Steel Crab Sculpture

Welding is second most favorite hobby of mine. As we all know we can make any structure very easily and fast with help of welding. Welding joint are also super strong so there is never issue about weak point in it. Here I have made steel crab sculpture from scrap material available around me. I have uploaded a time lapse video of making, please consider watching it if you don't have time for reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJbt9JeTKNk&t=498s

lets gather material first,

I have used material as follows :

1. MS square rod 9mm - 25kg - MS stand for mild steel.

2. Wire - 4mm dia - 2kg

3.Some hex nut - 10nos

4.MS Pipe - 20mm dia - 3kg

Power tools/tools

1. Welder

2.Angle grinder/ hand grinder

A plan is always required to make any steel sculpture or any sculpture. I always make 2D drawing first and then convert it to 3D sculpture. Picture 1 is showing crab drawing I made on floor. For sculpture point of view I always prefer to make drawing on floor. I am not trying to educate you everyone(including myself) about nomenclature for body parts of crab but let me mention them with their own name. So to make complete crab, we will make following body parts and will assemble together.

1.Cephalothorax- crab body shell

2.Walking leg

3.Claw or Chela, carpus , merus

4.Swimming leg or back leg

I have followed drawing and first made a "D" shape 2D frame (Picture 2). Later to make abdomen of crab, I have welded small length rods to "D" shape (Picture 3). Then these small length connected with smaller "D" (picture 4).

After connecting both D to each other, I welded ready shell structure to a center support. It helps to attach walking leg to it.

note: to understand planning of sculpture, consider reading my previous steel sculpture instructable "rooster shape rooster cage"

Walking leg were measured and then cut with reference to drawing. Then all walking leg welded to main frame/crab back shell/ cephalothorax (Picture 10,11). Then to add volume to leg, a small dia wire is welded as shown in picture 16,17.

Now again with help of drawing, claws were made along with carpus and merus.

Complete claw leg were filled with 20mm dia MS pipe as shown in picture 17,18,19,20.

These pipe add some amazing look to claw. I have used bicycle chain to fill carpus as shown in picture 21.

Made swimming leg in 2D form and also attached them as it is. No extra material were added. I like their simple look.

To fill cephalothorax or back shell, I have used end shell of a small air tank and some 4mm dia wire rod. You can use anything available with you.

Now most important part. Grinding and finishing. in this process I have mainly focused on finishing of claw.

Others are grinded to remove rust and nothing else.

Hope you have enjoyed video.

Cheers::