ausfire Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Been making a few praying mantids (or mantises if you like) so I thought it was time to make a big guy. This one stands 650 mm high. The body is a shaft from my son's Nissan race car gearbox, which makes the whole thing quite weighty. Took a bit of slogging in the forge to taper the end a bit. The front legs are made from a combination of bolts, flattened chain links and motorcycle sprocket pieces. Legs are rebar. Here he is (with a few of his smaller mates): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58er Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 wow, cool.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Awesome bug! I like how you straightened out those sproket pieces, Ill try that in the future. It's probly been discussed before but I havent seen it, do you clearcoat your creations? Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Wow Aus, that is a nice Mantis! Those little guys are cute too. I know exactly how hard it is forging on those shafts. The closed wings look great. they all have a nice stance too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 SWEET! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 AUS-some Mantid! Frosty the Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted May 8, 2017 Author Share Posted May 8, 2017 14 hours ago, Nodebt said: Awesome bug! I like how you straightened out those sproket pieces, Ill try that in the future. It's probably been discussed before but I havent seen it, do you clearcoat your creations? Scott. The big mantis is not coated ... just as I finished welding it. I will probably give it a spray of clear coat (that American stuff - Rustoleum Clear - is good) or sometimes, if it's likely to live outdoors, I will use Rustmasters. It's a little gummier than clear coat but holds up well in the weather. Alternatively you can just let them rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBlades Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 lol attack of the giants....he's really rad bud....very nice as always! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 Just something you picked up at the South Pole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 LOL looking again at them last two pics makes me think of holding cats. they struggle till they are in a position they are comfortable with and thats what it looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted June 8, 2017 Author Share Posted June 8, 2017 Here's another one. Not as big as the giant one, but quite robust. The body is a steering worm drive from an old truck and it must be the hardest steel I have ever hammered. Even cut over half way through it was still difficult to bend at orange heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Wow great job on those! They look alive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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