DesignsByAndrew

One of a kind metal artwork creations built in the USA

[designsbyandrew]

I delivered the keychains today to a friend for a Christmas present. He was quite happy with them and it looks like I will be doing more keychains in the future. More details to follow as he and I sort out some details to make that happen. Now to do some research on engraving machines as it could be a game changer. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #keychain #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #artistsofinstagram #artist #artforsale #stainlesskeychain #christmasgift

[designsbyandrew]

I finished up the 69 El Camino keychain pair for the Christmas present for a friend of mine. I didn't get to make the Camaro keychains as my last bandsaw blade snapped on me at the weld joint. I'll have to get some more blades and get the Camaro keychains done later. Delivery is tomorrow so I hope he likes them. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #keychain #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #artistsofinstagram #artist #artforsale #stainlesskeychain #christmasgift

[designsbyandrew]

Holy cow it's dumping buckets of rain. We got 2.5 inches of rain yesterday in the rain gauge and are getting hammered again at the moment. It's raining when it's flying sideways and the rain is louder in the shop on the metal roof than running an air die grinder. The yard has rivers flowing through it and lakes forming. Might need to build me a boat soon. The best part is I'm wearing shorts and a short sleeve shirt and it's almost Christmas. Strange weather! #designsbyandrew #december #summerweatherindecember #flooding #elnino #sidewaysrain

[designsbyandrew]

The mailbox post collar is done for now. All surface imperfections have been filled in with spot welds and ground smooth. I haven't figured out what I want to add around the hole in the middle for decoration as it looks plain in my opinion. I may leave it the way it is and paint the whole thing later. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #madewithpride #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #wroughtiron #decorativeiron

[designsbyandrew]

Worked on the mailbox post collar some more this evening. I welded the two halves of the top plate to the collar itself and ground the welds smooth. I have some spot welding to do to fill in imperfections plus adding something around where the post protrudes from the top of the collar. I haven't decided yet on what direction to take with the additional border for the most part it's getting closer to getting painted and installation once the rain moves out of the area. We had over 2 inches of rain in one shot this morning and are supposed to have more tomorrow. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #madewithpride #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #postcollar #wroughtiron

[designsbyandrew]

Got the new 3.73 Yukon gears and bearing kit for my 64 Bel Air. The hole in the bottom of the cast iron 3rd member case has been tig welded shut. Getting ready to set up the pattern on the gears once they are installed in place. The car should be a heck of a lot quicker with 3.73 gears over the stock 3.36 gears. Look out Hemi Chargers. I could hang with you before, now I might just walk away from you. 😆 #designsbyandrew #60smuscle #64belair #chevrolet #chevroletbelair #3rdmember #yukongear #ringandpinion #gearchange #tigwelded

[designsbyandrew]

I added a base around the bottom with 1/2 inch square bar for a different look on the mailbox post collar. Now to build the rest of the collar to fit around the post above the flange. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #wroughtiron #decorativeiron #builtnotbought #madewithpride #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #mailbox #mailboxpost

[designsbyandrew]

Just finished up another pair of keychains for a Christmas present. A friend's 2007 2WD Duramax 4dr is what the keychain is modeled after. The one in the picture is just a picture off of the internet. 3 more sets to go out of 6 vehicles total. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #keychain #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #artistsofinstagram #artist #artforsale #metalsculpture #sculptures #artwork #metalart #stainlesskeychain

[designsbyandrew]

Just finished up another pair of keychains for a Christmas present. A friend's 98 2WD Silverado is what the keychain is modeled after. The one in the picture is just a picture off of the internet. 3 more sets to go out of 6 vehicles total. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #keychain #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #artistsofinstagram #artist #artforsale #metalsculpture #sculptures #artwork #metalart #stainlesskeychain

[designsbyandrew]

I started on the post collar for the mailbox post tonight. Luckily I had a piece of handrail I picked up at the scrap yard a long time ago. I think I may border the bottom of the collar with half inch square bar to add a different look. The collar won't be light but the mailbox post isn't either. I'll fabricate the collar around the bottom of the post so it slides up for access to the mounting bolts. I was going to add some set screws but I don't think it will need them due to the weight once it's done. The collar is one of those on the fly designs. Rather than do a miter cut on the piece already built, I decided to weld it together and then grind the corners for a different look. Relatively easy. Hope to get more done on it tomorrow. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #madewithpride #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #wroughtiron #postcollar

[designsbyandrew]

When you don't have a heavy duty truck tire iron, make one! I cut down a 1 inch bar and welded on some 3/8 plate to the end to build a tire iron for breaking the bead with a hammer. Last time I used one was back when I was about 10 years old and was changing tires on old 16.5 inch split rim wheels for a 56 International. I pulled the design from my memory and went from there. The little notches in the edge actually provide some traction on the tire when you twist the iron once it's driven in between the edge of the wheel and tire. It sounds like it would be crude and not work but it actually does quite well. Usually you have tire irons slip due to using some type of soap you spray around the bead of the wheel. This tire iron is used mainly to break the bead loose so you can use your regular tire irons once the tire bead is loose from the wheel. I have changed many tires with and without a machine. Not having this bar to do the work with becomes a hassle. Problem cured with that. I also welded a flat pad on the back of the bar so when you hit it with a mini sledge hammer, it is less likely to bounce off of the side if not hit squarely. The only problem with building this, now I have no excuse as to why I can't change a tire. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #custometireiron #builtnotbought #madewithpride #tireiron #bustingbeads #changingtires

[designsbyandrew]

Finished up the mailbox post foundation adapter. Test fitted it and getting ready to prep it for some paint before it gets too cold outside to do so. A friend commented that the little kids in the neighborhood could do pull ups off of or or maybe I could rent out use of it to pull engines for the day. Yeah he's just giving me guff about it being built strong. I used what I had in stock and didn't have to go get any materials. Be happy when it's in the ground and in use. Looks like sometime next week due to temperatures and rain in the forecast. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #madewithpride #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #foundationadapter #neighborhoodmonkeybars #myfriendmadefunofme 😆

[designsbyandrew]

Got the shop wood stove burning today without waste oil running. I peaked in to check on the stove and the cherry wood I put in last is showing some blue in the flame. Nice and toasty even with the doors wide open while welding. Supposed to drop down in temperature over the weekend. Nowhere near as cold as other places in the states. Happy Friday! #designsbyandrew #shopheat #wasteoilheater #woodstove #winterwarmth #blueflame #cherrywood

[designsbyandrew]

Got the foundation adapter cage built for the mailbox post. Next up is the flanges I will cut out and weld on to the adapter and post. Welding the rod to the pipe gave me some more practice on welding around curves. Still have some trouble with rotating the nozzle to match the curves but practice eventually builds more skills. Hope to get the post painted today before it drops in temperature for the weekend. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #madewithpride #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #foundationadapter

[designsbyandrew]

Wrapping up working on the mailbox post for today. I finished up smoothing out the end caps on the posts along with fabricating the mounts for the mailbox itself. Tomorrow will be building the foundation adapter and flange for the post itself. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #madewithpride #builtnotbought

[designsbyandrew]

Just welded the corbel on to the post and ground off the welds. I used a half inch hole and plug welded the corbel together where it meets the post on both tubes. The corbel was run through my metal bender till I got the arch I was looking for. The corbel is 1/8 inch steel about 1 3/4 inch wide. Now to add a bracket for the mailbox to mount to as the bottom of the mailbox is recessed where it mounts. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought #corbel

[designsbyandrew]

A rainy day sounds like a good day to build a mailbox post for the one that is rotted. I think my mail lady hit the mailbox and it broke the rotted wood post awhile back but it's ok as I have never liked the plastic slip over mailbox assembly from the beginning. It holds water when it rains as the top half snaps on to the bottom half. I can fix that though as I know how! 😆 The main post is 2 inch square tubing built to the post office height requirements. I will dig a hole to install a foundation and mounting stub with a flange to bolt the pole assembly to it in the picture. I'm thinking of building a collar that slips down over the main pole so that way it covers the flange bolts plus keeps the weather off of them. I have some ideas for decorative scroll like work that I will attach below the mailbox support arm. Have you seen the prices of more than a simple mailbox post? No thanks, I'll build my own that I will like. I'm thinking of 3 inch tall numbers either out of stainless or copper sheet metal. Undecided on that at this point. More to come as I move along on this. Hope to get it in the ground before the end of the weekend as next week will be rain again. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #welded #weldeverydamnday #weld #fabricator #fab101 #fabrication #custommade #handbuilt #handcrafted #madewithpride #mailbox #mailboxpost #builtnotbought