Find L-shaped steel rod for art

[bermondseyhobbyart]

Want to start a welding project to make a steel fox sculpture for the garden like the one below.

Trying to find steel rods for this - think a combination of short (4/5 cm long each side) L-shaped 1/2mm steel rod attached together and attached to longer steel skeleton.

Any ideas where I can find this metal?

I'm new to welding and am looking to do a metal course to bend the rods - which I think you can do.

 

[merryman]

Wire comes in various strengths from very soft, galvanisers send stuff back tied up with this, no idea where they get it from, to spring steel. Easiest to get in 1 or 2mm dia are gas welding rods, though this is surprisingly strong. I bend 2.5mm welding rods into rings, round a 25mm dia bar, by hand, though I put bar and one end of wire in the vice to hold it. For L shapes, one end in the vice and pull over, assistance with a hammer gives the tightest bend. Thin wire like that would rust through in a couple of years without protection though.

 

[MysterG]

I agree with shade, that looks like 6mm or so round. I bought my last lot from Brundles, delivered last week. Was cheaper than my local place. I got 20 6m lengths plus some other stuff.
You will need more than you think, it's surprising how much metal goes into something like that.

 

[dyno-tron]

+1 for FH Brundle, I got a load of 6mm round for my sculptures.
For bending, I get the piece roughly to the shape I want, weld it on then bend it in place using a long piece of 12mm square bar with two pegs welded at 90deg near one end (so it looks like a F with a very long leg)

 

[mike os]

@chunkolini does excellent metal sculpture classes designed for total beginners... I would suggest sending him a message and seeing what he has available

 

[chunkolini]

Thanks for the shout Mike.
Is this advertising?
For the starter of this thread, here's a link to my sculpture classes

artinsteel metal Sculpture Classes for Beginners

Artinsteel Metal sculpture classes for beginners. No experience needed.

www.artinsteel.co.uk

 

[mike os]

Thanks for the shout Mike.
Is this advertising?
For the starter of this thread, here's a link to my sculpture classes

artinsteel metal Sculpture Classes for Beginners

Artinsteel Metal sculpture classes for beginners. No experience needed.

www.artinsteel.co.uk

Can't be advertising... I brought it up and have zero interest in the business pal

 

[bermondseyhobbyart]

Thanks all - going to get some 6mm from Brundles and see where I get to!

May be back soon...

 

[Paul.]

Thanks all - going to get some 6mm from Brundles and see where I get to!

If you buy Black hot rolled bar its not only cheaper per metre but comes in 6.1mtr length as opposed to bright bar which comes in 3mtr lengths, black bar is also softer and will bend easier than bright.