pvc bird patterns
How to make PVC birds, animals, kids and more from a PVC plumbing pipe!
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Ya'll.... I love making PVC pipe art. They are absolutely adorable and look so awesome posed in little spots in your yard. Plus, PVC pipe art make great gifts to give and is a completely unique craft to make and sell.
Stuck at home for awhile during this quarantine? Start making PVC pipe art and then sell your finished products to make some extra cash!
What you'll need:
jig saw
4" pvc pipe OR 4' x 8' PVC sheet
file
drill and drill bit
heat gun
screws
acetone
and
old washclothspray paints for plastic
optional - rhinestones or plastic eyes & E6000 glue
*Always follow the manufacturers instructions on the tools and products used.
*Always use safety glasses and protection when working with tools and chemicals.
*Always work in a well ventilated area when using chemicals.
*Always keep a clean and safe work area when working with multiple tools.
Ok. Put on your safety glasses and let's get started!
Begin by creating a pattern.
This part was frustrating, irritating, annoying and expensive!
It took me a long time (hours turned into weeks!) just to come up with one basic bird pattern. I wasted so much time, money and a lot of pvc until I finally got a good pattern where the animal would look well proportioned once it was cut, heated and reshaped.
I have now taken all 95+ of my patterns and converted them into printable PDF's so you can download, print and start making any of my PVC art today!
You can see all of my available PVC patterns here.
Now that you have your pattern, print it off, cut it out and tape it together and then tape it in place on your 4" schedule 40 pvc pipe or PVC sheet and trace around it with a pencil. You can use a thinner walled PVC pipe ( also called a sewer drain), but I recommend the schedule 40 especially if you plan on making and selling them, gifting them or if you plan to keep them outside mostly year round. The thinner walled pipe will not hold up to the hot sun or heavy snow.
Once you have it sketched onto your pipe you will need to cut it out with your jig saw
.
Cutting pvc with a jig saw is a little bit of a learning curve, but just
keep at it. Once you get the hang of it, it will be super easy!
When you have your animal cut out, use your file
to smooth along all of the edges. Jig saws can leave some sharp spots
especially where corners meet and using your file will make them nice
and smooth.Once you have your piece nice and smooth along the edges you will need to use your heat gun
to reshape it. Please follow your heat gun's manufacturer's
directions. Your heat gun gets extremely hot, so be aware of where you
are pointing it at and where you are setting it down and use heat proof gloves to protect your hands. Aim your heat gun
at the area you are working on until the area begins to heat up and
become pliable and then reshape the area to how you would like it to
look.
Continue working your way along your piece, reshaping all of it one section at a time.
When you get down to his legs, make sure you bend some of the pipe forward so you can drill a hole in his feet so you have a way to anchor him down.
Next it's time to clean him up. Use acetone
and an old washcloth to remove all the printed ink on the pipe as well
as all the ugly marks that are on it. You can also use a little
sander if it's hard to remove the ink. This will make him nice and
white.Now he's ready for some paint! Depending which bird or animal you make will depend on how you paint him up. Make sure to use spray paints
that are for plastic and I would also suggest spraying him with a clear
acrylic sealer to help protect the paint.Then it's time to display him. Use screws to attach him to something sturdy such as a concrete patio block, a piece of heavy wood or to a deck or pier step. Alternatively, you can use metal tent stakes. Make sure your drill a hole through his feet large enough to fit the stake. Then stick the stake in through the hole and secure him into the ground. This may not work as well for taller, larger animals or if you have an uneven ground.
These animals are so fun and unique that they make an awesome craft to make and sell. Plus, you can use my patterns to sell your own animals (you can not resell, distribute or give away my patterns).
See all of our printable patterns here!
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