Welding art is a great way to turn your skills into income. With simple tools and scrap metal, you can create eye-catching sculptures that customers love. Whether you want a side business or a full-time welding art shop, the right project ideas can help you get started.
This guide shares 13 welding sculpture ideas you can sell for profit, including beginner-friendly pieces and advanced metal art projects.
You will discover what materials to use, how to price your work, and which tools help you create strong and beautiful sculptures.
Key Takeaways
- Horseshoe crosses, industrial wine racks, and metal garden flowers are the most consistent sellers.
- Scrap metal "creature" sculptures. Examples include robots, dogs, and dinosaurs made from free junk parts like spark plugs and transmission gears.
- Nuts and bolts figurines. You can make little welders, golfers, or musicians using pennies' worth of hardware.
- Etsy is fantastic for small items that ship easily. For heavy garden art, try local farmers' markets, craft fairs, and Facebook Marketplace.
Best Selling Welders
Explore More
Here are 13 examples of easy-to-sell welding sculpture ideas, showcasing a variety of styles from rustic to modern.
1. The "Heavy Metal" Rocker
This classic "Nut & Bolt" figure is a perfect example of using small scrap pieces to create a charming desk ornament.
A classic beginner project. Use spark plugs for the body, nuts for the head, and bent bolts or nails for arms and legs. Give him a little washer-and-wire guitar.
- Why it Sells: Great desk ornament, excellent gift for musicians or dads.
- Materials: Spark plugs, varied nuts/bolts, heavy wire.
- Difficulty: Very Easy (mostly tack welds).
2. Horseshoe Owl
This piece falls into the "Rustic Farmhouse & Garden Art" category, using reclaimed materials for a durable and popular outdoor decoration.
Two horseshoes form the body and brow; large washers form the eyes. Add a small piece of beak. These are incredibly popular in rural or farmhouse-style decor.
- Why it Sells: High perceived value, very durable garden art.
- Materials: Used horseshoes (ask local farriers), large washers.
- Difficulty: Easy.
Expert Tip: Want more ideas? See more Horseshoe Welding Projects.
3. The Floating Chain Wine Holder
A great example of "Functional & Industrial Decor," this piece uses a simple optical illusion to create a striking and magical effect.
Weld links of a heavy chain together in a curve that looks like a lasso rising from the table. The neck of a wine bottle balances in the top loop, creating an optical illusion that the chain is floating.
- Why it Sells: Looks magical, high price point for a "luxury" item, actually very easy to make once you get the balance right.
- Materials: About 18 inches of medium-to-heavy steel chain.
- Difficulty: Medium (getting the balance point requires trial and error).
4. The Infinity Cube
This "Abstract & Geometric" sculpture demonstrates how simple shapes can be combined to create a sophisticated and modern art piece.
- Why it Sells: Modern art piece for shelves. It looks complicated but is just 8 corners.
- Materials: Square tubing or solid square rod.
- Difficulty: Medium (requires precise 90-degree angles and grinding/finishing work).
5. The Ball Bearing Spider
This is a perfect addition to the "Nut & Bolt Creatures" category, joining the rocker from the first set of images. It's a simple yet effective use of a single large component.
A creepy-crawly classic. Use a large ball bearing (1-inch diameter or larger) or a large rounded acorn nut for the body. Use bent nails, TIG wire, or thin welding rod for the eight legs.
- Why it Sells: Great Halloween decor, desk tchotchke, or garden accent to put on a rock.
- Materials: Large ball bearing or acorn nut, nails or wire rod.
- Difficulty: Very Easy (just lots of small tack welds).
6. The Shovel Head Bird
Expanding on the "Rustic Farmhouse & Garden" style seen in the horseshoe owl, this piece uses larger reclaimed tools for a more substantial garden ornament.
This is a larger, higher-ticket garden item. Take an old, rusty spade shovel head (the spade part). This is the bird's body. Weld two pieces of rebar to the bottom for long legs, and weld them to a heavy base plate so it stands in the garden. Add a rebar neck and a scrap metal beak.
- Why it Sells: Impressive size for garden decor. It recycles recognizable farm tools, which people love.
- Materials: Old shovel head, rebar, scrap plate for base.
- Difficulty: Easy (welds don't need to be pretty, just strong).
7. Heavy Gear Bookends
This is a great example of "Functional & Industrial Decor," similar to the floating chain wine holder. It uses heavy, industrial components to create a practical item.
Find four large, heavy, matched gears from an old transmission or farm equipment engine. Weld two together flat to make a heavy base. Weld the other two upright at a 90-degree angle to the base.
- Why it Sells: Heavy-duty, authentic industrial look. High perceived value because of the weight.
- Materials: 4 large scrap gears.
- Difficulty: Easy (just long fillet welds).
8. The Chain Link Christmas Tree
This introduces the "Seasonal / Holiday" category. Like the floating chain wine holder, it creatively re-purposes chain but for a specific, high-demand holiday market.
This is a fantastic way to use up rusted chain. Cut lengths of chain in graduating sizes (e.g., one 2-link piece, one 4-link piece, one 6-link piece, etc.). Weld them horizontally onto a central vertical rod, starting with the smallest at the top, to form a triangle tree shape.
- Why it Sells: People buy new Christmas decor every year. The rustic metal contrasts beautifully with Christmas lights.
- Materials: Scrap chain, central rod, small base plate.
- Difficulty: Easy (repetitive tack welds).
Expert Tip: Perfect your precision with our TIG Welders.
9. The Spoon Flower
This is a charming and simple project that turns old silverware into garden art. It's a great way to practice welding thin materials.
Create a flower by welding the bowls of old spoons around a central nut. Weld this "flower head" onto a piece of thin rebar for a stem.
- Why it Sells: Popular garden decor, uses cheap thrift store materials.
- Materials: Old stainless steel spoons, a large nut, thin rebar.
- Difficulty: Easy (requires careful heat control on thin spoons).
10. The Railroad Spike Knife
This project combines simple forging (heating and beating metal) with welding to create a rustic, functional tool.
Heat a railroad spike to flatten and shape the blade, then twist the head for a handle. You can weld on a small guard or simply grind and polish the final shape.
- Why it Sells: High-value item for collectors, hunters, or as a unique gift. The rustic, hand-forged look is very desirable.
- Materials: Railroad spike.
- Difficulty: Medium (requires a torch or forge for heating, plus grinding).
11. The Rebar Pumpkin
A fantastic seasonal item that is durable and trendy. This project is all about bending and welding simple curves.
Cut several lengths of rebar and bend them into identical curves. Weld them together at the top and bottom to form a sphere. Add a short piece of rebar for a stem and some cut metal leaves.
- Why it Sells: Perfect for fall decor, very durable, can be made in various sizes.
- Materials: Rebar, scrap sheet metal for leaves.
- Difficulty: Easy to Medium (requires a method to bend rebar consistently).
12. The Nut and Bolt Chess Set
This is a more involved project that allows for endless creativity. It's a great way to use up a wide variety of small scrap hardware.
Design each chess piece using a unique combination of nuts, bolts, and washers. For example, a king could be a large bolt with a stack of nuts and a crown-shaped washer. Pawns can be simple bolts with a nut for a head.
- Why it Sells: High-ticket item, unique and impressive gift for chess lovers or industrial art fans.
- Materials: A wide assortment of nuts, bolts, and washers.
- Difficulty: Medium (requires patience and many small, precise tack welds).
13. The Wine Bottle Candelabra
This is a functional and elegant piece that can be made from very simple materials. It's a great way to upcycle empty wine bottles.
Create a simple candelabra insert by welding bent steel rods together. The central rod should fit snugly into a wine bottle's neck. Weld small circular plates to the end of each arm to hold tealight candles.
- Why it Sells: Functional and decorative. It's a great centerpiece and a clever way to reuse bottles.
- Materials: Steel rod (around 1/4"), small metal disks or washers.
- Difficulty: Medium (requires some rod bending and precise welding for balance).
Expert Tip: Check out other Easy Welding Projects.
Tips for Selling Your Welding Art
Making the art is only half the battle. You have to sell it. Here are a few tips to make sure you actually get paid for your hard work.
Pricing Your Work
Do not guess. Many welders underprice their work because the scrap was free. You need to value your time. A simple formula is: (Cost of Materials + Consumables) + (Hourly Wage x Hours Spent) = Minimum Price.
Don't forget consumables. You used electricity, gas, wire, and grinding discs. Even if the steel was free, the weld wasn't. Also, do not be afraid to add a "artistic markup" on top of that. If it looks amazing, charge what it is worth.
Finishing is Everything
You might like the raw, rusty look, but your customer might worry about staining their white carpet.
- Clear Coat: Always seal your work. Use a high-quality clear coat spray paint or a metal lacquer.
- Oils: For indoor pieces, you can use boiled linseed oil or Penetrol. This darkens the metal and gives it a rich, deep shine while stopping rust.
- Safety: Rub your hand over every inch of the sculpture. If you feel a sharp burr, grind it off. You do not want a customer to cut themselves when they pick it up.
Photography Matters
If you are selling online (Etsy, Facebook), your photo is what sells the item.
- Do not take a picture of the art on your dirty shop floor.
- Take it outside. Natural light is best.
- Put it on a clean wooden table or in the grass.
- Take close-ups of the welds and the details.
Conclusion
You do not need to be a fine artist to make money with welding sculpture. You just need a welder, a pile of scrap, and a little bit of imagination.
The 13 ideas listed above are proven sellers. Start small. Try making a few nuts and bolts figures or a horseshoe cross. Put them on Facebook Marketplace or show them to your friends. You will likely be surprised by how quickly they sell.
Once you get comfortable, move up to larger garden pieces or custom commissions. The scrap pile in the corner of your shop is full of money. You just have to cut it, bend it, and weld it into shape.
Need a machine that can handle both fine art and heavy repairs? Check out our versatile Multi-Process Welders to take your fabrication game to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We looked at common questions from welding communities to help you get started.
Where can I get cheap scrap metal?
You have to hunt for it. Auto repair shops are gold mines for old bearings, gears, and chains. They often throw them away and might let you have them for free if you bring them donuts. Local scrap yards will sell you steel by the pound, which is much cheaper than buying new steel. Appliance repair shops often have old motors and casings.
Do I need a MIG or TIG welder for sculpture?
You can use any welder, but they have different strengths.
- MIG: It is fast and easy. It is great for "dirty" scrap metal because it is more forgiving of rust and paint. This is best for garden art and heavy pieces.
- TIG: It is precise and clean. It allows you to make tiny welds on small nuts and bolts without creating a big blob. This is best for fine art and detailed figurines.
- Stick: It works, but it is hard to use on small, delicate sculptures because of the slag and heat.Compare our Synergic MIG Welders vs. Stick Welders to see what fits your style.
How do I stop my sculpture from rusting?
Rust never sleeps, but you can slow it down. If the piece is for outdoors, you need a heavy-duty clear coat designed for automotive use. Alternatively, you can have the piece powder-coated, which is the most durable finish available. For a rustic look that won't rot, simply let it rust, then seal it with a clear matte sealer.