You know all those really cool and elegant looking wrought iron railings, gates, light fixtures and assorted decorative elements you see on so many tasteful homes and buildings? Don’t they really lend a graceful, sophisticated air to your home’s appearance? Wouldn’t it be cool if you could weld some of those cool ornamental projects for your home, in your own home welding workshop?
Totally! But what materials and equipment do you need to get started with your own artistic, ornamental welding projects? Let’s quickly run down the list:
In terms of Materials, wrought iron is really your best bet. It has that naturally dramatic weight and feel, which will give your ornamental welding projects natural elegance.
There are a few quirks and challenges you should be aware of when working with wrought iron. The always helpful eHow offers a good general overview, with an easy-to-follow, step-by-step tutorial on welding wrought iron.
And the right tools for the job?
- Metal saw
- MIG welder
- Filler bar or MIG wire
- C-clamp
- Vise
- Grounding clamp
- Welding safety equipment
So what about some of those elegant, sophisticated, and just plain cool-looking ornamental projects? Check out this exciting and engaging project list:
Wrought Iron Gate
A wrought iron gate makes a beautiful addition to any property. Whether as part of a fence surrounding your yard, at the entry to your patio or on the front door to your home, a wrought iron gate exudes elegance.
Weld My World (sponsored by Bakers Gas and Welding Supply) has a highly informative How to Weld an Ornamental Gate tutorial that will answer all your questions.
Wrought Iron Railing
Nothing dresses up a staircase, walkway, porch or patio like a wrought iron railing. Cole Brothers offers a couple of very informative, step-by-step tutorials on constructing and installing your own wrought iron railing. The At Home Welder also has a cool wrought iron railing construction YouTube video tutorial. These outstanding resources will point you in the right direction for creating your own wrought iron railing.
Additional Ornamental Welding Projects
Additional decorative projects for inside and outside purposes include:
- Garden fountain
- Garden statue
- House address number
- Windchime
- Ornamental Scrolls