Welding isn’t just for manufacturing industry professionals. It’s also a fun activity for anyone who wants to fix things and relax. These welding projects will help welders of any skill level improve their knowledge of techniques, mechanics, and skills. Whether you’re just starting or have been welding for quite a while, here’s 10 beginner welding projects that anybody can do.
Simple Industrial Pencil Holder
What’s easier than a pencil holder? This is a perfect project for someone who wants to start slow. This simple welding project uses easily accessible materials that you can pick up at your local hardware store and can be cut, welded, assembled and painted in a few short hours. Here are the detailed plans we found on Instructables.
If you’re interested they do a great job at laying out the process step by step HERE. However, as always you can always put your own spin on it. These are the items you will need for the pencil holder project.
- 10.5″ of square steel tube with inner dimensions of 3/8″ x 3/8″. This will handle basic Bic pens and pencils, but if you have any fancier pens or pencils you may want to use some larger tubing.
- Files – https://amzn.to/38mSoyT
- Hacksaw – https://amzn.to/2vA9CeA
- Spray paint (optional)
- 12 gauge steel sheet (not pictured)
- Welder – Link to stick welder page
- Appropriate safety equipment Link to safety page
- Bench vise – https://amzn.to/2vEXFEq
Starter Welding Table
If you plan on welding a lot, either as a professional or as a hobbyist a solid welding table is a must. Why not make your table? Simple lines on a welding table make for an easy starting project. The best part of making your own table is that as you get better, you’ll be reminded about how far you have come. Better yet you can customize the table for your unique welding and physical needs.
Check out the step by step process HERE These are the items you will need for your starter welding table project.
- Welder Link to stick welder page
- Appropriate safety equipment Link to safety page
- Files – https://amzn.to/38mSoyT
- Hacksaw – https://amzn.to/2x6mpG5
- Angle grinder and grinding disks – https://amzn.to/2TzxvLw
- Speed Square – https://amzn.to/2TOjVnJ
- Level – https://amzn.to/2IiP4Ko
Materials Needed:
- 1.5×1.5 inch square hollow mild steel 75cm x 4 pieces
- 1.5×1.5 inch square hollow mild steel 110cm x 1 piece
- 2.5×1.5 inch square hollow mild steel 125cm x 4 pieces
- 2.5×1.5 inch square hollow mild steel 75cm x 4 pieces
- 2.5×1.5 inch square hollow mild steel 63cm x 1 piece
- 4 inch 5mm flat bar 75cm x 8 pieces
- 2 inch caster wheels with breaks x 4 units
Metal Trellis
Sometimes you just need a sturdy garden trellis for your vines to call home. Maybe you just want to add a little industrial flair to your garden? This project has simple cuts and lines that will make a beginner welder more confident by the end. Depending on the scale and type of metal you select will determine what type of welder you should use (MIG, TIG, or ARC). With the right tools, a little creativity, and drive, anyone can create awesome welding projects like this Metal Trellis. Check out the step by step process HERE.
Corner Clamp Jig for Welding
Why pay for a clamp when you can weld one yourself? Here’s an old school corner clamp used for welding 90* tubing and angle iron. This design has been around for ages. While a corner clamp can be bought, good ones can cost up to $100 or more. The cheap ones run $20, but as in all things in life cheaper is never better. The corner clamp made in this instructable is from scrap materials, is dead accurate, costs less that $20 and will last forever. So ask yourself, why not?
Check out the step by step process HERE These are the items you will need for your indestructible corner clamp jig:
- 3/16″ angle iron and flat bar to construct the corner clamp.
- Two 10″ pieces of angle. The flat bar is cut at a 45* angle at either end. The lengths are roughly 6″ on the short end and 15″ on the short end.
Simple Welded Stool
This project will have you practicing cutting, welding, grinding and finishing metal with lots of tips that can make a furniture project like this one go quickly. A stool in a workshop is always a nice way to rest, as metalwork can be tiresome. This project like with many others on this list have easy angles to cut and weld. If you want to draft your own 3D project renderings check out Fusion360 HERE. It is loved by fabrication enthusiasts and professionals alike not only because its FREE but also because it helps you pre-plan design and material needs.
Check out the step by step guide HERE.
This stool is designed to be 23″ high, and 14″ on each side. But like with all projects here can be customized to fit your needs. Each leg is a length of 1″ square tube cut down to 22″. To complete one of these stools/end tables you will need the following lengths of steel:
- Welder Link to stick welder page
- Appropriate safety equipment
- Files – https://amzn.to/38mSoyT
- Hacksaw – https://amzn.to/2x6mpG5
- Angle grinder and grinding disks – https://amzn.to/2TzxvLw
- Speed Square – https://amzn.to/2TOjVnJ
- Level – https://amzn.to/2IiP4Ko
- 4x 22″ lengths of 1″ 16 ga. cold rolled mild steel square tube, for the legs
- 3x 12″ lengths of 1″ 16 ga. cold rolled mild steel square tube, for the cross beams
- 4x 14″ 45 degree mitered lengths of 1″ 16 ga. cold rolled mild steel square tube, for the cross beams
- 4x 8.5″ 45 degree mitered lengths of 2″ x 1/8″ hot rolled flat bar steel, for supporting the wooden top
- For finishing one stool/end table you will need:
- 2x 12″ x 12″ birch plywood squares
- 2x Spray paint enamel with primer and color
- 2x Spray clear coat enamel, I like matte finish, but look at your options
- 4x Plastic endcaps for 1″ square tube
Set of Third Hands (Clamps)
Welding is fun! But sometimes you just need a few helping hands to hold those awesome projects your working on. This Instructable goes over how a build a strong set of third hands fixtures.
This creative and very useful project was uploaded over at Instructable.com HERE and does a good job of explaining how to make your own. The guide does a good job simplifying the process so beginners can follow along. These third hand fixtures are great at clamping items at all different types of angles and holds projects tight. To build these clamps you will need the following:
- Cold Saw – https://amzn.to/2x918M6
- Drill Press – https://amzn.to/2VKp6av
- Bench Grinder – https://amzn.to/3cvGfLl
- MIG Welder – https://amzn.to/2THhiEa
- Files – https://amzn.to/38mSoyT
- weldable steel rod
- steel tubing
- plate steel
- nuts and bolts
- C-clamps – https://amzn.to/2TlNBt3
Welding Rods Storage Container
Many welding rods can be damaged by moisture. If someone’s told you that you can dry wet welding rods in your oven or put rods in a freezer if they are old, you’ve heard two welding myths. Low hydrogen stick electrodes must be dry to perform properly. However, Moisture resistant electrodes with an “R” suffix in their AWS classification have a high resistance to moisture pickup coating and, if properly stored, will be less susceptible to this problem. Overall storing your rods is a smart choice.
HERE is a great how to guide on making your own welding rod storage container. What you will need:
- 1. 60X60 mm Galvanized profile 3 mm thick (36 Cm long)
- 2. 60×60 mm Galvanized sheet metal (x2) 3 mm thick
- 3. Toggle clip
- 4. Hinge
- 5. Welder Link to stick welder page
- 6. Tape meter & Pencil
- 7. Hammer – https://amzn.to/2TAFOqh
- 8. Gloves – https://amzn.to/32P2TKf
- 9. Protective headphones – https://amzn.to/2Tyu1ZH
- 10. Protective glasses – https://amzn.to/2TmfkKe
- 11. L-Square – https://amzn.to/32Qgrot
- 12. Cutting disc – https://amzn.to/3apxSyT
- 13. Flap disc – https://amzn.to/3cuEjmc
- 14. Angle Grinder – https://amzn.to/2TzxvLw
- 15. Welding Helmet – Link to Welding Helmet Post
- 16. Locking C-Clamp – https://amzn.to/38knAii
DIY Coffee Table Project
Mid-century modern tables and furniture more broadly are often pricy and equally cheaply built. One of the primary reasons creators create is because of the pride and satisfaction one gets when a project is completed. Better yet when you can experience your work every day knowing you made it and its quality work. HERE is a great coffee table design for a beginner to cut their teeth on. This would be a perfect project to use Fusion360 a FREE 3D mockup tool to help you pre-plan design and material needs.
Cool and Compact Fire Pit
Mix metal with fire and build yourself this slick fire pit. Check out the plans HERE and see how a single sheet of steel can transform into a relaxing retreat. For this project a standard sheet of 2.1mm chequer plate is used. That said really any steel plate of about that thickness work. For this design, the dimensions are 1200mm x 1200mm. Of course you can adjust the design as needed. The good news about this design is that there is no need for a separate stand for as this fireplace is all one piece.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1200mm x 1200mm 2.1mm chequer plate
- Tape measure – https://amzn.to/2IgmhGe
- A welder Link to stick welder page
- An angle grinder – https://amzn.to/2TzxvLw
- Hammer – https://amzn.to/2TAFOqh
- A drill for cutting drain holes – https://amzn.to/2TmoAy7
- “Pot Belly Black” paint.
- Safety gear Link to safety page
Concrete End Table
Rebar and concrete are meant to be together so why not make a cool outdoor end table? Check out this great video by Crafted Workshop which does a great job explaining the process to make this table. Once you master this process you can expand it and apply the steps to make a full set of furniture. A big plus is that rebar and concrete are easily accessible and cheap.
HERE are the steps to weld yourself a concrete and rebar end table.
