leaping deer arch over the driveway Finished

[mramsey]

I have bent 1/4" cold rolled steel into a deer that I drew on paper. I just finished the first one and I have 3 more to do. I will braze the deer together at work tomorrow (Hope I do not trip the smoke alarm in my classroom 1,000 kids and adults in the snow would be bad). I will start the arch when the snow melts !
The deer took a hour from start to finish to bend into shape. I will then wire wheel and prime and paint black. I am going to use clear mini's

[TDog]

Very Cool!

What method did you us to bend the deer in to shape? Any special tools or just good ol arm strength? Any hints or tips to working with the metal?

Looks good!
Troy

[mramsey]

Thanks

I used a conduit bender, vise and a very large hammer, and good ole' muscle strength! The metal is cold rolled steel which is a little harder to bend than hot rolled.

As for hints
trial and error, I really don't have any advice for the bending portion this is my first attempt.
When it comes to welding or brazing practice is the only way. So save your cut offs

[JonB256]

Mike, are you an Arc Welding type or a Brazing type person?

Any idea which one is better for long term corrosion resistance?

[mramsey]

Jon

I am a better brazer than arc welder.....But I found out today that I am out of practice and there will not be any close up photos of my welds.

As for which will last longer, I would think that if done right either should last. I have read some posts on PlanetChristmas where people have sent their wire frames for powder coating which would be very resistant to weather (big $$$$). Commercial websites state that their wire frames are powder coated also. So I will be priming and painting.

Here is a link I found pretty interesting on powder coating
http://www.homemetalshopclub.org/projects/powder.pdf
I suppose its like anything else the cost of the equipment to start up. I don't think my wife would like me using the kitchen oven to bake (curing the coat) the parts!!!

[mramsey]

Just finished brazing the first deer. One down and three more to go. I hope to have the next three done within the next two to three weeks. Then I have to wire wheel, prime and paint. You may notice the brace I placed across the chest area. He was some what bouncy and needed to be more rigid.

[mramsey]

Well, just thought I would post an update of my first of four completed wire deer. I have one other welded together that is ready for primer and paint. So I will do that on Monday and start bending the next one also.

You might have noticed that I put a second brace across the deer for more support and I thought that those braces might make a great place to attach the deer to the arch over the driveway.

I have one question....

I have about two feet extra of lights used 33 out of 35. I brought the extra up and around again but it did not look good. Is there a way to cut short a string of mini's? Or should I use the black caps to cover the lights and just run the lights up the back of the leg?

[JonB256]

How many lights? You (or somebody) can calculate the load and replace with a resistor.

and - if you pull out a bulb, does the whole string go dead or just half.

[mramsey]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you Jon.

when I pulled out the bulbs non of the other lights went out on the wire frame. So I removed all the extra bulbs (12) one at a time and all the lights on the wire frame stayed on. So I filled them with some silicon caulk and took and wire tide them the the wire frame of the deer and done.

so everything worked out perfect no cutting or soldering of resistors in.

[mramsey]

I have some video of the 3 completed deer leaping I have the last deer all bent and ready to braze together tomorrow after work. I am using a 4 channel chase controller.



Now I just have to wait for the 3 feet of snow to melt and the ground to thaw and I can start on the arch.
Sorry about the video quality it was done with my phone.

[Bigindian]

That is sweet looking

[mramsey]

thanks !!

I have just finished brazing my last deer and preping it for primer and paint. Next comes the arch construction. I have alot of great ideas I am just trying to finalize a plan. then I'll post a sketch.

[mramsey]

Here is a quick video of the deer hanging on the inside of my garage door only room for 3 of the 4 deer
sorry for the poor quality. Its from my phone

[mramsey]

Its done and I just tested it tonight !!! The arch is made of 1 1/2 inch electrical pvc with 4 guy wires pulling down on it. There is also a green 4' garden stake on each side in the ground and the pipe is over the top.

The arch is tall enough to drive both cars under

The width is 28 feet and at the highest point its 16 feet


The video is not the best I used my phone (one day I'll get a new video camera)