Scrap metal art and craft requires very little investment in tools and materials for the production, and does not even require a special workshop.

To convert scrap metal into useful things, your workshop should be equipped with the following:

  • Basic metalworking hand tools,
  • Holding tools (clamps, vises...)
  • Welding, brazing and/or soldering tools
  • Bending machines or bending tools for sheet metal or wire
  • Basic power tools (drill, angle grinder...)
  • Safety equipment

All of these tools are inexpensive and can be easily obtained. Basic knowledge that you need to make Scrap metal art can be found in the Metalworking books category of our website.

As a material for the recycled metal art you can use various metal scraps like:

  • Pieces of metal from metal junkyards (scrap yards)
  • Unused metal objects around your home
  • Dumpsters behind welding shops (always ask permission before rummaging around, especially on private property)
  • Standard parts and fasteners.

You do not have to be a top welder or metalworker to make scrap metal art products; all you need is basic knowledge, skills and creativity.

In dealing with Recycled metal art you will mainly use metals that are commonly used in industry like steel, copper, aluminum, brass, bronze, zinc... Operations that you will most frequently apply are: cutting, bending, deforming, drilling and joining the metal parts.

You can join the metal parts using several techniques:

  • Mechanical Interlocking
  • Mechanical Connection (Screws, Nuts, Bolts, Rivets)
  • Gluing or Chemical Bonding
  • Welding, Brazing, Soldering

Joining metal into scrap metal art is most often done by welding, soldering and brazing technique. Before you choose one of these techniques, you need to analyze what kind of metal assemblies you will make, and what kind of materials you will be using.  You can examine the metal joining techniques in our category Welding, soldering and brazing books. You can also find excellent video tutorials on the YouTube website.

After you finish your project, you will have to chamfer sharp and rough edges. After that, you should clean surfaces and sand them if you want to paint the project. Otherwise, you can leave the bare metal.

Submitted by Ceh Jan