You can make welded metal art from any metal. Brass, iron, steel and aluminum are examples of appropriate metals. The two types of welders often used include a TIG welder and a MIG welder. The TIG welder fuses pieces of metal together and is often used with aluminum and steel, particularly for filling seams. The MIG welder, known as a wire feeder, is a spool wire welder used primarily for welding together large pieces of steel or other metals.
Sculpting is one of the most frequent types of artwork done with welding. Many artists weld bits and pieces of scrap metal together to create sculptures ranging from literal representations of an animal, person or other object to abstract pieces meant to convey a particular message through composition. These sculptures often rely on a range of metal types, including aluminum, brass, iron and steel, for color variation and structural integrity.
Metal wall art is three dimensional designs and images made for hanging. The two primary techniques used to create metal art are welding and bending. Soft metals are often bent with pliers to form the shape of the wall hanging, while additional pieces of metal are welded onto the hanging to create 3D scenery.
Cars, boats, planes, people and animals are just some of the subject matter for artistic miniatures rendered in welded metal. Working with these miniatures requires the use of a weld gun and a steady hand, since most of the welding will be detail work. Welding larger art pieces together doesn't require the exact placement of the weld, as does the process involved in making metal miniatures. This means more skill is required if you are making miniatures in metal that feature detail work.