Starting project

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I'm looking for some advice on a project that I will be starting this weekend a saguaro cactus The pictures in my album are what I'm trying to accomplish plans are 8ft tall I'm going to be using 1/8" pencil rod for the skeleton and 20 gauge sheet metal. I'm in the beginning stages of trying to find something/steel round for the base center and top I tried to use the pencil rod but I couldn't bend it to a sum what perfect circle? I will post pics as I make progress. Also any info would be appreciated thanks
Reply:I think it was Dualie that posted up a link to this company a while back. They sell hollow round steel balls that might be of use to you. Cut one in half and see if they will work for the top. They sell them in several sizes, so just build your "trunk" to match.http://customironworks.com/30810-p-437.html.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:Get yourself a small roller or just hammer the circles around proper sized pipe. DSW's idea of 1/2 round metal balls would make a nice top. If I can build these, you can build a cactus.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:How about a truck brake drum for the bottom?PROUD   AMERICAN
Reply:1/8 pencil rod is pretty small and gets a little wimpy when trying to get it to hold a shape, you might consider 1/4 and using a little heat to help with the tighter bends.
Reply:Ya the thicker might help but I'm trying to make it as lite as I can the 1/8" rod bends easy but the trick is making it perfectly round I used a small paint can and it helped shape it. ill try heating it up a little to see if that will allow it to shape better ill post pics when I'm at that point.Last edited by ranger505; 07-24-2013 at 03:29 PM.
Reply:If you are looking to make fairly concentric "rings", get a piece of pipe and tack your 1/8" to it and wrap around the pipe a few dozen times. It will spring back some, but the rings will be pretty round. Then just take a slitting wheel and cut the rings off you need.To make really nice round rings in my forging class we had a big cone mandrel. You heated the ring, slipped it down the cone and then tapped it until it was sung all the way around and you had a really nice perfectly round ring. Since big cones are A: almost impossible to find, and B: expensive as he11 if you do find one, a piece of pipe that is almost the same diameter will work in a pinch to get nice circles..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