Metal Fish Sculpture

Michael Gilbert cuts and welds metal from an old vehicle hood into a fish sculpture.

All About

Product Ideas

Materials and Tools:

plasma cutter
gas torch
grinder
wire feed welder
old vehicle hood
metal cleaner and soft cloth
permanent marker
glass marble
wire bracket for hanging
spray clear coat
marble
welding safety equipment: welder's mask, safety glasses, respirator and leather gloves

Steps 1-2

Steps:

1. Clean an old car hood with metal cleaner and a soft cloth.

2. Draw a freehand design of a fish on the metal hood using a permanent marker. Draw the front fin separately.

Step 3

3. Wearing welding safety equipment, cut out the fish and the front fin with a plasma cutter.

Step 4

4. Grind the edges of the fish and the fins with a grinder to remove the paint.

Step 5

5. Cut slits in the top and bottom fins of the metal fish.

Step 6

6. Cut all the facial features of the metal fish with the plasma cutter.

Step 7

7. Weld the fin on the front of the metal fish and the wire hanger bracket onto the back side.

Step 8

8. Melt a marble with a torch and weld it in for the eye.

Steps 9-10

9. After the metal fish sculpture cools burnish it with a torch for detail.

10. Sign the metal fish sculpture with the plasma cutter. Spray the fish sculpture with clear coat in a well-ventilated area.

Michael Gilbert, from Friendswood, Texas, was an air conditioning technician who had a passion for creating art out of metal. Michael taught himself to 'do with' whatever he found, including old signs, antique car and helicopter parts. One day a friend encouraged him to enter his pieces in a local art show, so he gathered up everything he had made over the past several years, and he sold each and every item! Michael's creations won first place at the Houston International Festival two years in a row. When he isn’t creating metal art, he is spending time with his wife and young children.

Website: www.michaelsmetals.com