Gideon, the Junk Art Lobster

Ulma Doctor

Infinitely Curious
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i have a growing collection of junk art abominations in front of my house.
this is an addition to the clan :grin:
i got into some fun on Sunday, so much so that it extended into Monday evening.
The fun, being the creation of a junk art lobster, just for fun!

the fun started off innocently enough, search for a clip art image and copy it with a twist or 2.

i gathered some materials: but needed more than i gathered-
here is a list of what was actually used

16- 2-1/2" square cut nails
a 3/8"x1"x6" piece of rusted unknownium steel
2- 3/8"-16 heavy hex nut
2- 3/8"-16 square nut
1 3/8"-16 x 6" all-thread stud
1 piece of 6" x 14" 18 ga galvanized sheet metal
12 - 1/8" pop rivet
2 antique tractor wrenches
red paint
white paint

the first order of operation was to assess the finished size of the project
i wanted the finished size to be around a foot long, so i took basic measurements of the clip art image
i scaled up the drawing measurements by a factor of 2.4,
to give me a sense of scale for the components i was to create by hand.

the second order was to create the crustacean's exoskeleton.
i started with the tail.
this was accomplished by cutting 5, 2" wide strips from the 18ga sheetmetal
i made a paper template of the shape i wished to use for the articulating segments and transferred the outline to the strips
i drilled 2- 1/8"holes in each strip
i cut the sheetmetal to the outlines and formed the shape over a 4" section of pipe i had lying around
i outlined and cut the tail from the 18ga sheet
i pop riveted the tail section together
i bent the section of sheet metal, that would become lobster on the 4" pipe
after making the 4" radius in the parts, i decided that a 2.5" radius would be suited to the scale i was looking for.
i bent the pieces by hand at this point, they bent easily.
after bending the parts to satisfaction,
i pop riveted the tail section to the head

the third order was to make the legs
the legs were 2.5" square cut nails brazed together at obtuse angles

the forth order was to figure a way to attach the legs and claws to the sheetmetal exoskeleton
my solution was to use a piece of steel standing on edge.
i'd braze the legs to the "backbone" and crossdrill the backbone to accept a 3/8" stud (the stud will attach the claws)

the fifth operation was to fit the body to the backbone
i laid out and made relief cuts into the body of the exoskeleton
i set the finished height of the backbone and fitted the exo to the backbone

the sixth order was to add the claws
i had a couple antique tractor wrenches that were dying to be claws on something, this was the something!
i had some square nuts that were a perfect fit in the tractor wrenches, so they became the shoulders for the claws
i added a 3/8 all-thread stud and added the claws to the body
i snapped a couple pictures for posterity

IMG_3542.jpg IMG_3543.jpg

the seventh order was making the eyes
i welded 2- 3/8" heavy hex nuts together and gently fused them together and then to the head with a stick welder with 1/8" E6010
at that time i set the height i wanted the claws and tack welded the all-thread to the backbone in the hole drilled earlier
i also tack welded the shoulder joint for the claws

i shot a coat of red on him

IMG_3550.jpg

IMG_3549.jpg


then i painted the eyes!


May I introduce you to Gideon,
the junk art lobster!
IMG_3551.jpg

IMG_3552.jpg


as always thanks for reading!
 
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Oh man, it must have taken a lot of grinding, bending, shaping, forming, to build that lobster. great job Doc, I like it.
 
When you said junk art the first thought that came to my mind was the "Heidelberg project" in Detroit. This made me realize the huge difference between "Junk Art" and art made from "Junk".....You sir i place into the 2nd category, very creative.
 
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When you said junk art i the first thought that came to my mind was the "Heidelberg project" in Detroit. This made me realize the huge difference between "Junk Art" and art made from "Junk".....You sir i place into the 2nd category, very creative.
Thank you very much!!!

I looked the Heidelberg Project up, wow- very cool!

i wish i had some big names backing me!!! :)
 
Awesome!!
Thank you Mikey!
Great job Mike
i'm happy you like him!
Oh man, it must have taken a lot of grinding, bending, shaping, forming, to build that lobster. great job Doc, I like it.
i'm glad you like it!!
it was a labor of creativity, it really went by fast
Yum, Lobster. Where's my bib? Nic job Doc. Mike
thanks Mike!!!
Wow Mike, that is terrific. I want to build one now
Mark
Thank you Mark, i'd love to see your version! :grin:
 
Thank you very much!!!

I looked the Heidelberg Project up, wow- very cool!

i wish i had some big names backing me!!! :)
You welcome. Trust me, the artist in Detroit had ALOT of big names doing what they could to "back him" right into a jail cell when he first started!
 
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