Rebar Projects

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Hi all,I am teaching high school welding and only have a budget of $600.  Needless to say, I am already over budget have put about $400 of my own money (which I don't mind) into the class so far (bought a cheap bender from Harbor Freight today for the class).    I am trying to think of projects that are exciting and fun for the kids and am wondering if any of you have used rebar for projects. We are using donated horseshoes, railway spikes, and whatever metal I can get donated.  Any ideas for fun projects for high school students.Thanks so much,Wilbur
Reply:Welcome to forumrebar and some short lengths of chain on a post  ---Frisbee golf  posts-- flower pot holders for the yard figures for Christmas --deers,trees, santas, and such for X-mas lights--(can sell for fund raisersLast edited by prop-doctor; 10-22-2011 at 06:56 PM.idealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Welcome to the forum. Here's a rebar project I did awhile back.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=30284There's a couple other ideas posted in there too.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Garden trellis and plant hangers come to mind right away. Tomato cages and bean trellises in the spring. Probably could do a set of fire place tools, but they won't look all that great. I could see using it as legs on an outdoor fire pit ( someone here posted up a nice one made out of an old drum cut in half and then plasma cut decorations in the side) Maybe outdoor drink holders ( wello here did several nice ones out of regular rod.Most of what I've made out of rebar is strictly work related. Water box keys, grab handles made from 1" bar, U brackets to support sprayers and 5 gal buckets on the old work truck, Ran a length of 1" down the side of the dump truck body as a "step" so you could tarp the load easier ( bar was attached with clips welded to the body however), not to mention actually using it as rebar for concrete.Problem with rebar is not all of it welds well. I've had good luck with some, and bad luck with others. This is especially true of inexpensive bar.It's also nice to work with something other than 3/8", 1/2" or 5/8" bar. I've got some #8 (1") and used to have a few short pieces of #12 ( 1 1/2")I'd probably try to think about where you can get more donations. Maybe you can get shorts and scrap cheap from local fab shops or construction companies. Some sort of public recognition usually can go a long ways with things like this. That way the company can write it off as "advertising". The local 4H swine club does a banner thanking all the buyers from the last sale. The pig I bought this year will go down as an advertising expense, becuase I'll get my company name on the banner for next year for supporting the 4H.You might also look at things the kids can fab that you can sell. That way the class can recoup the material costs. I can rememebr having to do a "sale" project in Jr high shop. We had to come up with a product we could sell, make up a budget for materials and then figure out how to mass produce it and market it, take orders and then fill them. One group doiong metal shop did small hand trowels. We did grapling hooks for boat anchors for ours. Candle holders, coat hooks out of horse shoes, plant hangers and shepards crooks, and so on. You might be able to get the local flea market to donate a table where you can sell what the kids produce as long as the profits all go back into the program or to the kids..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:In my opinion, the amount of help you can expect to get will be, in large part, based on your community.Local Fab Shops and Contractors might be willing to allow you to pickup drops.  Our local shipyard loans scrap to a welding school that graduates prospective employees.  Scrap yards might "loan" you some scrap that will be returned heavier with deposited filler metal included.Furniture and Mattress stores that deliver new bed frames might be approached for the old ones they haul away.  Any bed frame donated to the welding program will be cut up and certainly will not find its way back under a mattress.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:Make Choppers!!Take a look at this link to Kevin Baas' high school chopper class.This young man saved a high school industrial arts program by building choppers.http://www.kennedychopperclass.com/a...chopper-class/
Reply:kinda hard to do that on a 600 buck budgetidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Thanks all, I am going to get some donated and see what we can do with it.  I am trying to get permission to sell the items we make.  In the board I work for, tech classes have no respect at all.
Reply:When I was a kid my dad use to get a lot of small diameter (up to 1/4") rod from flower stands left at the funeral home. The home would pile them up and call him now and again. I don't think we ever bought small stock. It was painted green but that wasn't ever an issue.I don't find rebar to be the cheapest material (for a lot of reasons). I'd call some steel dealers and get some prices. Steel is bought by weight. Paying a per piece price like at Home Depot is CRAZY expensive. Shopping the scrap yards can sometimes yield some real deals as they generally buy and sell based on weight.As others have mentioned, talk to some shops. For example we scrap a lots of shorts, that would be perfect for students but too short for our production. Even if they charged you scrap value... it's a lot less than new.
Reply:Got to a vehicle wreckers and explain your dilemma, I am sure they will let you roam the vehicles and there will be all sorts of odd things that will be suitable for teaching welding. Old car rims are one example. You can lay the rim flat, weld a post on the centre of it, and make a frame on top to sit an old 20 litre plastic container with the top cut off. These are great for using as stands underneath the car when on a hoist for draining waste oil into.
Reply:Where are you teaching? Somebody on here may have some local connections or ideas based on your area.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:how about chipping hammers? cylinder racks and cable?might as well take care of any equipment shortages around the shop first.
Reply:you should show them this to help them realize how badly we need skilled labor workers not 4 year college grads looking for work to sit behind a desk for years. http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2009/02...mission-video/the site has good info and good insite. DONT give up on shop at your school!
Reply:maybe do some searching in this part of his forum maybe you can post and get good advice and help? I didnt look to well at it but seemed like it might be something to help you get ideas on how to help make your shop class more sound and maybe save it by getting more money and interest from kids?http://www.mikeroweworks.com/forums/...nts-Discussion
Reply:Post your location and put it in your user cp."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Suscribed. I want to see the out come of these projects.We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:I know around here the steel building companies will donate their drops to schools and allow the school to sell the practice pieces as scrap or whatever to raise money for other supplies. Benefits the companies by supplying more welders (aka cheap labor) to them in the future.HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X