order to reliably weld the parts and not burn a hole with the electrode, you should accurately select the welding current and work with short tacks with constant control of the seam quality.

Metal sculpture

The garden around the country house is not only an area where trees and shrubs are grown for picking fruits and berries. It is also a place to relax! Garden sculpture will be a great addition to the well-groomed plantings.

It may not necessarily be made of concrete or plaster. For a person with creativity, there are no boundaries to express it. If at the moment only a welding machine, half a pack of electrodes, scrap and a desire to create are at hand, then from all this you can build an original and unique composition. Moreover, the complexity of the execution can be different.

It depends on the available material and on the idea. In one case, such metal crafts for a garden can consist of a dozen different, at first glance, incompatible parts of different origin and purpose. In another case, it can be made up of hundreds of the same type of repetitive elements connected by welding into a three-dimensional model.

Where to get ideas from?

This question cannot be answered unequivocally. Someone, seeing in one place accidentally found details, imagine how they will be combined together if they are combined into a common composition. Another purposefully drives to a scrap metal collection point and wanders around the mountains of this trash in search of a suitable part for the chosen sculpture.

You can get ideas or just take someone's already implemented idea as a basis from specialized book publications that are dedicated to metal crafts. There is nothing shameful in creating the thing you like from the available materials at the household.

In any case, do-it-yourself metal crafts created according to an existing drawing or sketch will be original. Welding is not about copying, but a kind of creativity. Anyone that is made with a decorative concept and repeats a pattern or composition is perceived as a kind of masterpiece.

Safety engineering

To prevent DIY metal crafts from serving as a constant reminder of bad welding experience associated with a burn or injury, care should be taken. It is strictly forbidden to work without a mask or visor, otherwise you can get ultraviolet irradiation.

A protective suit will protect clothing and body skin from flying sparks and splashes of molten metal, and tight gloves or gloves made of dense material will protect your hands. It is not recommended to knock down the scale from the seam without protective glasses, sharp fragments flying in all directions can get into the eyes.

Keep a bucket of water and a wet rag handy when working near wood or surfaces prone to fire. Accidental sparks or electrode residue bouncing off and falling on such materials can cause smoldering and subsequent ignition. When working indoors, attention should be paid to proper ventilation.

The desire to produce any product arises among many; beginner and experienced craftsmen create do-it-yourself metal products for sale. Some people get quite interesting designs.

Where can you focus your attention? How to start making products from steel and non-ferrous materials? What is in demand today? What products will be in demand in the near future? What tool do you need to have on hand? There are many questions. It is rather difficult to answer all of them. But the questions of finding their place in the market will still worry many potential entrepreneurs.

From idea to market

The peculiarities of the market are such that a very tiny product may be in demand, and large products, in which a lot of thought, labor and talent have been invested, will be unnecessary. There are enough paradoxes in free trade.

Until now, hardware is in the greatest demand.

1. Nails are bought in kilograms. They are used in construction, the manufacture of other goods, in the production of containers.
2. Self-tapping screws came to replace nails. The advent of cordless screwdrivers changed construction technology and furniture production. It is much easier and easier to assemble any spatial structure on self-tapping screws than to use disposable fasteners.
3. Screws (bolts) and nuts are fasteners that connect individual parts together. The demand is enormous. It is difficult to imagine any production that does not use threaded hardware.
4. Wire staples are used together with staplers. Mechanical, electrical and pneumatic staple drivers are used in all walks of life. A small box with staples is found in every home. The product is not stale on the shelves.
5. Blind rivets and threaded rivets with the advent of tools for quickly joining parts into finished products help in the production of complex one-piece assemblies. The assortment of rivets is constantly expanding.
6. Welding electrodes are soft steel wires coated with protective compounds. Even ordinary clay on the surface of the wire rods makes it possible to weld parts together with electric arc welding.

To start the production of hardware, it is enough to purchase automatic machines, for example, a nailing machine. All that remains is to thread the wire from the next roll into the machine and adjust it to the desired size of the nail. All further work goes on without human participation.

For the nail machine to work, you will have to purchase wire and boxes where the finished product will be packed. In the production of nails, one person acts as a director, accountant, foreman and auxiliary worker. Everything is in one hand. It remains to distribute the goods to retail outlets and wait for the results from its sale.

Equipment for production and other hardware is not much more complicated. In a small workshop and even in a garage, entrepreneurs organize completely modern mini-factories that produce popular goods.

Those who managed to set up the production of hardware in the early nineties of the last century still continue to produce them. Small factories export staples, nails, screws, screws, bolts and nuts to dozens of countries. Electrodes in the retail network are purchased in tons.

What can an amateur manufacturer offer?

When it comes to metal products, many potential manufacturers start fantasizing about making large spatial structures. Others see themselves as blacksmiths forging elaborate fences or steel flowers.

In fact, the list of metal products is quite extensive:

• Jewelry production. It is not necessary to use precious metals and alloys to create a demanded product. Most jewelers work with cupronickel, bronze, brass and copper. They decorate their works with pebbles collected in streams and rivers. Jewelry and ornaments sell quite well ahead of the big holidays.

• Cold steel is an interesting area of \u200b\u200bactivity. The demand is constant. However, the manufacturer is always under close surveillance by law enforcement agencies. It is advisable to start making weapons for the reconstruction of historical events. No need to sharpen it sharply, just the similarities with prototypes are enough.

• Armor manufacturing will be in demand in the coming decades. Many clubs are formed, where those wishing to join the history are looking for manufacturers who can make ammunition for medieval knights according to the given drawings and the growth of the customer. The price of the products is quite high. While maintaining high quality, the demand is quite high.

• Manufacturing of metal structures for protected ground is a rather promising area of \u200b\u200bactivity. Greenhouses and greenhouses, made wisely, are always needed in summer cottages. Even animal husbandry in metal frame chicken coops is more interesting than traditional methods. Rabbit cages from a profile pipe, sheathed with panels, allow you to raise fluffy animals quite profitably.

• Home stairs are most often made on the basis of a metal frame. Various ideas for the manufacture of staircases and railings are solved in the designs. Having mastered the technology of calculation and welding, the master will receive a demanded profession for several decades. Individual construction is only gaining momentum. Entrance groups and interfloor stairs will be ordered constantly.

• Metal furniture is in demand outdoors. Various types of benches, benches, and tables are used in parks, gardens, summer cottages and home gardens. These items, after painting with protective dyes, can be outdoors. Precipitation, temperature changes and other natural disasters are not afraid of them. The demand for such products is always stable, especially in spring and summer.

• Metal gazebos are a rather interesting direction of production. Dismountable and welded structures do not require the use of complex technological equipment. Any master who has mastered the features of using an angle grinder and a welding machine is able to independently weld structural elements. After painting, ready-made fragments are obtained, they only need to be delivered to the place and assembled. The sheet material serves as a roof.

• A steel swing can take its place near the house. At the heart of the metal frame, as well as the swing installed in the bearings. The device is simple, mastering the manufacture is within the power of a skilled person.

• Accessories for carpentry and metalwork tools are in demand. Many craftsmen require simple devices, with their help it is easier to manufacture: hives and accessories; facades for cabinet furniture; parts for various crafts - and much more that home manufacturers use on a daily basis.
• Gardening tools and tools will be bought by villagers and summer residents, if new ideas are incorporated into the products that reduce labor costs. Conventional rippers or stubblers will be purchased by those who have to work on the ground.
• Agricultural attachments for motoblocks and mini-tractors that use more efficient soil cultivation methods will definitely be appreciated and paid for by buyers.

To master the manufacture of a particular product, you can read the corresponding books, watch videos and get acquainted with a step-by-step guide to the basic operations and the tool used.

How to start and grow a business?

You can hear the opinion that to create your own business empire requires significant initial capital. Without it, it is impossible to organize a profitable business. But history proves otherwise. With comparatively small capital investments, gigantic fortunes and huge industries are created:

1. Henry Ford began building the facility with one successful motor on a self-running wheelchair. Only $ 50 was spent to not only design and manufacture the first water-pipe engine, but also a carriage with steering and brakes. Already during his lifetime (1924), the company produced more than a million cars a year.
2. Dale Carnegie remained a teacher all his life, but managed to earn over a billion dollars. He correctly identified what he has to offer: taught others to make money. He made money on his own, his heirs for another twenty years could not count the inheritance.
3. Michael Rubin started his business at the age of ten selling seeds. No start-up capital. Then he organized the first snow removal company: he hired friends for work and negotiated with neighbors that within an hour there would not be a single snowdrift near the houses. An enterprising boy at the age of 12, he headed a small company to restore order. At the age of 14 he had his own store. Today the fortune is estimated at more than $ 2 billion.
4. Sergey Brin ended up in the United States at the age of five, now he is the head of GOOGLE. Those who wish will always find the necessary information about him.

The main thing is not the presence of initial capital, it is important to desire and try to achieve the fulfillment of your desires. You need to apply all your time to this and try to find ways of further development even in losses.

There are certain rules that are undesirable to ignore. If you decide to deal with metal and metal products, you need to decide on the place where the production process will be organized. You will need tools, fixtures and raw materials.

At the initial stage, non-mass production is organized, they start with the first prototypes, on which demand is tested, the limit price of the proposed sample and the wishes of potential customers are determined.

It's time to consider some of the activities.

Jewelry production

It is not necessary to use precious metals in your work. Copper, bronze, brass and cupronickel look quite attractive. These metals can be molded into special shapes to create original pieces.

Stable demand from buyers for wickerwork. Various chains, brooches, necklaces and bracelets are jewelry in which the openwork interweaving of wire creates unique patterns. Having mastered the complex technology of creating spatial structures, the master will acquire a circle of people willing to buy his products. In the future, a transition to the use of silver and gold as raw materials is possible.

Jewelry making technology by casting

To familiarize yourself with the features, you need to look at the proposed photos and explanations for them.

For foundry on the table you will need:

• A flask is a device where blanks are cast. It creates a mold for the future casting.
• Container for preparing molding sand. Different types of gypsum are mixed here and mixed with water.
• A device for centrifugal casting. Most often, this is a special chain suspension that is untwisted to force the casting mixture to fill the mold with a certain effort.
• Tool for grinding foundry metals.
• Gas burners - with their help, they heat flasks, molding mixtures and melt the metal.
• Model making tools. In the production of rings (rings), cylindrical supports of different diameters are used.

For spatial and flat models, boards are used on which the model mixture is laid and the model is cut out;

• Sets of cutters - with their help, a drawing of the future product is cut.
• Grinding tools for processing models and castings: files, needle files, sandpaper, drills and other abrasive tools.

To perform casting you need to have:

1. Foundry mixture - if there is copper and lead, then by mixing them in different proportions, bronze is obtained. By mixing electrical copper and tin, brass is obtained. Old cupronickel products can become raw materials for the manufacture of silverware. Some craftsmen purchase brass fittings, cut them and cast their products;
2. Molding sand is a special product that uses fine sand mixed with gypsum. Ordinary stucco will not work, the shape and size of the grains will not allow repeating a complex and small pattern;
3. Modeling wax is a plastic structure from which complex surfaces are carved. This material, slightly warming up, can be glued in the right places. Novice craftsmen use paraffin wax from candles. Uncomplicated models can be cut from cheap raw materials, but the quality will be low.

Info: Carl Faberge started making bronze jewelry. First, he cast medals and cigarette cases. Only having mastered the technology, he began to use silver, gold, platinum and aluminum in his work.

Attention! When composing foundry mixtures on their own using lead, tin, zinc, antimony and other heavy metals, exhaust devices should be provided to remove vapors.

Step-by-step guide to making a brass ring

Attention! Investment casting technology. It got this name because after pouring the molding sand and solidifying it, the model wax is melted. It does not remain inside at all.

There is also a method of casting using burned-out models. In them, the model is made of expanded polystyrene. When pouring molten metal, the model is burned out.

The work begins with the preparation of the wax mass. It is heated. At a temperature of 62 ... 65 ⁰С, the wax melts. It is heated slightly higher, to about 70 ° C, so that it remains in a molten state longer.

Wax is applied to the surface of a template of a certain diameter. A good craftsman usually has a set of templates to be able to make signet rings and rings for different clients. The minimum size is 12 mm and the maximum is 28 mm.

In the future, all work on the preparation of the model is carried out on the surface of the template. The wax is cut according to the shape of the future product. A pattern is formed on the main surface.

If it is required to fix the stone in the future, then small antennae are created on the model. They will hold the stone on the face of the ring.

The template allows you to work so that the master does not touch the wax with his hands. Therefore, there are no fingerprints on the surface. Having a set of incisors, skilled craftsmen carve a convex or concave pattern. This is how signet rings are made.

When developing a model, it is agreed with the customer. Then the exact product will be manufactured, which is approved in the order. Sometimes the master makes not one, but several models. In the future, one or more are selected, which will be cast from metal. The work is quite difficult, so this stage of work is negotiated and paid separately. Each new model is a new product for which the master will spend time.

Attention! You can design a product in 3D modeling programs and make a model on a 3D printer.

After working out all the elements of the future product, the model is removed from the mandrel. The gating system is to be manufactured. It will be needed for the subsequent pouring of the metal. Provide for the presence of sufficient volume for the melted mass. It should be in abundance.

As a basis for the manufacture of the sprue, take ordinary plasticine. The filling is carried out through at least two holes. One is injection molding, and the second serves as an outlet - air outlet. Place them correctly at different heights. Thick wire is used to form the holes.

The rods are slightly heated before installing the model. Then she sits down more easily. They try to make the casting hole lower, and the flood a little higher. Its filling will occur with the reverse movement of the metal at the time of filling the space.

The investment ring is put on the gating system. The tight fit will prevent the sand from leaking.

Inside the investment ring, you can see that the model does not touch the walls of the investment ring anywhere. When pouring, there will be no deformation of the product.

The molding mixture is mixed with water. A solution is obtained, which must be poured into a flask.

When pouring, it is advisable to install the flask on a vibrating table. Then air bubbles will be removed from the poured mass. The absence of bubbles will make it possible to obtain a strong shape without defects. It remains to wait for the gypsum present in the form to harden.

The gating system is removed from the investment ring. Now you can see the wires responsible for pouring the metal.

Remove the wire. Small holes will provide access for metal. But while there is a model inside. It is wrapped around by the hardened molding mixture. When removing the wire, try to act carefully so as not to damage the workpiece.

After removing all auxiliary elements, the mold begins to warm up and remove wax from it. The flask is turned upside down. Placed on a dish where the wax will flow out.

When the wax comes out, a cavity is formed inside for the metal. Filling by means of centrifugal injection molding is provided. A special device is used in the form of a box and a chain. The flask will have to be rotated by hands so that, under the action of centrifugal force, the metal penetrates more fully into the most distant spaces of the form.

Heating is carried out in a centrifugal casting device.

Attention! At home, other injection molding methods are also used. Many jewelers use potato halves. When there is molten metal, the flask is covered with a potato and pressed against the flask with effort. At the bottom there is a high temperature over 800 ... 900 ⁰С. Moisture evaporates from the surface of the potato. The resulting steam presses on the molten metal with its pressure. It penetrates into the most distant parts of the form.

When all free moisture has been evaporated from the mold, and a temperature close to the melting point of the poured metal (about 850 ⁰С) is reached, pieces of brass (cupronickel, copper, bronze or other material) are placed on the sprue part.

The molten metal flows down into the mold. Now you need to force it inward. The centrifugal casting device is started to spin. Steam craftsmen apply potatoes and wait for the steam to push the metal in.

It does not take long to twist (about two minutes). The fluidity of the metal decreases rapidly. You need to wait for the product to solidify inside the mold. The temperature difference between the device and the ambient air is high, therefore, after 5 ... 8 minutes, the casting will become solid.

You can destroy the gypsum and remove it from the investment ring after it cools down. This is done when casting gold items. When it cools quickly, the mold particles can damage the soft metal.

In cold water, within a few seconds, the mold will collapse and the product will be released. It is easy to get it.

Remnants of the gating system are visible on the casting. Nippers bite off the excess. They can be reused. When using expensive metal, a jigsaw is used, sprues are sawn with it.

The immediately cast part looks unattractive. It is processed with sandpaper, polished. Give a presentation. If necessary, the drawing is refined with graders, giving it an even greater convexity. Skillful craftsmen apply a fine mesh to enhance the texture effect.

Finalize the size. After casting, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the ring. You can simply grind off the excess inside with files or files. Most often, mandrels are used (a tool made of a hard material of a given size, for example, balls from a bearing), which are driven through the holes.

With the help of polishing wheels, the surface is processed, a quality product is obtained.

Products containing copper are treated with sulfur. It helps to see the depth of the drawing. The easiest way is to apply a sulfuric ointment purchased from a pharmacy.

By firing at a temperature of 250 ... 280 ⁰С, oil is evaporated. The sulfuric film settles in the depressions. Excess on convex places is removed by polishing using polishing pastes.

The finished metal product is examined for defects. If they are not there, then you can give it to the customer and receive payment for the completed order.

Video: decorative elements made of metal.

Other types of own production for profit

By studying step-by-step technologies, you can master several very different professions for the manufacture of metal goods.

Individual production issues are quite interesting. For an active person, a direction will always be found, which in the future will become the work of life.

Crafts made of metal such as steel by welding are quite durable and reliable, and even a person who previously had no experience with such technology at all can make them. The main thing at the first stage is to fully comply with safety precautions during work, that is, not to get on yourself with hot sparks or hot metal, and also not to burn your eyes.

Crafts 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 master even a large territory, build a fence, make a gate, a gazebo, a shed, and so on.

First of all, you need to get a reliable welding machine. In domestic conditions, where it is not required to obtain connections of very high quality, in contrast to industrial work, they use transformer or inverter equipment. Each of these devices has its own positive and negative characteristics.

Transformer structures are distinguished by serious dimensions and large mass, which makes it difficult to carry out work if the apparatus needs to be moved over long distances, for example, when building a fence or other large iron products. Another disadvantage of transformer welding is a rather heavy load on the electrical network; they also 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, therefore, by and large, there is nothing to break there.

Inverter type welding machines are distinguished by a more complex device, 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 all sorts of non-ferrous metals. Manufacturing technology involves the use of a smaller transformer, which makes it more compact and lightweight. Largely due to this, the equipment is much easier to transport than transformer devices. The consumption of electric current 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

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. The first step is to learn how to ignite the arc and keep it at the required distance from the metal so that it produces a constant voltage. In the future, it is necessary to understand how a welded joint is formed by surfacing the molten sections of the blanks on top of each other.

You should definitely play with the current strength in order to figure out how to properly adjust it, since this indicator will vary greatly depending on the thickness of the workpieces. The strength of the current is selected so that through-penetration 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 in domestic conditions, it is quite enough to use electrodes, the diameter of which will be within 2-3 m.Electrodes should be taken new and completely dry, even slightly damp products will not allow you to get a high-quality arc and ultimately create a poor quality the seam.

Simple product manufacturing process

As mentioned above, it is best to start with the manufacture of the simplest, even elementary, structures. For example, it can be an ordinary metal box, which will perform not only decorative, but also certain practical functions. You can make it from an ordinary tin can. In order to make the work as convenient as possible, you need to keep a number of certain tools at hand:

• inverter or transformer type welding machine;
• scissors;
• sanding paper;
• ruler and pencil for making markings;
• fireproof and non-melting surface, which will act as a working base;
• paper for outlining the future product.

First, remove old paint from the surface of the workpiece - this can be done with coarse sanding paper. The fact is that it is strictly forbidden to weld painted surfaces to each other. The paint under the influence of high temperature will fade, turning into poisonous vapors, which are very harmful to human health, and it will also heat the metal too much, which can lead to burns.

Remove the old paintwork very carefully, as tin is a very soft metal that can be easily damaged, for example, washed out. 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 along. With a high degree of probability, burrs or other irregularities will occur along the edges, which should be immediately removed by cleaning them with a file. When the workpiece is done, it is bent in such a way that a box is obtained. Be sure to check all corners with a square. All folds will need to be boiled carefully, as the tin will burn through 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 with small rivets, or you can try to weld them to the product. To close the box, make a small crochet hook.

Safety precautions during welding

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 work, which includes cutting, milling, fixing workpieces, and so on. The following points are dangerous:

• electric shock;
• damage to the organs of vision by ultraviolet radiation, which quite intensely emanates from the ignited arc;
• possible eye contact with scale, sparks and other foreign objects;
• penetration of poisonous vapors into the lungs;
• if there are open areas of the body, then they can get burns from molten metal or from 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 with a special mask or goggles. There are relatively cheap masks on sale with tinted glass through which the arc is very clearly visible, but this glass will absorb ultraviolet radiation well, thereby preventing damage to the organs of vision.

It is much more convenient to use a chameleon mask as it will go dark immediately after the arc is struck. This can be achieved due to the presence of special automation and sensors in it, which instantly react to the occurrence of a strong source of ultraviolet radiation. Many craftsmen use goggles for the welder in the domestic environment, as they perfectly protect the eyes from radiation, but they significantly less restrict movement, and also make it possible to make the viewing angle much larger, which is important when carrying out welding. With the right approach to welding, it will be possible to obtain a high-quality connection without any harm to one's own health.

Architects and designers often use forged elements in their work. Openwork metal grilles covering fireplaces or beautiful balusters on the stairs look elegant and noble.

If you know how to make forging and learn this craft, you can create original products yourself.

This activity is suitable for everyone who likes to do physical work and who is ready to get acquainted with the technology and features of the choice of metal.

What do you need to know about forging?

Forging is the process of machining a special workpiece. Its purpose is to give the metal the required dimensions and shape. Distinguish between hot forging and cold forging.

The master needs to get acquainted with both varieties in order to know the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Hot forging

In the hot process, the metal workpiece is very hot. As a result, the metal becomes ductile. Hot forging gives the workpiece the desired dimensions and the desired shape. A variety of work options are available to the master.

Heating a metal workpiece also has its drawbacks. First of all, you need to equip a special room. You will need to buy a forge for which you will have to buy fuel.

It is necessary to follow the fire safety rules, it is important that the master knows how to work with fire.

Having an idea of \u200b\u200bthe temperature conditions used in the forging process, you can easily select the desired type of forging.

Cold forging

Cold forging is a labor-intensive process. In order to achieve the desired shape from the metal workpiece, it is bent, pressed and welded. The technique is slightly simpler compared to the hot method.

The workshop does not require a lot of space, and for its arrangement you do not need to purchase a special forge, it is enough to buy a forging machine.

The process of manufacturing a product involves working with semi-finished products. If a mistake was made, then it cannot be corrected.

Choosing a metal

Metals with certain properties are suitable for hand forging. The more ductile the metal, the easier it is to change its shape. However, ductility is inextricably linked with strength.

An increase in the indicator of one characteristic inevitably entails a decrease in the other. When buying a blank, the master must know exactly what its composition is.

Craftsmen make decorative elements of forging from copper, steel, duralumin or brass. In addition, alloys can also be used. Information on metals that are easily forged can be found in the Steel and Alloy Brand.

What tools are needed for forging?

Inventory varies depending on the forging method. Forge forge with anvil, hammers with tongs are needed for hot forging.

For the cold method, you need the "Gnutik" tool, which allows you to bend the workpiece at an angle, and the "Snail" machine for forging, which you can do yourself. The last machine allows you to create decorative elements with a spiral shape.

Note!

In addition to basic tools for the cold method, you can additionally use "Flashlight", "Wave", "Twister", a machine for rings and others.

The modern market offers industrial machines designed to perform technological operations. In the forging photo, you can see the product made on the Master 2 machine from MAH.

Hand forged

In order for the workpiece to take on the desired shape, the master must apply different techniques and methods in his work. You will need to purchase a variety of tools and master different technologies.

The cold forging method does not require special efforts from the master. The work includes the following stages:

• creating a drawing or sketching a decorative element;
• purchase of blanks;
• forging process.

Today, a drawing can be made using a computer program independently or ordered by professionals. The project will allow you to calculate before starting work how much metal blanks you need to purchase.

Note!

The main forged elements are represented by the following groups:

• Legs. The end of the metal rod is shaped.
• Curls. The ends of the rod can be bent in one or two directions.
• Rings. Decor elements are made from rods with a square or round cross-section.
• Torsion. It is characterized by screw twisting along the axis.

3 common technologies are used: drawing, bending and twisting.

• The hood allows you to increase the length of the metal workpiece, reducing the value of its section.
• Bending makes it possible to bend any part of the workpiece at an angle.
• Twisting is a technology in which the workpiece is twisted along an axis. The Twister machine is used for twisting.

All elements are assembled and secured by welding. These operations are performed on a special table. Homemade cold forging does not require special skills.

DIY forging photo

Note!

You can decorate the interior of a house or a country cottage not only with store trinkets, but also with handmade metal products. Moreover, it is available to everyone, since this requires a minimum set of tools and knowledge. Moreover, such things can be done to decorate any interior.

Thinking about creating such items, everyone can choose for themselves manufacturing technologyfocusing on your experience and knowledge. Although in each case, the chosen technique will require certain costs necessary for the acquisition or manufacture of special equipment.

Everyone has the power to create a lot of various metal products, to decorate a garden with their help. It can be as crafts and pieces of furniture, as well as various decorative bridges and forging elements.

Manufacturing technology of things from metal

Hand-made metal products can make any designs more attractive, including benches, cornices, pieces of furniture and other things. Moreover, the owner can choose the style at will, paying attention to the fact that the created thing looks harmonious in a particular room.

In stores, metal products are offered at fairly high prices due to the fact that they are made by hand. However, if you wish, you can master the science of creating these objects on your own, thanks to which it will be possible save a lot of money on this... The only costs that may arise here will be related to the purchase of materials.

You can choose any technique you like to create metallic patterns and details. Quite common among them are forging, stamping, cutting, bending, embossing and filigree. After the diagram or drawing of the product is received, as well as the necessary materials are prepared, the person will be ready to implement the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating an unusual and beautiful product.

Metal is the material on the basis of which you can create a whole composition of various crafts for the garden.

Therefore, there are many different methods that allow you to create at home pretty original stuff:

• Casting. The essence of this technique is filling with a special form of liquid alloy.
• Forging. This method is based on the impact on the workpiece with a hammer, temperature, press and other deformation methods.
• Bending. This technique is in many ways similar to forging, it is based on riveting and welding of product elements.
• Differentiation. This method is characterized by the use of a hammer, with the help of which the necessary shapes are formed into thin sheets of iron.
• Stamping and cutting. Using this technique, you can effortlessly reshape the workpiece and create holes.
• Filigree. This method involves the use of cast or smooth wire as raw material, from which the product is created by soldering the bent pattern elements.
• Chasing. This method of processing is simple in execution, and its essence lies in placing a special tool on the workpiece, which is affected by a hammer, thereby changing the shape of the product.

There are several ways to make drawing for a metal product... It can be developed manually or you can use special computer programs. Thanks to the drawing, you can know in advance how much material is required to create things. First of all, it is indispensable for those who plan to make large items, for example, a gate, a lattice. Having a ready-made sketch in hand, it will be easier for the master to understand even before starting work how harmoniously this product will look in the place chosen for its placement.

Simple things made of metal

If you do not have experience in making such things with your own hands, then you are advised to start by creating the simplest metal objects. This can be a metal box, which can act not only as a decorative element, but also perform practical functions.

Required tools

Suitable as a basis for it regular tin... To make such a box, you will need to prepare a number of tools:

The process of making a box with your own hands begins with cleaning the surface of the can from paint, for which use sandpaper... It is advisable to perform the operation when the jar is still full. Otherwise, you will have to perform such preparation as carefully as possible, because if the metal is deformed, then you are unlikely to be able to make a beautiful box.

After that, they begin to cut the can: this must be done in such a way that a rectangular blank is obtained. Before that, you need to cut off the bottom, after which the upper part is cut along. In the course of this operation, irregularities will necessarily appear along the edges, which it is advisable to sharpen immediately.

Next, it must be placed on a hard surface, where the images contained in the drawing are already applied using a pencil. After that, proceed directly to the creation of the pattern. You will not have any restrictions on the choice of jewelry for the box, but it is still advisable to use symmetrical details. To create a pattern need a ballpoint pen, with which you can easily push through aluminum. You can achieve the effect of a pronounced texture if you draw along the lines of the pattern contour more than once. After completing the steps listed above, you will only need to collect the box.

If you have welding equipment and skills in handling it, you can make a very beautiful metal owl with your own hands. Apart from this, you will have to prepare the following tools:

At the first stage, it is necessary draw a sketch of an owl on paper, after which it is transferred to cardboard. This will make it easier for yourself to cut out individual elements. To create an owl, we will have to make eyes, a torso, which includes feathers, wings and a tail. To make it easier for you to cut metal parts, you can use a grinder.

When creating the eyes for the owl, make sure you make large holes in them so you can insert the bolts. You will have to create notches on all scales, thanks to which the plumage effect will be provided. To do this, you will have to use a chisel. Feet can be made by connecting parts of a rod to each other, using welding for this. A piece of bent metal is used to create the beak. During the assembly of the product, the beak and legs must be welded at the very end. When all the elements are in place, the owl can be additionally decorated by treating it with a special varnish.

How to make frosty patterns?

Making frosty patterns is not a very time-consuming procedure, but at the same time it is able to provide a rather spectacular appearance to the product, giving it a resemblance to the ancient products of masters. Contributes a lot to this tin structure manifestationthat looks like crystals. To make frosty patterns, it is recommended to use cans, since a layer of tin has already been applied on their surface.

You can develop a drawing as follows: this requires a candle, over which it is necessary to hold separate parts of the metal for some time. The jar must be heated for a strictly defined time. If you overexpose it, it will damage the product. The main goal that must be achieved during the heating of the tin layer is to allow it to manifest.

You can also make a frosty metal pattern with your own hands if you place tin on the surface of a steel plate in advance, and then heat or melt.

A burner is suitable for this purpose: thanks to a stable flame, you can easily heat the required area of \u200b\u200bthe sheet. As the tin heats up, you can notice how a shine appears on it, which disappears after a few seconds. Try to process the metal sheet in such a way that its sections heat up unevenly, since otherwise you will get a uniform pattern. To give the blank an original look, creating a unique pattern, it is enough to warm up the sheet in the corners.

When the required pattern is obtained, the temperature of the metal sheet must be drastically reduced. To do this, it is dipped in cold water or sprayed. To make the created pattern visible on the sheet as clearly as possible, the surface can be additionally treated with hydrochloric acid. For safety, you need to prepare the tool - a stick to which a cotton swab is tied.

Sometimes, after warming up, it is not possible to achieve the required clearance. In this case, you can remove it once with sandpaper. It is not recommended to repeat this technique, as otherwise it will lead to the complete removal of the tin layer.

For decoration purposes, you can also turn to wax paint, which is used to treat certain areas of a metal sheet, after which they are heated. You can ensure the durability of the pattern created on the can by processing it with a special varnish. It's even better if you apply a colored transparent varnish on it, thanks to which your item will look even more original.

How is cold forging done?

The cold forging method can also be used to create metal products at home. Using this technique, you can make things with an unusual shape with your own hands, this is done using a press. With a small metal thickness there is no need to resort to heating it, this will help to avoid many difficulties.

Cold forging tools

Although this manufacturing method is more simple in contrast to the technique of creating metal products by hot forging, certain tools are also needed here:

• A bend, with the help of which the bends of the workpiece will be performed to give the desired shape;
• A snail, which is also used to deform a sheet of metal;
• Special flashlight used for weaving;
• Wave, allowing you to make wavy patterns;
• A twister that allows twisting the rods together, thereby making it possible to obtain spiral elements.

Manufacturing steps

Even before the manufacture of metal products by forging, it does not hurt to depict sketch or product diagram.

Then, using the available tools, they begin to manufacture the constituent elements of the product, and then they are connected to each other by welding.

The last stage in the manufacture of metal products by cold forging is the elimination of seams, grinding and application of special varnishes.

The most common options for cold forging were considered above, but it can be performed in a slightly different way - in the form of embossing. To use this method, there is no need to purchase special complex tools... This technique is based on work with a workpiece, on which a pre-drawn pattern is applied by metal extrusion. After the sketch of the pattern or image is prepared, it must be cut out. Then you need to take care of the availability of space for bending the material.

After that, the board is covered with a layer of resin, where the finished workpiece is already laid out. From this moment, the process of its design begins by transferring the pattern to it.

Conclusion

You can decorate your home not only with the help of modern accessories and beautiful little things that are offered in stores. If you wish, you can make your own metal things that will look no worse. Naturally, in the absence of skills in the manufacture of such products, it is possible that the first casket or other other thing that will be made by your hands will not be as beautiful as you would like.

However, as you hone your skills, you will become better at this task, and afterwards it will not be difficult for you. create more complex things... This will allow you to turn your hobby into a fairly profitable pursuit. After all, things that were made by hand are very much appreciated.