Tips for Making Metal Sculptures
Metal sculptures are always popular. Whether it’s a wrought iron candle sconce for a wall or a beautiful
modern steel sculpture to decorate the front of a building people are always drawn to metal sculpture. Well
done sculptures can be quite innovative in design and yet they are practical as well because metal will last
for a very long time if it’s taken care of properly.
The difficulty with making metal sculptures is that metal is very hard to work with. Making metal
sculptures is not something that a beginner at sculpting should attempt unless it’s a simple project using
inexpensive materials. The biggest danger of working with metal is that it has to be heated to extremely high
temperatures in order to be soft enough to be sculpted and that can be very dangerous for a sculptor unless he or
she takes the proper precautions.
To be safer when you are working with metal and to make your finished metal sculptures more impressive use
these tips.
Always wear protective gear when working with torches
It may seem like just good common sense but you’d be amazed how many people don’t wear their full set of
safety gear when working with metal. In order to be as safe as possible you have to wear a full set of safety gear
that includes goggles and gloves and safety clothing whenever you are going to be working with torches.
Take a welding class
If you want to work with metal then you need to know how to do it safely. Take a welding class so that you
can learn the proper techniques of welding and soldering before you start making metal sculptures. Welding is a key
skill that you will need to know how to do in order to make great metal sculptures.
Keep plenty of welder’s chalk on hand
Welder’s chalk is made to mark on metal, any metal. When you’re cutting out a design for your sculpture it needs
to be perfect so don’t freehand the design. Take the time to draw the design out with welder’s chalk to make sure
you get it right. One wrong cut with your torch or soldering tool and you could have to start over again with a new
piece of metal. Using welder’s chalk every time will save you time and money in the long run.
Use a metal wheel grinder to smooth out cut pieces – Your design will probably have at least a few rough edges
and spots on it after you first cut it out. Instead of wasting time and energy using sandpaper or other abrasives
to give the pieces a more finished, smoother line use a metal wheel grinder.
With these simple instructions, you should be able to make your finished metal sculptures more vivid and
lively.
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