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Are you a beginner and looking for cool welding ideas? Are you looking for lucrative weld projects you can sell later on? Then check out this:
I created the web’s longest list on weld projects and ideas in this article.
In addition to the projects you find on my list here, feel free to check out the welding project books Ready, Set, Weld* and Artisan Welding Projects (25 decorative Projects)*.
Said enough, please take a look my collection below and get inspired for your next small welding project.
Easy welding projects for beginners
DIY barbecue grill
A rather easy project for beginner welders is the barbecue grill. Weld some steel plates together, add a grill grate and start roasting meat on the home-made grill of your dreams.
Moreover, take a look at this unique engine style Barbecue grill:
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Barbecue smoker
Advanced welders can continue with this barbecue smoker. This is one of my favorite welding projects.
Phil Reilly on Instructables describes in his post how you can use an old oil can to weld a barbecue smoker.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Welding table
Another beneficial project for every welder is this welding table. Check out the video below and craft your unique welding table. Afterward, you will be proud of this solid workbench you created with your own hands.
Another tool bench project can be found on Bakersgas here.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Simple welding cart
Another easy project for beginners is to weld a welding cart. Seamster on Instructables uploaded a detailed instruction how he made a multi-functional welding cart for his Hobart Handler 140. I’d like to mention, it was seamsters first welding project ever, too.
I’d like to mention that he recycled old metal bed frames to create this rock solid welding cart.
Difficulty: easy
MIG weld a grinder stand
There is a cool video from Hobart that shows how to MIG weld a grinder stand.
back to menu ↑Workshop tool racks and benches
Many people are looking for custom welded garage and workshop tool racks and benches. People are looking for racks that are durable and won’t break quickly. Start your welding career by manufacturing standardized racks and benches for craftsmen.
Make the benches out of square steel tube and wheels to give your benches stability and portability at the same time.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Workshop stool
Got even more scrap parts in your workshop? Take this idea to create a fancy workshop stool made of old tools, bolts, industrial chains and whatever you don’t need anymore.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Firepit
The firepit is also an easy project for beginners. Take a big old pan or metal bucket and weld some feet to it. You can also use some sheet metal to create the “cup” of the firepit.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Wood-stove from car rims
Got old steel car rims in your garage you don’t need anymore? Perfect, you can make a brand new wood stove out of them.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Bookends
Nobody likes books that fall from the shelve when you take one out. But not a problem for you, it easy to build DIY bookends. Cut two metal sheets, weld them together in L-shape and additionally decorate and paint.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Steel washer bowl
Make this type of bowl out of spare scrap steel washers. Weld together and proudly present the new bowl to your wife.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Industrial coffee table
Another table with an industrial look is this coffee table. Use yourself or build and sell this excellent looking coffee table. The industrial coffee table is a welding idea that can make some good money.
Difficulty: easy
Welding art ideas
back to menu ↑Bolt figures
Got old bolts and nuts? Weld them together and make funny welded miniature figures. Excellent a present for friends and family.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Scrap metal dragon
Another simple project with scrap parts. Use an industrial or bicycle chain, a fork and horseshoe nails to create a fiery dragon. Easy project that you can make with a Lincoln 125 HD welder or similar.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Car parts art
If you like scrap metal art, you should take a look at the online gallery of James Corbett. He calls himself a “car part sculptor” and makes some impressive artworks. He made some of the best scrap metal sculptures I have seen in my life.
back to menu ↑Metal flower
Find instructions on how to weld metallic flowers on Instructables right here.
Difficulty: easy/medium
back to menu ↑Scrap metal art ideas
Check out this Best-of video to see some of the best scrap metal artworks peoples made.
Difficulty: medium to expert
Steel spider (art)
The steel spider is a fun welding project idea you can start together with your kids. Use old bolts and scrap metal to create this decorative steel spider. Give it a paint finish to avoid rusting.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Steampunk weapon
Are you part of the steampunk community? With a welding machine, you can craft steampunk clothing and weapons.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Piggy bank (money box)
Use scrap metal and weld a piggy bank. In my opinion, this is a small welding project idea that you can make with or for your kids. A small pipe end cap in the belly is used to lock and open the DIY piggy money box.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Welded chain art
Another small welding project. Weld a chain together to get mysterious sculptures that seem to resist gravity completely .
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Metal dog (flower pot)
Now, this is a project every woman will love. A sweet dog that carries some flowers on his back.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Metal cat
This metal cat is a simple weld project for beginner welders. Place your decorative cat made out of horseshoes and nails next to your front door or outside in your garden. The horseshoe cat is also an ideal DIY present.
Difficulty: easy
Steel vase
Another welding project idea is to make a steel vase. Because you will be working with flat steel, you should choose a design that you can break down into a couple of flat planes you will start with.
Get some inspiration on Instructables here:
Difficulty: easy
Cool welding projects ideas for fun
back to menu ↑Children’s playsets
Your children will love it when you build a playground for them. Find some free playground plans which you can use and adapt right here:
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑DIY racing simulator
Create a box to sit in where you can mount your steering wheel and the pedals.
Difficulty: easy
Useful welding projects
back to menu ↑Welded pipe lamp
Improve your interior by designing your pipe lamps. Use old pipes, weld them together and add some bulps.
Difficulty: easy/medium
back to menu ↑Lamp shades
Custom lamp shades is another project idea you could try.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Metal frame for paintings
Rock solid frame for your paintings. Good project for beginners to learn to weld and cut metal to make a rectangular frame.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Metal bed
Use metal to weld a rock solid bed with minimalist design.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Outdoor furniture (metal bench)
Design the outdoor furniture of your dreams. Draw your design on paper, get the required material and weld your metal bench. I assume it will stay there for at least 30 years.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Doorbell from scrap steel
There is another instruction on how to create a doorbell from scrap steel right here: https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Doorbell-From-Scrap-Steel/
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Starlight light
The starlight is an easy welding project to make a metallic version of a paper lantern.
Find the detailed build instructions right here:
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Falling targets
If you are a hunter and would like to have falling targets to train your skills, check out the instructions right here:
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Tandem bike
Make sure to take a look at the guide here on Instructables and learn how to weld a tandem bike. Creating tandem bikes is easier when you have two identical bikes that you cut apart and weld together.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Car wheel bicycle
Custom bicycle with car wheels (fat bike). This remarkable project idea got the grand prize in Millers metal contest 2016.
Difficulty: advanced
Steel banister
Weld a steel railing for your stairs. Think about an additional banister inside as well as outside.
Difficulty: easy to medium
back to menu ↑Truck and trailer jack stands
If you consider building a custom truck, an extra tall jack stand is something that helps you to work underneath your vehicle. Check out the following video to see how to make it. The jack stand project is suited for advanced welders that know how to make a right weld seam that won’t break.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Trailer ramps
Of course, a jack stand is useful but you probably also can need trailer ramps. Garrett from Makemoneywelding.com shows right here how to manufacture trailer ramps yourself.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Small utility trailer
You don’t need to buy a new trailer for $4000 or more. Building a small trailer is relatively simple and straightforward when you have gained intermediate welding skills. The following video explains what to take care of when using a MIG welder to weld a DIY utility trailer.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑American flag (steel edition)
Every real American welder should go for this project and weld a flag. The size is up to you, you can decide yourself how big it should go.
Get inspired by six different welded flag designs listed here: http://weldingsource.org/6-awesome-welded-american-flags/
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Garden fence
Get some scrap metal from the scrapyard and weld together a fence no other will have. A self-welded fence gives your garden an individual look. This project is very cheap because you only use old scrap metal.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Steel gate
What is a fence without a gate? Take a look at this gate project a Lincoln customer submitted to get inspiration what is possible:
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Wheelchair ramp
Build a wheelchair ramp to make one’s house accessible for wheelchairs.
Difficulty: easy
Wine bottle holder
Weld a wine bottle holder. Ideal as a present for friends and family.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Metal clock
Another welding idea is a metal clock. Check out existing designs on Etsy and get inspired by those:
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Metal trellis for garden vines
Metal trellis help to grow your garden vines. Think about designing a new one.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Pen holder
Simple project for beginners. Use some tubing, sheet metal and some tools to make this DIY pen holder.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Shoe rack
Make a shoe rack out of scrap parts.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Firewood rack
A customer of Lincoln Electric shares his design of a welded firewood rack right here:
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Coat rack made of horseshoes
back to menu ↑Key holder
A trendy project idea is to make a key holder. You can use scrap metal or old horseshoes to create your key holder.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Bike stand
Weld a simple bike stand. It’s helpful if you need to repair your bicycle.
Difficulty: easy
back to menu ↑Modern desk (industrial design)
Another project idea to make some money welding is this modern desk. This desk could also look nice as a modern dining table. Check out the following video to see how to build this well designed modern desk. A branded industrial table like this will cost over $1000 when you buy it.
Difficulty: medium
Profitable welding projects to make money
back to menu ↑Starwars sculptures
Get inspired by these eight impressive Starwars sculptures right here and also make one. Go and sell it for money.
Difficulty: advanced
back to menu ↑Custom truck
Good projects to make money for advanced welders is to customize trucks. If you do your job right, you can make a living by customizing trucks and cars.
Difficulty: advanced / professionals
Custom truck bumper
Blowtorch-betty on Instructables shared an excellent report on how she built her custom steel bumper:
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Outdoor sign
Creat outdoor signs for local companies and sell them to your customers. Can be quite lucrative.
Check out some designs here: https://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?702368-I-got-to-make-an-outdoor-sign
Difficulty: depends on the design
back to menu ↑Oldtimer repair
Now that you are a decent welder you can do car weld jobs yourself. Use your garage to repair oldtimers right now. This can be really lucrative.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Model vehicles
Create indestructible model tanks, cars, trucks or ships made of steel. As a plus, add an engine and steering. Equip your vehicle with remote control.
Serial production could give you a decent amount of money.
Difficulty: medium / advanced
back to menu ↑Soapbox race car
Who hasn’t always been dreaming of his own soapbox race car? See a good example of Fast Cars soapbox racer here.
back to menu ↑Fitness and gym equipment
Welding fitness equipment and gym tools is a good project for expert welders and people who want to sell stuff.
Design your own climbing bar, shoulder press bench or flat bench press and sell it to local gyms. You can take a look at the following free equipment plans for a start:
Difficulty: medium / advanced
Wine racks
Make a living by creating beautiful and unique wine racks. An exclusive wine rack specifically designed for your customer will bring in real money.
Difficulty: medium
Steel and glass partition wall
A very nice and modern looking partition wall made of steel frames and glass. The partition wall is a project for advanced metal workers. Do it for yourself or sell the manufacturing service. I believe this could be very lucrative when done well. The total project cost was estimated roughly at $3000. I guess something like this can be sold for $10.000 or more. Find detailed instructions here:
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Contracting services
One idea to make money welding is to have contacts with building or other local contractors. Consider pipelining companies, industrial companies, workshops, car repair shops, marine industries and so on.
If you do your weld projects good, it is very likely that contractors and customers will recommend you in the future, too.
Difficulty: professional skills required
Minions
Know the sweet minions from TV and movie? You could craft a little metal welder minion yourself like this guy here:
I’ve also seen several guys selling their minions online for some additional money.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Metal carport
The article here on Wilker Do’s shows how to build a metal carport.
Difficulty: medium
back to menu ↑Underwater welding jobs
If you know how to dive, you can get training as a commercial diver and start underwater welding jobs for local boat, harbor, pipeline companies. Underwater welding salaries are high these days.
Difficulty: professional skills required
Custom lamp
Check out the lamps people are already selling on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/welded_lamp
This gives you an idea what you can craft to sell later on.
Difficulty: easy to medium
back to menu ↑Hydraulic shop press
Occasionally you will need a bigger shop press. Why not make it yourself?
Difficulty: medium
DIY snow vehicles
Popular science shows three examples of insane vehicles you could weld for the next winter (besides your metal sled).
Difficulty: advanced
Dog Cage
Weld cages for dogs in your neighbourhood. Welding dog cages are simple projects that give you some earnings on top.
Difficulty: easy
Image Credits: Clark Young on Unsplash, Phil Reilly on Instructables, Photo by Max LaRochelle on Unsplash, Pxhere.com, Pixabay, Pixabay, Pxhere.com, Pxhere.com, Playset photo by Hudson Roseboom on Unsplash, pxhere.com, Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash, Foxy_, jill111, stux, Jehyun Sung/Unsplash, Filip Mroz/Unsplash, pxhere.com, Justyn Warner/Unsplash