Best way to make a 1m dia metal sphere?

[Agroshield]

However you make it, you can increase the curviness of it by filling it with water and connecting up a pressure washer.

It is hydroforming as shown above, but a much more controlled and less dangerous way of proceeding.

If you go for the geodesic dome, you might be able to size the overall ball so the parts fit well on standard 8' x 4' sheets.

Alternatively, you might get two pieces from one sheet and have one edge in common that could be press bent to save some welding.

 

[daleyd]

Pair of hemispheres from brundles?

Wrought

Browse our range hollow hemispheres and other wrought iron components. Buy online or call to order and get FREE UK mainland delivery on orders £150+

www.fhbrundle.co.uk

 

[hotponyshoes]

If it's for fire you will need holes.
This looks pretty round to me..

Post in thread 'heart with horse shoes' http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/heart-with-horse-shoes.107360/post-1713753

Plus the hoppy types will love the fact it's made from shoes as they symbolise motion and exploration bla bla bla...

 

[Hitch]

They're readily available.
I doubt it would be economical to fabricate compared to spinning.
Search 'hollow steel hemisphere'

Seen fire pits done with hexagonal sections nested together and cut, leaving joints to bend it into shape.
Much like a football.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Pair of hemispheres from brundles?

Wrought

Browse our range hollow hemispheres and other wrought iron components. Buy online or call to order and get FREE UK mainland delivery on orders £150+

www.fhbrundle.co.uk

£636 +VAT for the two hemispheres to make a 900mm diameter sphere.

 

[Hitch]

Free delivery though.

Try Spintec, most of our spinning goes to them or comes from them.

 

[mike os]

£636 +VAT for the two hemispheres to make a 900mm diameter sphere.

Unless you do it yourself how much to buy 6mm sheet, cut, roll, weld and clean up?

Bargain I think! But expensive

 

[daleyd]

£636 +VAT for the two hemispheres to make a 900mm diameter sphere.

By the time I’d bought a sheet of steel, spent 2 weeks cutting and welding it and then thrown it in the bin it’d be worth every penny

 

[doubleboost]

Friendly metal spinner .
Cash in hand .
Would be my first place of call .
Weld 2 halfes together

 

[hotponyshoes]

I know of a 4ton wrecking ball going cheap..
That's about 1m I reckon.
Shall I get it for you then all you need to do is grind out the center!

 

[KemppiFrog]

A sculptor friend bought some 80cm half spheres from China, OK, except by the time all the shipping, customs and handning charges were applied, ,they ended up a bit pricey.
He was aiming to make fire pits too, with plasma cut designs around the upper rim. He used up the 6 he bought , then quit. Put one in a local gallery to see if it bought interest. The gallery owner bought it...
For said hippy glamping, I would have thought welding out of sections 'orange' style would do. No need to make a fair sphere, better as more rustic?

Quite interesting as I am thinking of similar. Likely go the orange route, 3 mm cut with plasma and make a rolling mill to curve them.

 

[Hitch]

Probably have to be a 4x2m sheet

They're readily available.
I doubt it would be economical to fabricate compared to spinning.
Search 'hollow steel hemisphere'

Seen fire pits done with hexagon/pentagon sections nested together and cut, leaving joints to bend it into shape.
Much like a football.

 

[minimutly]

I figured at 1m dia, the circumference will be just over 1.5m. In 3mm, if the strips were maybe 5cm at their widest point, that would be bendable by hand with a bit of effort? I reckon it would be doable.

PixD, or just over 3 times the diameter....

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I know of a 4ton wrecking ball going cheap..
That's about 1m I reckon.
Shall I get it for you then all you need to do is grind out the center!

Does it come with its own Mylie Cyrus?

 

[Shox Dr]

Didnt @chunkolini make a big sphere a few yrs ago

 

[nickk]

Does it come with its own Mylie Cyrus?

NO,more likely dangled from a RUSTON BUCYRUS!

 

[hotponyshoes]

Does it come with its own Mylie Cyrus?

If it did I would have managed to get it back to mine somehow!
Although I would let you have it once I had finished..

 

[Paul.]

This is who we used to deal with for dished ends and hemispheres,
If you really want to weld one up rather than spin it they will even cut the petals for you

Purdie - Dished End UK Manufacturer in Yorkshire

The largest dished end manufacturers in the UK with the largest range of cold formed dished ends, dished heads, flanged end, dished domes. Our central location ensures we can distribute to north, south, east and west of England.

www.purdie.co.uk

 

[slim_boy_fat]

If it did I would have managed to get it back to mine somehow!
Although I would let you have it once I had finished..

Appreciate the offer, but I'm waaaay beyond coping with that.

 

[Hitch]

Be nice welding 60 odd strips together where they taper down to nothing