First sculptures.

[Chipper]

Cheers Strada. Yes the little shiney dude's eyes glow red, I shrink-wrapped the wires and put a batt box with switch on it. I've been planning one with an LED hidden inside the flower, but not sure, if hidden praps it won't really glow...?

 

[strada]

if hidden praps it won't really glow...?

You never know till you try,
I think it would work better if you could leave gaps on the bottom of the inner petals to let light shine up between them,This might compromise the look though

 

[bump]

Looks like a gloss finish.

Point the LED downwards and bounce the light using the finish. I'd suggest a warm white LED for the rose with red for the skull eyes.

Might be worth doing a 5V 500mA version to run off USB ports.

 

[Chipper]

I'm thinking of a different flower with the petals & bits more gappy so the light can spread sideways, and have a kind of cap or something above the blubb so it's not too obvious. We'll see. Got the materials ready, just need the time...
That one was is a bit blasted by camera flash, it's a kind of satin, mix of gloss & matt paints and not nearly so lipsticky in reality.

 

[Sir Crashalot]

Whilst not in any way in the same league as the previous posts I have made this as a quirky wedding gift for a relation. I was actually fairly pleased with it given that I don't have an arty bone in my body.

 

[chunkolini]

Good use of wing nuts and nice the way you have made them he and she.
I can almost hear you yelping as you burn your fingers welding on the tiny nuts.

 

[Sir Crashalot]

I had a eureeka moment after trying many methods of keeping it all in place with gauntlets, pliers, vice grips etc.... Stick them on first with super glue!

 

[chunkolini]

Not sure if this is a god idea.
I have a distant memory of doing this and getting a massive belt off the fumes from the glue. Proper head spinny moment.Distant memory though.
I think cyannoacrylate glues can be quite nasty.
I will start a thread in the tools and materials section, somebody here is bound to know about this one.

 

[Sir Crashalot]

You do get a little whiff of glue for sure but it was only a small dab on each bit to stop it moving while I got a tack sorted but I certainly think it might be nasty if you did it in larger quantities

 

[Sir Crashalot]

What finish if any?

What I am unsure of is what finish to give it. Allowing that the wedding is tomorrow do I:

Give it as is & let it rust over time.

Paint it black ( would like to paint the bride white but don't think enough time & I would need to get some white paint that I could brush on after spraying the whole thing black)

Try to get some car top coat laquer & just lacquer it as it is.

Any thoughts?

 

[Metalsculptor]

I'd say lacquer it, the metal is a nice colour and if you miss any little bits no-one will notice!

I have used super glue in the past, which really has been a life saver. Used a lot when placing lettering like in below pic (not my first sculpture). Letters all have bolts welded on the back then fixed through laser-cut holes.

Fumes are bad so don't make a habit of it unless you wear a mask or have a LEV. I got a good LEV a while back from Electac - it has two extractor hoses which is nice. cost about a grand but i needed it for school workshops.

 

[chunkolini]

Jade Oil is good on indoor sculptures.
it is a less visible finish than lacquer and does not build up in nooks and crannies,it is also a self healing finish if it gets scratched.
Danish oil is also Ok.

 

[Sir Crashalot]

Thanks for the replies chaps but I ran out of time as the wedding was Saturday afternoon & and I wasted most of friday night trying to attache a tiara made from a spring to the brides head