Flea Cowboy Roping A Steer Sculpture

Greg Quayle of Rocklin, Calif., received an acetylene torch set from his parents when he was just 13 years old. It has since defined his life's passion, being consumed by melting and welding comical metal figures. He invented his flea character while still in his teens and has been using it in his subject matter ever since. One of his favorite pieces is this metal sculpture of a flea cowboy roping a steer.

Materials:

22-gauge sheet steel
copper coated mild steel welding rod:
- 1/16"
- 3/32"
- 1/8"
- 3/16"
.030 mig welding wire
2-1/2" x 14" x 2-1/2" redwood
clear gloss spray lacquer
oxyacetylene torch
flywheel punch press
pliers
tin snips
hammer
drill
table saw
table sander
vice
welding safety glasses
protective mask

1. Stamp out 12 half-egg shapes (figure A) with a flywheel punch press (figure B).

2. Stamp a smile into one of the egg shapes.

3. Using tin snips, cut out sheet metal parts:

• cowboy hat brim
• tongue
• horse's tail
• mane
• forelock
• horse and steer ears
• strips for girth strap
• stirrup straps
• bridle piece

4. Hammer the parts flat, fold and pinch ears into shape, curl up the tailpiece.