Hi,

I am just learning to weld and having great fun making yard art. I took a class at All Metal Arts in Seatlle. Tomorrow, they are having a 'Scrap Hack' from 10-2. I have my ticket and will be going. I know it is short notice, but I think there were some spaces left.

If anyone else is into welding, we could compare notes and share photos of projects.

this was something that I made in my first class...it kind of looks like a crazy teapot. Tomorrow I think I will weld a piece of rebar to the bottom and call it a plant stake! some more plans for tomorrow: I will be making a 'ladder' style of support for a clematis out of rebar. I will make a 'tomato cage' style of support for my upright clematis (which never seems to be upright at this time of year) out of rebar and barrel bands. I will repair a ship's ladder which will be a support for a passion flower vine. I have two 'hoops' that are made out of metal tubing...each has two parallel circles joined by some cross-bracing - I don't know what their original purpose was, but I am going to weld cross bracing to join the two together...about 6-8" apart, with one higher than the other. I will add 'feet' so that I can stick those into the ground. After that, I will just play and be creative.

A big project that I have envisioned is to make a large rectangular frame (~8' tall x ~ 10' wide) out of 1" square tubing. then I would begin welding things onto it...focusing primarily on circular shapes. I have been collecting barrel bands, bicycle wheels, gears, steering wheels and other miscellaneous parts for this for some time. When it is all done, I would like to put it on a hinged post (so I could swing it out when I need to paint the house) and use it as a trellis for a climbing rose.

by the way, the theme for the front part of my garden where most of the welded items will go is 'rusty industrial meets stone cold classical'.

anyways, if anyone wants to come and play tomorrow, here is a link:
http://www.allmetalarts.org/?p...



Linda

Have fun. Not really into welding so will not be going. Take pictures and show us whats happening there.

That sounds really interesting and I would be tempted if not already committed to a family event. Yes, please take and post pictures!

It sounds fascinating, but I have a commitment. Thanks for the invite.

I love the idea of whimsical, hand-made, welded steel plant supports!

Here is one...I bought it at Sorticulture

Car is loaded and ready to go to Scrap Hack...oops. I need to add the hoop thingies

Ready now!...

Can you tell I'm excited?

Ok. I'm a dummy...in so many ways.

My first mistake was not entering the class into my calendar (Outlook) the moment I registered. I remembered that it was this weekend, and when I didn't see see it on the calendar, I entered it (from memory - you may see where this is going). Yesterday, I printed the ticket and put it in my purse. Today, I went to class. When I got there and started unloading the car, I found out that they had moved. So I put everything back in the car and hustled off across town to the address PRINTED ON THE TICKET. I arrived late. Only to find out that I was a day earlier than the date PRINTED ON THE TICKET. D'oh!

They were very nice about it and I unloaded my car and left everything there, so on the up-side, everything is ready for tomorrow.

Hate when that happens. I've gone to gardening classes on the wrong day.

As promised, here are some photos of the projects...



















I got a lot done today.

First, I welded a rod onto the practice piece from my first class. Then I made a tomato-cage style support for my upright clematis that always ends up laying on the ground. It will look better next year when it grows into the support (as opposed to being stuffed in)...I may also shorten it a little, or pound it further into the ground. Next, I repaired the ship's ladder, I installed it when I got home. I also welded two hoops together. I need to add rebar legs to push into the ground...one of the Rings will be about a foot higher than the other when it's installed. Finally, I got all of the rebar cut for a ladder-style trellis for the front of the house...about to get to work welding that...

Wow, love those plant supports and the ladder trellis. Great idea!

Thanks, it was fun making them, but I was really exhausted at the end of the day.

So cool! Welding is a form of "arts and crafts" that really appeals to me.

Thanks for admitting your "you mean it's TOMORROW?!?" moment.

I've done that more than once, and my DSO teases me about it.