Welding fabrication (10 entries)

Created as an object to warmly welcome guests at our reception. Combining "Welcome" and "kame" (turtle), its playful name and turf base were devised to bring a chuckle to visitors. The neck, head, tail, and shell reinforcements 100% utilize in-house SS400 scrap remnants. From organic scrap shapes, matching triangular geometries were selected to shape turtle parts using the material's character. Expanded metal for the shell base was hammer-formed into smooth curves. To prevent thermal distortion from welding, remnants were tack-welded from inside. Exterior finish welding was applied to mimic shell patterns, balancing distortion control and realistic dimensionality. The belly uses TIG welding; precise current control and torch technique formed uniform beads across melt-prone mesh boundaries and scrap, completing realistic patterns. After polishing, black paint and varnish layers produced metal heft and lifelike gloss.