new cat

[Fowler]

finished the basic fabrication
need to clean it up
I haven't decided if I want to paint it or let it get a little rusty

 

[Catfish]

I imagine it would sell in a heartbeat. Very creative work.

 

[rhino 2]

Fantastic work..ThumbUp
Give it a patina of rust......

 

[Zammy]

That looks great Bob, very creative.

 

[Fowler]

Thanks for the likes

I made a different Cat for my wife (don't have a pic of that with me)
Made the dog below for a friend
That was my first attempt to Braid rebar (the tail)


Then my son wanted a cat also So I created the one I posted
Now my wife wants a dog also

Been making these also
Family and friends seem to like them


Made a few different variations of the above cross

 

[Catfish]

People would go ape over your creations at our city art festival. What size bar you using for your projects if you don't mind me inquiring?

 

[Fowler]

3/8" rebar mostly from Lowes

I made a BBQ grill out of it the other day

 

[Catfish]

Thanks!

What method did you use to twist/braid the tail on the dog creation? Looks rather difficult to get such a tight twist. I love how you incorporated hammer claw and bar claw into the cat. :AllGood:

 

[Baldy_54]

finished the basic fabrication
need to clean it up
I haven't decided if I want to paint it or let it get a little rusty

View attachment 37263

That is the worst case of cat malnutrition I have ever seen. Need to feed that cat.

 

[consitter]

finished the basic fabrication
need to clean it up
I haven't decided if I want to paint it or let it get a little rusty

View attachment 37263

Wish that was the kind of cat we got a few months ago. Instead we got a rag doll and she sheds worse than any animal I've ever seen.

Wouldn't have that problem out of your creation.

 

[Fowler]

Thanks!

What method did you use to twist/braid the tail on the dog creation? Looks rather difficult to get such a tight twist. I love how you incorporated hammer claw and bar claw into the cat. :AllGood:

At first I had to get the wife to teach me how to braid with rope.
Then I welded 3 rebar rods to my bench.
I heated each bar and bent it over, then would heat the other. Did this over and over again.
What you cant see is the first 6 inches (I cut that off) it did not turn out well until I got the hang of what I needed to do.
Also the braided tail has a up curved bend that you cant see in the pic. I figured that would look better then just a straight tail

As for the claws they were left overs form a Hatchet I made my son
The tongue was left over form the axe part of the hatchet



The Rose on the cross was made from metal of an old air conditioning duct. I made my wife a bunch of them for for her Birthday a while back



I am making a rebar rose heart now. Its taking a little longer than I want because I have been putting a lot of hours at my day job (got to pay the bills)
I am using the below pic as a reference for it
Not sure how it will turn out yet. I never am sure until its done

 

[Baldy_54]

Bob, you are one talented guy and you may wind up with some of your work in the
Smithsonian one day.

 

[consitter]

That is all great stuff!! Wish I had that kind of talent.

 

[rwhgme]

I collect Armadillo sculptures, Ceramics, et. al. I wonder what you could create from that?!

 

[Fowler]

I dont know about an Armadillo but I have been eyeing the wife's chines wok
I think it would make a good turtle or something like that

Just cant let her know until it is complete (and I have bought her a new wok)

She is not to happy when I steal her stuff to make things

I needed a tough non conductive surface for my trike a while back
her Cutting board was just the right thing -- she was not happy

 

[Catfish]

I was pretty sure you were heating the re-bar. Thanks for the explanation. You have a very unique talent that I believe could be paying or help pay those bills presently and I strongly suspect it will at some point. The pleasure it provides you shows in your creations and I totally admire your imaginative creativity. :clapping:

 

[Baldy_54]

I dont know about an Armadillo but I have been eyeing the wife's chines wok
I think it would make a good turtle or something like that

Just cant let her know until it is complete (and I have bought her a new wok)

She is not to happy when I steal her stuff to make things

I needed a tough non conductive surface for my trike a while back
her Cutting board was just the right thing -- she was not happy

Bob, you sure live dangerously. If you take anything from the wife, I hope it turns out to be 100 % perfect and the wife likes it.

 

[MikeyTX]

That looks great Bob, very creative.

My thoughts exactly.ThumbUp

 

[Fowler]

first yard cat

Spring from a 79 MGB
Legs and ears from a 2001 Subaru Forester
eyes from a old stove
claws are cut up lock washers welded to links form a old chain I found

 

[Baldy_54]

Outstanding job, Bob. Some Imagination.

 

[Phu Cat]

​Anybody else smell a business comin on? What a great imagination you have Fowler. As mentioned above, you'd likely do well at fairs and festivals if you had lots made up in advance. Good luck!

Phu Cat

 

[paws]

​Anybody else smell a business comin on? What a great imagination you have Fowler. As mentioned above, you'd likely do well at fairs and festivals if you had lots made up in advance. Good luck!

Phu Cat

Yep...thought about that long-about post #5. These creations would sell like hot cakes!

 

[Fowler]

I have never made anything to to sell
They have always been for family or friends.
I did do a painting once of a Samurai that I gave to the community for a yard sell. I think they got a couple hundred $$ for it.
After the painting I started making bladed weapons. (swords, knives, axes, and so on) Gave most of them away
Then started making canes, walking sticks and staffs, again gave most away
Then started fiber glassing everything, making things like the below

http://3fowlers.com/engine.html#beltcover


Then started making yard art like I have shown you.

I never realy sold any of it though. If fact I when i was making a few peace pipes for people I found I did not enjoy it as much when what I was making was already designated for someone else (beside for my wife and kid)
I get more enjoyment out of just making things then if I want giving them away.

But you never know

 

[whitefatboy]

Cat

Very nice. reminds me of Ron Finch works, keep them coming. :clapping:

 

[Fowler]

Very nice. reminds me of Ron Finch works, keep them coming. :clapping:

I wish I was that good.
I don't even come close (yet)

 

[Fowler]

I was working 12 - 16 hours a day for some time.... to much for old man
Then got side tracked. We were watching a Zombie move and realized my wife did not have a Zombie killing sword. I have my favorite and so does son

This one is made form stainless steel and a old axe handle. I normally do not use stainless for swords but I had a nice peace just laying there
Most of my swords are made from leave springs (5160) I made a couple from 1075 or 1085 and I even made one one made from 1095 but I'm worried the 1095 is to hard and possibly brittle. It did hold up well chopping on a log though



Here is the heart I made for my wife. She has not seen it yet



I am going to start a rebar/bottle tree tomorrow

 

[Zammy]

In my humble opinion, absolutely stunning work Bob, you are definitely an artist.

 

[03VolusiaTrike]

Nice work Bob. I have been a tool and die maker for 20+ yrs and let me tell you, that metal work is cool. Very talented my friend.

 

[ol' school]

WOW, awesome stuff! You definitely have a unique talent there.

 

[Phu Cat]

Ma and I recently lost our beloved dog and want another so bad we can't stand it. But we're gone from the house on the bike so much it's just not fair to the dog. Your dog in post #5 would work perfectly for us, he is just adorable, the wife LOVES him and he'd look perfect in our living room. Is there any way I can talk you into making one more for her? Just name your price. $1,000? Seriously!

PC