Meet the Made of Steel DIY Challenge Top 10
The Made of Steel Challenge exists to answer one question: what have you built with steel?
The DIY Challenge is where that question gets its most personal answer. It's the category for the hobbyist and the passion-project builder, the people who weld,
cut, and grind in their own time because they love it, not because anyone is paying them. Braai stands, fire pits, furniture, sculpture: if you made it with your own hands, it belongs here.
We hoped you'd show up. We did not expect this.
The entries poured in, and we were honestly astonished, not only by how many there were, but by how good they were. Every project told a story. There were first-time builds made on weekends and the odd late night, pieces that took months of patience, and ideas so original we found ourselves gathered around a screen asking, "How did they even think of that?"
The craftsmanship, the creativity and the pride in every photo made this the hardest judging round we could have asked for.
Narrowing hundreds of great entries down to ten was no small task. Every project that came through proved that you don't need a title to build something remarkable. You just need steel and the guts to get started.
To everyone who entered: thank you. You made this challenge what it is.
Now, here are the ten DIY builders who stood out from the rest.
Mauritz Pretorius
The Smoker
20 Points
We as men love to Braai and experiment with different ways of the Braai. So a friend of mine asked to build him a smoker.
Dawie Willem & Dawid Senekal
Portable Cricket Practice Frame
20 Points
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Klasie Botha
SolarFlair Entered in Sasol Solar Challenge 2026
20 Points
It all started with a balsa wood model. The Sasol Solar Challenge is an international bi-annual competition where teams build a car that has to travel to Cape Town using only the power of the sun.
In 2022 we entered SolarFlair 1 in the Challenger class. The structure of the car is pipes that was bent and rolled so that it looks like a car. It was covered by Polycarbonate canvas. The canvas is used to cover light aircraft. In 2022 we won the best rookie award.
In 2024 we were back with SolarFlair 2, built with the same method. We finished fifth overall and won the best African team award. In 2026 we finished fifth again and again scooped the best African team award. Over the years, in both cars we have used predominately steel from NJR Steel, even damaged ones.
In 2028 we want to enter a new car in a different category (Cruiser class). The car must now seat 2 occupants.
Attie Breytenbach
Submitted Various Entries
20 Points
We built a private backyard wall to go with a waterfall feature, using hollow interlocking blocks filled with concrete in sections for strength.
We clad it in 0.8 mm cold-rolled steel sheets so it looks like solid steel. We chose cold-rolled over galvanized so it would rust naturally into a golden-brown patina, and we’ll seal it with a clear coat once it reaches the colour we want.
The central gate has a doggy door with a top lock, so our dog can move between the front and backyard and nobody can shut it in without a key. We finished the gate with custom gold-painted rose features that look like a bouquet.
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We live next to a nature reserve, so we turned our front entrance into a viewing spot. We added walls and a cedar wood door between the existing face brick pillars, then cast a concrete slab on top as a platform. With little space for a straight flight, we built a spiral staircase around a concrete-filled 120 mm steel tube pole, with welded wedge-shaped tread supports, painted steel and sealed wooden treads. The handrails are square tubing and twisted bar with ornamental tops, and they wrap all the way around the veranda. Up top, we built seating from I-beams and reclaimed wooden sleepers, plus a table from leftover cedar planks and angle iron.
Cornelius Potgieter
Model truck
21 Points
I started with an idea of building a model truck as close to the original truck as possible and then started using off-cut material bought from NJR Middelburg for other private projects and created my truck with the low-bed trailer.
I only worked on it when I got time because of my permanent position as a boiler maker, and my private projects part-time, it took me 18 months to finish.
Eduan Naude
Redbull Soapbox Cart - The Milinghini
21 Points
We built a box cart for the Red Bull Box Cart Race and sent it down Sandton Drive. We're The Pit Crew, because "pit" is Afrikaans for kernel, and our cart is called Milinghini.
She's made of NJR steel and a secondhand quad bike, and her kernels are yellow pool noodles. A big thank you to NJR Steel for the quality that holds her together.
We spent 22 August to 2 October scraping it all together, and we're proud of every bit of her.
Landman Marais
Plasma Cutting
21 Points
I build my pieces from hot-rolled steel, and each one starts with a drawing. I cut it out by hand with a plasma cutter, then grind the excess metal off the back before building the rest.
Firepit (3mm sheet): I weld animal cutouts around a circular base plate, add three square-tube feet, and weld a round-bar mesh in the middle so the fire gets proper ventilation.
Bakkie rail bar (1.6mm to 2.5mm sheet with 42mm and 48mm round tube): I rust and clear-coat the leopard cutouts and bolt them onto the sides. I grind the welds smooth and paint the frame red oxide, then white and black. Finally, I pop-rivet aluminium steps to the sides.
It brings me joy and satisfaction to watch the metal take shape in my hands.
Kobus Van Der Walt
Racing Pigeon Loft
21 Points
After being out of the sport of Pigeon Racing for more than 14 years, I decided to start again.
This time, we constructed 98% of the loft out of steel due to the ease of construction, the longevity of the steel, and the fact that the loft can be washed and disinfected without damaging the steel.
The loft came out very nice, and many fanciers have come to look at it due to its good construction and ventilation properties. This year, I managed to win a union race, so I am very pleased with my loft!
Thato Maepe
Metal Letters – Replenishment
21 Points
Built for T Bo Touch’s Replacement Concert by Xreative Welding, Soweto.
A powerful combination of steel tubes, sheet metal and lighting, bringing metal to life through creativity, precision and design.
More than fabrication,this is steel transformed into art, built to make a statement on a big stage.
Xreative Welding | Soweto to the world.
Bernard Mc Millan
Cinderella Carriages
21 Points
At Wrought iron Concepts, we wanted to create range of Carriages that were not available in South Africa.
We designed this carriage, and we were very pleased with the result.
