How One Man Turned Simple Scrap Metal Into An Ornate Bird Bath

If you have scrap metal wasting away in your yard or taking up space in your garage, you might wonder what you should do with the stuff. After all, metal can be a durable and versatile material, but how can you turn old scraps into something that looks beautiful and intentional? There are many ways to add charm to your yard and garden with rusted metal, and one man demonstrated a clever way to do just that. Adrian Beacham, metal artist and founder of Tong and Chic Creations, was commissioned to build a bird bath from scrap metal, and he shared the fascinating process on his YouTube channel. Using twisted rebar the the stem of the birdbath and two metal discs for the foot and the base, Beacham sculpted a tree-inspired design, finished with custom metal flower art at the top.

In his time as a metalworker, Beacham has sculpted everything from garden trellises to gazebos and lifelike animal figures. This birdbath combined those genres, in a sense, turning awe-inspiring art into an essential and useful hub for living creatures. While not everyone has access to an at-home forge, this project may inspire you to rethink the potential for your scrap materials — or hire an artisan to rework them into your own custom piece. 

Steel is one of the best materials for a durable bird bath, and that's exactly what Beacham decided to use. After selecting five pieces of rebar and heating the tips of them in a forge, he pounded the ends into shape with a hammer and anvil, and later with a power hammer machine. "They're pretty rough on the outside," said Beacham (via YouTube), "I'm not that fussed about tidying them up or making them real smooth because they're supposed to resemble roots anyway, and just leaving them with that organic shape is going to be quite good."

Next, Beacham welded the five rebar pieces together to form one thick bundle. "I'm going to heat them up and then I'm going to twist them probably three or four times," he explained. After firing the rebar pieces so the middle of the bundle was red hot, he clamped one cool end tight and grabbed the other cool end with a wrench. Beacham muscled it into a beautiful twist, then pounded out any bends at the anvil once more. 

Using a large metal disc for the basin itself, Beacham welded the "branches" and the "roots" of the rebar bundle to the convex side of each metal disc. He then turned the whole thing upright and made sure it stood level. To give the bird bath more flair, he curled more curvy, twisty metal pieces near the roots and shaped metal flowers, which sprang up from the center of the water basin. The final product was a beautiful contrast between such a harsh scrap material and the dainty, organic shapes. 

Beacham has gone on to make more metal bird baths since he shared his process on YouTube. Many still use the same tree-inspired designed, but others are more sculptural, including a hanging bird bath! However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before building your own, especially if you plan to let wildlife drink from or bathe in the water. While scrap metal can work well for bird baths and other outdoor features, the type of metal you use matters. Some scraps might contain toxic heavy metals like lead or cadmium, which could harm birds, so test your scraps to determine their contents if you're not certain. 

Beacham intentionally rusted parts of his work for a weathered, rich look that suits his art style. Some rust is generally not a big concern for birds, but too much rust buildup could flake off in the water and cause problems over time. However, you should also be extremely cautious of any chemicals or sealants you use to remove or prevent rust because birds are very sensitive. If you're worried your scrap metal may not be suitable for a bid bath, there are other things you can do if you find old scrap metal in your yard.

Some recommendations apply to all kinds of birdbaths, including those made of metal. For example, important to keep your bird bath cool in the summer heat, so a metal bird bath should always be in the shade to prevent uncomfortable or unsafe water temperatures. Bird baths also shouldn't be too deep — roughly 1 to 3 inches at most — and should have some texture or rocks in the bottom so birds can climb out without slipping.