Sheet Metal Sculpture Techniques

An angle grinder is optional but will help cut down time and cut steel faster.

Sheet metal sculpture techniques.

The main body was formed as two halves and tig welded together and the head is a third section. If the operator is skilled any of these techniques can produce good results in a variety of situations. There are five major techniques used. You could use a flux welder such as a stick electrode and basically burn through the plate by using a high power setting.

The most important of these are stone wood metal clay ivory and plaster. You can ask businesses that deal with scrap metal recycling to sell you some scrap. The sheetmetal is slid between the two bars and twisted back and forth to create a fold. You will notice in our helena martin collection that we feature precise decorative grind patterns to the surface of the sheet metal.

You can use tinsnips to cut the sheet metal that will make up the majority of your sculpture. If it is relatively thin then yes. The sculpture is about 3 5 feet in length. Copper repousse sculpture sheet metal welded this catfish garden sculpture was hand formed from copper sheet metal using traditional metalsmithing techniques like raising sinking repousse and chasing.

In this case the sheet of flat steel will be formed into a wheel disc. This is something that can produce breathtaking artwork from sheets of metal however it takes years of practice to be able to create consistent clean symmetrical grind patterns that truly look professional. Welding as i mentioned is the prime method of putting pieces of steel together to make sculpture. Another manner by which you can customize your metal sculpture or mold is.

Painting metal to further customize your metal artwork is a very easy task. The limiting factor in any case is the thickness of this flat sheet metal. Forge welding oxyacetylene welding stick welding tig welding and mig welding. How to use sheet metal in art.

Certain materials by virtue of their structural and aesthetic properties and their availability have proved especially suitable. Metal art techniques for texturing and adding color to your artwork created from metal. You must buy high quality paint. Any material that can be shaped in three dimensions can be used sculpturally.