Best Beginner Welding Projects You Can Make

Are you a beginner in the world of welding but eager to start creating your own metal masterpieces? Look no further! Easy welding projects for beginners are a great way to start your welding journey. From simple garden decorations to practical household items, these projects will help you improve your welding skills while producing satisfying results.

Welding can initially seem daunting, but it can become a fun and rewarding hobby with the right guidance and practice. So grab your welding equipment and get ready to create something amazing!

 

A picture of three horseshoes welded on top of each other with bottles inside them

To create these projects, you will need a few essential tools and equipment to start making simple welding projects. Firstly, a welding machine or welder, which can be either a MIG welder, TIG welder, or Stick welder. We recommend a versatile and beginner-friendly welder that requires basic welding skills, offers all welding processes in one welder (MIG/Flux core, Stick, and TIG), and yields excellent rewards.

Next, you will need protective or safety gear such as welding gloves, a welding helmet with a clear view of the welding area, and a leather apron to protect clothing. Other welding tools and equipment needed for simple welding projects include a welding table or workbench, a variety of metal pieces, an angle grinder to clean the metal and clamps to hold the pieces in place while welding.

Stealth Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Side View
1. Welding a Simple Metal Box

Welding a simple metal box can be a great project for a beginner welder, as it requires only basic welding skills. This is an excellent welding project idea to start with since it is simple enough. AND can help you store your scrap metal or tools.

Four images of the process of welding a metal box

To weld the metal shop box, simply cut five pieces of sheet metal or plate with a metal saw to the desired dimensions for the box. Use a metal grinder to smooth out any rough edges on steel sheets. Position the pieces together to form the box, and use clamps to hold them in place.

Use a MIG or TIG welder to tack the corners of the box together. Once the corners are tacked, weld along the seams of the box. Make sure to fill in any gaps or holes in the weld. Add any additional features to the box. This can be things like handles or hinges, and clean up any excess metal or debris.

3. MIG Gun Holder

A MIG gun holder is a helpful accessory for any welder. It is useful if you don’t want to damage your MIG welding tools if you leave them lying around your workshop. To create this simple welding project, you will need a metal plate, a piece of round tubing, a metal saw or angle grinder, and a MIG welder.

Cut the metal plate to the desired size for the base of the holder and use the MIG welder to weld the round tubing to the metal plate at a 90-degree angle, creating a holder for the MIG gun. Next, cut and weld additional pieces of metal to the back of the holder to add support and stability. 

Image of a finished Mig Gun holder
4. Homemade Barbecue Pit

Everyone loves a good BBQ, and with some time and patience, you can weld your own BBQ pit as a great welding project. You can find various ideas on the internet with steel drums or other designs. Here is a simple one you can do with very little skill and basic welding technique.

Image of a welder welding a braai pit

For this you will need steel plates, an angle iron, square tubing, a metal saw or angle grinder, and a MIG or arc welding machine. Cut the steel plates, angle iron, and square tubing to the desired dimensions for the BBQ pit using a metal saw or angle grinder. Make sure to measure carefully and cut the pieces precisely.

Use the MIG or Stick welder to weld the angle iron together to create the frame for the BBQ pit. Make sure the corners are square and level. Add supports to the bottom of the frame to add stability and support to the BBQ pit. Weld the steel plates together to create the cooking surface for the barbecue pit.

Cut and weld additional pieces of metal to create features such as a lid, vents, and handles. Paint or coat the BBQ pit with a heat-resistant finish if desired.

5. Horseshoe Dutch Oven Holder

A horseshoe Dutch oven holder can be a unique and rustic addition to any outdoor cooking setup, and welding one can be a fun project for a beginner welder. All you need three old horseshoes, steel rods, and a can of fire-resistant paint.

Cut the steel rod to the desired length for the legs of the holder, and weld the steel rod to the horseshoes to create the legs for the holder. Make sure the legs are straight and level. You can weld a piece of steel rod or flat bar to create a crossbar for the holder. Additional pieces of metal can create support for the pot. These supports should be welded to the crossbar and should be angled to hold the oven securely. You can paint it with fire-resistant paint, or leave it for a more rustic look.

Image of two horseshoe holders with a pot being put on top of the one of the holder
6. Cool and Compact Fire Pit

Welding an outdoor fire pit is a great way to improve welding skills and create a functional and stylish addition to any outdoor space. There are many ways to build an outdoor fire pit, but it will essentially require some experience cutting, grinding, beveling, joining tubes, and working with large metal sheets.

Cut the steel rods to the desired length for the legs of the outdoor fireplace. Then, cut the side panels from a half sheet and the base, and weld them together. Weld the steel rods to the bottom of the base to create the legs for the fire pit. You can weld two or three pieces of steel rod or flat bar to create crossbars for the fire pit. These should be welded to the legs, ensuring they are level and spaced evenly. 

Image of illustrated drawing of a fire pit components and dimensions
7. Spoon Flower

Creating decorative spoon flowers can be fun, unique, and one of the best welding projects for a beginner welder. You can make it easy by using MIG or TIG welding techniques and the spoons you don’t need around your kitchen. You can use the hammer to flatten the spoons, or leave them as they are and weld them together. This simple welding project looks fantastic, and you don’t need much time to make it. Here are some ideas on how awesome it could look.

Image of a finished tulip made from spoons
8. Sheet Metal Flower

In addition to spoons, you can also use metal sheets to create flowers. You will need some cutting skills to make sheet metal into flower petals and leaves. Since we are talking about thin and fragile metal, you will need TIG welding tools to avoid burn-through or distortion when welding. Alternatively, you can use a drill to create a hole in the centre of each petal and stack them, varying the size and shape of the petals to create a layered effect.

This is quite a simple welding project you can make at your home, but it will take some time, practice, and creativity to make it right.

An image of a rose head made out of sheet metal
9. Yard Cup Holders

If you love to spend time in the yard, you can always make yourself simple yard holders. This is a simple project, and you can use different welding techniques and materials, such as rods and horseshoes. The rod will serve as a foundation, and you can cut it up to the desired length. For the cup holders, you can use horseshoes to keep your drinks in place or bend the rods into a loop, creating a cup holder shape. The loop should be large enough to hold a yard cup or other drink container.

You will need a base, and it is enough to use a circular piece of metal. Weld the holder and base to the foundation of your holder, and you are all done.

An image of four horse shoes welded onto a metal bar that has been mounted onto a base for the footer to make the cup holder
10. Simple Pencil Holder

An industrial pencil holder is a great way to organize your markers end pencils around your workshop. This is quite an easy project that you can make at home, and you will need scrap metal and steel tubing, and it can also serve as a perfect handmade gift.

Make use small leftover steel plate piece as a foundation, and make sure to clean it well. Next, cut the tubing and arrange the sections, such as descending/ascending order and weld it. Finally, clean the welds on steel components, and use spray paint to give it a good look.

Image of metal rectangles welded together to create a pencil holder
11. Metal House Numbers

If you live in a boring neighbourhood, you can always make your home stand out from the crowd by creating and welding unique house numbers. This is a cool project for beginners that will require some cutting or bending skills. The best part about it is that you can use various welding techniques, materials, and colours. Use your creativity to give your house a unique appearance, and here are some examples you can follow.

Image of four different house numbers that have been welded with different techniques
12. Floating Chain Wine Bottle Holder

You have probably seen this amazing wine bottle holder made of a chain on the internet, and there is no reason to buy it since you can easily make it with the old thick chain, an empty wine bottle, and a welder. Besides its functionality, you have to admit that this wine bottle holder looks pretty cool since it feels like the chain is floating in the air.

Image f a wine bottle that looks like it is floating horizontally with a chain hanging from it

To do this project, you should first make a round base that supports your bottle. You can use a jar or paint can to serve as a guide as you tack the chain in several places. The same can help you make the stem. It would be best if you made it almost perpendicular to the base at an angle of approximately 85 degrees. Finally, make a circle to hold your bottle and tack it up. Use some finishing touch to clean and paint the holder to make it look classy.

13. Garden Trellis

You can help your climbing plants grow by building a simple and easy metal trellis out of the steel pieces you have at your home. The best part about it is that you can make it any size or shape, leave it stand-free or attach it to a fence.

Fundamentally, you will need to make a basic frame and attach cross-sections and support bars. You can even connect the triangular roof section to make it look even better.

Image of three metal garden trellis with vines growing on them
14. Hanging Sign

There is always a way to decorate your garden, and hanging signs can give your favorite place a unique name. Like with house numbers, you can use your creativity, cutting, and bending skills to make your unique sign and weld it in place. To give it a cool look, you can use some ornamental wrought iron and leftovers from your other projects and weldments.

Image of a black hanging sign of a dog with the numbers 707 underneath
15. Fence, Door, and Gate Projects to Prove Your Welding Skills

Welding cast iron doors, screens or security doors, fences, or gates will require you somewhat higher welding skills, so it is not one of the most suitable projects for beginners. However, you can practise making these for your home, and maybe you can start earning money off it. Even though this is an excellent welding project idea to earn money, you can also do it for yourself and in your shop. You will need an arc welder, cast iron, or other preferred material to give it a more rugged appearance and some time and patience.

Image of three men putting up a metal gate in the driveway
16. Simple Shop Stool

As a small fab shop owner, you will appreciate having a simple DIY welding table and shop stool that you can make yourself. After building a table, a simple shop stool can be a practical and useful project for a beginner welder. You will need steel tubes, a metal saw or angle grinder, a MIG or stick welder, and a hammer to make it.

An image of a stool with a wooden seat and metal legs

First, cut the steel tubes to the desired length for the stool legs. Next, weld the stool legs together where they intersect. It’s best to weld brackets to ensure the stool is sturdy and functional. A steel tube can be used for the footrest and be welded to the stool legs. You can make a seat out of a piece of sheet metal or make the frame and add the wood.

17. Horseshoe Coat Rack

Horseshoes can be used in a wide variety of welding projects for beginners. Making a coat rack out of old horseshoes is a straightforward project, and you can use your creativity to make alterations. A coat rack will add a rustic feel to your home.

Image of four horseshoes mounted to a wall with two coats hanging from two of them

The simplest way to make this project is to weld 4-5 horseshoes together, side by side. You can align them according to your preferences: perfectly straight for perfectionists or chaotic for those more into experimenting. Once you weld them, you can nail them to the board or barn door.

18. Jewelry Holder

Creating a jewellery holder is a straightforward task, and like with many different projects for beginners we described in this article, you can use your creativity to make it however you like. Essentially, you will need a steel plate for the base and some scrap metal rods. You can use small pieces of rods to look like branches and one thicker rod to imitate a trunk. Weld them together to create the tree, and then weld the tree to a steel plate base.

A metal shaped tree jewellery holder

This is just one of the most straightforward ideas, and you can work with it to create various shapes or even use materials other than steel. For example, if you have a plasma cutter hooked up to a CNC table, you can even make some unique shapes for the rack and weld it to the base to provide stability.

19. Rustic Planter Vase

If you are into steelwork and decorations, you can easily make a planter vase for your home. This project is similar to a metal shop box we already noticed, but since you will be watering your plant, you will have to use stainless steel instead of steel. Additionally, you might want to change the shape. You can use the square shape for smaller plants, but for larger plants, you might want to go for a rectangle to ensure there is enough space for roots.

Image of a metal planter with three green bushes and a feather inside of it

Like with a box, you will have to mark and cut the pieces and simply weld them together. Again, we recommend TIG welding techniques for better aesthetics, and remember to drill the hole on the bottom part to drain the excess water.

20. Stainless Steel Polygon Bowl

In addition to the planter vase, you can also make bowls and vases using stainless steel. You should use stainless steel sheets or plates to avoid corrosion. There are a couple of approaches when building bowls and vases. Advanced users usually cut polygon pieces, which require attention to detail, good planning, and measuring skills. Drawing and cutting take more time than actual welding, but it is also more critical. After you get the pieces, weld them with a TIG welder for increased aesthetics.

Image of a welded steel bowl with fruit inside of it

Another approach is to cut fewer and more simple pieces than polygons simply. Just bend them to get a good bowl shape, and weld them together. You can weld some decorations or treat the surfaces to get the shiny surface of stainless steel.

Final Thoughts

From simple projects like yard cup holders and pencil holders to more complex tasks like BBQ pits and welding tables, there are many opportunities to improve your welding skills and create functional and decorative items for your home or workshop. By following safety precautions and practising and refining your welding techniques, you can develop the skills needed to tackle more advanced projects and achieve great results.

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