One of the best parts of being a welder is being able to put your skills to work in unconventional ways. Throughout the year we love to highlight holiday welding projects, and December is no exception. Whether you prefer to cut a fresh evergreen or haul out an artificial model, most homes in America display a Christmas tree during the holiday season.
This month, we want to show you 2 ways you can weld your own Christmas tree using horseshoes, rebar and some basic welding skills.
Horseshoe Christmas Tree Welding Project
Horseshoes are an incredibly popular welding material, as they are easy to work with and affordable. You’ll need 14 horseshoes for this project, 4 for the base and 10 for the tree itself.
If you’re working with used horseshoes begin by cleaning them up and removing the nails. Once your horseshoes are clean and ready to go, lay out your tree and mark your welds. You’ll want to offset your horseshoes, starting with a row of 4 along the bottom, then 3 in the second row, 2 in the third row, and one horseshoe at the top.
Once you have your project laid out, tack weld your horseshoes into place one row at a time until your piece is solid. Next, weld one horseshoe in the center, below your row of 4, this will allow you to weld your tree to the stand. To create your stand, arrange and weld 3 horseshoes into a clover shape before attaching your single horseshoe to your base.
Rebar Christmas Tree Welding Project
If you’re looking for a simple, scalable welding project, this rebar tree fits the bill. All you’ll need for this project is rebar, a MIG welding machine, clamps and a grinder. Success lies in the planning, so start by deciding how tall and wide you want your tree and use this to create dimensions for your project and cut your rebar accordingly.
Start by welding your base, using 4 pieces of equal length to ensure your tree will be solid and stand up straight. Next, attach your trunk to your base and stand back to ensure your base and trunk form a nice, straight 90 degree angle. As you move through the project, you’ll want to cut and attach your main branches, using longer pieces of rebar on the bottom of your tree and tapering up as you go. If you want to add dimension to your piece, add smaller branch pieces to the end of each longer branch at the tips.
Finish your piece by grinding your tips smooth and painting the rebar green, if you want color. Now it’s time to decorate by adding ornaments, a metal star, or a tree skirt. This welding project can be used as your main family tree, a lighted outdoor decoration, or as a small tabletop piece.
Welding Supplies on Sale for Christmas Gifts
If you have welders on your shopping list who want the latest ESAB welding helmet or are simply in the mood to treat yourself to Miller’s Build with Blue sale this Christmas, Baker’s Gas and Welding has the best welding machine and welding supplies prices on the market. Whether you’re searching for a brand new Miller machine, or want to stuff some stockings with safety goggles, welding gloves, or a new thermos, click over to Bakers.