How to Make a Metal Flamingo
Having flamingos in your yard or garden add character and color. Most people purchase their flamingos that are made from plastic or metal. To have them unique and any size you want, you can make them out of sheet metal. Painting them and making them in various sizes will make your yard or garden very eye-catching for passers by.
Things You'll Need
- Sheet metal
- Flamingo pattern
- Permanent felt pen
- Heavy gloves
- Tin snips
- File
- Metal rod
- Hack saw
- Spot welder
- Spray paint
- Acrylic paint
- Small paint brush
Instructions
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1
Trace the pattern of the flamingo body onto the sheet metal. The sheet metal needs to be thin enough to cut easily with tin snips and thick enough to stand upright when cut out. 20-gauge sheet metal is ideal for this project. Using a permanent felt pen, hold the pattern in place and trace around it onto the sheet metal.
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2
Cut the sheet metal. Follow the traced line with the tin snips to cut out the shape of the flamingo body. Use a pair of heavy gloves while cutting the sheet metal to avoid being cut. The sheet metal will be sharp on the cut edges so use caution. File down the sharp points. Coming at some of the cuts from different angles on the edge of the sheet metal will help ease the cutting process.
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3
Cut the metal rod into two pieces with the hack saw. The length will depend on the size of the body that you cut out. The rods will become the legs of the flamingo and will be driven into the ground in your yard or garden. You will need to allow 3 to 4 extra inches for the in-ground portion.
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4
Spot weld the two metal rod legs to the back of the sheet metal body. The legs need to come out at angles creating a upside down V shape to create the legs.
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5
Using spray paint made for metal, paint the entire body. Finish by using the paintbrush and acrylic paint to add eyes, outlines of the wings and feathers and any other details that you want on your custom designed flamingo.
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Tips & Warnings
Painting the flamingos all different colors adds character.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Pink flamingo like heart on the clouds sky background image by Olga Khoroshunova from Fotolia.com
