| Using Steel for Sculpture |
Over the course of the last 50 years, the use of steel for fine art sculpture has become common, although it was virtually unknown before the turn of the century. But its advantages- durability, malleability, and relative cheapness- have caused many sculptors to make it their primary material. It lends itself to large-scale work, but rewards hand detailing as well. Various parts - or the entirety- of the process can be contracted out to industrial fabrication companies, or the whole thing can be done in the artist's studio. As well as being a sculptural medium itself, steel is basic to our industrial world, and is an invaluable material for constructing armatures, supports, reinforcements. frames, jigs, fixtures, machines, and devices to further ones efforts in other media. So it behooves every sculptor, specialization notwithstanding, to attain a basic familiarity with steel-working techniques. Small pieces can be heated with a torch for bending or forging- the "rosebud" tip on an oxy-acetylene outfit works well, although a cutting torch (without the blast of oxygen) will also work- but for larger ones a forge is very helpful. These are basically refractory containers which burn fuel using forced air to attain extra heat. Coal, coke, or gas (either natural gas or propane) are used, depending on what's available. The air supply, from a bellows or pressure blower, is introduced from below the firebed in the case of solid-fuel forges, or is mixed with gas prior to the ignition point in a gas forge. Some forge designs entrain air passively using a Venturi, eliminating the need for blowers. Whatever design you use, fine control of the airflow is essential, since sometimes you want the fire as hot as hot as possible as for forge welding, and sometimes it should be low, as for annealing. |
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