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  • Tin Rooster Sculpture
    		•
    From "Crafters Coast to Coast"
    episode HCC2C-115F


    PHOTO
    PHOTO
    Project by Anna Johansson from Somerville, Mass.

    Anna is a stained-glass artist who loves to doodle. After drawing some images of birds, she decided to make them three-dimensional. In this project, she makes a rooster sculpture from recycle tin.

    Materials:

    decorative tins
    permanent marker
    tin snips
    scissors
    Dremel tool or sandpaper
    hole punch or awl
    rivets
    narrow copper or brass tubing
    solder
    soldering iron
    paper
    can opener
    safety gloves

    PHOTO

    Figure A
    PHOTO

    Figure B
    PHOTO

    Figure C
    PHOTO

    Figure D
    PHOTO

    Figure E
    PHOTO

    Figure F
    Steps:

    1. Make a three-dimensional paper sculpture of the form you would like to create (figure A). Use this sculpture to figure out your patterns and templates.

    2. Cut the paper sculpture into sections and trace the cut sections (figure B), adding whatever tabs or extra overlapping material you might need for riveting. Label the patterns so you know what part of the rooster it is.

    3. Take tops and bottoms off tins and cans you want to use with a can opener. Cut the seams off along the edges of the cans, and flatten slightly if needed (but sometimes the curve is useful).

    4. Decide what sections of the rooster you want cut out of what can/tin (figure C). If you have a printed design and want to maintain some symmetry or know exactly how your pattern lies on the can, you can create the pattern out of tracing paper so you can see the design of the can through the pattern and place it accordingly. Trace the pattern onto the can using a permanent marker. Some markers stain cans/tins that have a color coating/label, so take care not to mark where you don’t need, or trace on the back of the material.

    5. Starting with the main body section, cut the shapes out using tin snips (or scissors). Grind/sand the edges slightly to dull them with a Dremel tool or sandpaper.

    6. Punch holes for the rivet sections and rivet together (figure D). Using your hands (preferably gloved), gently round the form into a curve that suggests a rooster body.

    7. Test the next section's paper pattern with the metal section to see if it will fit, making sure it overlaps and/or covers the area it is suppose to cover. If it does, trace those patterns and cut them out. If it doesn’t, amend the pattern to make it work.

    8. Continue this way, section by section, curving and bending the pieces with your hands and/or pliers. Attach them until you get the main rooster form completed, except for the "behind-butt-rear" section. Leave this part off for now because you will need to have access to inside the rooster.

    9. At this point, start on the legs. Cut out and form the thighs and rivet them onto the main section.

    10. Cut lengths of narrow copper or brass tubing. Stick one end through the thigh and into the cavity of the bird to rest on the underside of the back. Tack-solder them here so if needed, you can reposition them later (figure E).

    11. Cut out the tail patterns (figure F) and attach them to the back of the rooster.

    12. Next is the tricky part. You the bird to balance and stand on its own, so solder claws on the legs and trim the tubing if needed. Then through trial and error, reposition the legs in the body cavity to get the balance right.

    13. The last thing to do is solder the rear piece on; then you have yourself a bird!

    Website: www.annabuilt.com

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  		• Tin Rooster Sculpture
  		• Scrapbook Shaker Box and Beaded Wire Words
  		• Farm Animal Handbag
  		• Bath Mat Wallet