Man of steel

Garfield man transforms the strong metal into unique creations

By Julie Parent

DeWayne Johnson of Garfield used scrap metal to make a replica of a guitar. Photo by Julie Parent

DeWayne Johnson has a gift for sculpting scrap metal into artistic pieces. His wife, Marci, happily reaps the benefits of his hobby. His decorative pieces are sprinkled all over their rural Garfield home, inside and outside.

Before retiring almost six years ago, DeWayne spent his entire career working as a welder. In addition to welding bridges, he made things for people who requested items that didn’t exist. 

To do this, he learned a lot from other people on the job and took 40 hours of evening classes at the Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria. Figuring out how to make these unique items gave him the ability to think outside the box. 

Now that he can weld whatever he wants, some of the things he has made include a model-size antique car with moving wheels, a wall calendar hanger, a wall mounted coffee mug rack, a cowboy hat, a fish, oversized butterflies and dragonflies, square flowerpots, heart shaped plant stands, lawn ornaments, guitars, and realistic looking non-firing guns. 

If Marci thinks of something she specifically wants, she just describes it to him and lets him make it whatever way he thinks is the best. She is very supportive of his hobby and has archived each piece he’s made with a photograph in an album dedicated solely to his craft.

DeWayne Johnson holding his fish sculpture. Visible behind him is his wall calendar hanger. Photo by Julie Parent

DeWayne begins making his one-of-a-kind creations with a thin flat piece of sheet metal. The metal does not come with a step-by-step instruction booklet. After observing an item, he sits down and thinks about how he is going to construct it. If he physically has the item he is trying to replicate, he will measure parts of it and trace around it carefully to make a paper pattern, like a sewing pattern. He puts the pattern on the sheet of scrap metal and draws around it. Then, he takes his time to patiently grind and manipulate the hard-to-bend steel into the correct shape. To do this, he uses: his two welders, a bandsaw, a drill press, and various small basic tools.      

Wearing welding safety equipment, he is careful not to burn his eyes or the skin on his face, hands, arms, and other body parts. The hot flame that comes out of the welding torch is about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. To Marci, the intense heat of the flame is “frightening.”

When DeWayne decided to enter one of his guns into a Douglas County Fair competition in Alexandria, he made sure to hide it by wrapping it up in a blanket until he arrived. He didn’t want anyone to think he was walking around the fairgrounds carrying an actual weapon. DeWayne has been awarded several ribbons for the metal sculptures he has entered at the annual fair, including a grand champion ribbon for his violin. The violin is Marci’s favorite piece to date. Although they are hollow inside, each item is surprisingly heavy.

For two weeks in June 2024, DeWayne reluctantly agreed to participate in an exhibit at the Evansville Arts Center in Evansville. He was pleasantly surprised that his display got a lot more attention than he expected. The reaction to his work from the gallerygoers was positive; however, DeWayne made it clear his pieces are not for sale and he cannot be commissioned to make anything. He only makes things he and his wife will use or plan to give as gifts. He enjoys being able to tinker in his workshop anytime he wants without being under any pressure. Creating different objects just for fun breaks up his day and makes him feel good about himself, which is priceless.

A non-firing gun sculpted out of sheet metal by DeWayne Johnson. Photo by Julie Parent 

The first time DeWayne was inspired to create something with scrap metal was in 2001 when he saw a steel flower he liked at a garden store. He went home and made his version of it. After that, his hobby continually evolved. He started looking up small objects on the internet and envisioning how to make them. When making a gun replica, like a Winchester rifle, he makes several pieces and welds them together. He learns something from each piece he makes and applies that knowledge to his next project. He estimates some of his pieces, such as his stringed musical instruments, have taken anywhere from 50 to 80 hours to complete. Sometimes, he puts a clear coat on the finished piece to protect it from the elements. Other times, depending on its use, he prefers the look of letting it rust naturally. When it comes to his work, Dewayne sets high expectations for himself and is his own worst critic. Oftentimes, people don’t notice the slight imperfections he sees. If it doesn’t turn out exactly the way he wants it to the first time, he knows he can discard it and start over.

The biggest thing DeWayne has learned from his innovative hobby is that if he can do it, anyone can do something if they apply themselves. He said people have talents they don’t even know they have. He thinks if you are interested in doing something new, you shouldn’t hesitate to give it a try. According to him, it’s easy to say you can’t do it, but the more you do it, the better you will become. Like him, you may eventually discover that doing something you didn’t think you were even capable of accomplishing will bring you great joy and satisfaction for years to come.