Getting sculpture plated

[chunkolini]

I have a sculpture I have made and am interested in getting it plated, see image below

It as a model of Lord Vishnu in his four armed form, posing as 'Death The Destroyer of Worlds' I made it after reading about Oppenheimer and his speech after detonating the first atom bomb; find it on Utube, chiling stuff.

Anyway, he stands about 1m tall and is made of 'overwelded' mild steel. I have made a few other pieces in this style and painted them which I think spoils them completely.

Can anybody reccomend a company who will deal with artists in a civilised manner. I have tried lots of companies in the past and never even had an answer, or been told 'Cant do that'. I know Galv is not sited as it is a holow piece of work, anybody got any ideas, names and phone numbers gratefully recieved.

or is there a transparent coating that would live outside?

Many thanks, Chunko'.

 

[Paul.]

For electro plating the problem would be finding a company with a big enough tank to contain it, I've had large items done in two operations ie one end dipped at a time but you always see the join,
How about hot metal spraying, Its a process of spraying zinc or aluminum through a flame, they would normally blast clean the surface first, this may give a slightly textured finish, glass bead is quite fine though, depends on the finish required as to the medium used, I could give you the contact details for somebody local to me, but its probably too far away for you, most commercial blasters / painters should be able to do it.
Nice work btw

 

[runnach]

Galvanized: would it be possible to leave some discreet areas free for galv to flow into and out? I,ve blanked off large hollow sections numerous times, just a case of drilling vent holes.

How about "powder coating" comes in numerous colours, possible there is a clear coating available? Powder coating also looks very good on various metals.

Too far away to advise on companies.

Cheers...........

 

[marknotgeorge]

Electroplating as a process doesn't seem too complicated. If you're planning to do more of this type of sculpture (and you should), then you could consider getting the kit and doing it yourself.

 

[simon718]

Chunko i have no idea what sort of coating you could put on that but that is some excellent work

 

[madkayaker]

Omniata has just got one of those flame guns so could probably do a aluminum coating worth a PM.

 

[Hitch]

I wouldn't let that anywhere near a galvanising bath!

Plating doesnt last all that well outside anyway.
How about a clear lacquer?

 

[dopplershift]

Make that two votes for clear lacquer.

Or you can get some oils that set dry (hours-days depending on temp).

Or, this guy electroplates/etches his own stuff pretty cheaply, along with alot of other excellent work. But I think he's only done it in copper.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

Knoba made a 'metal horse' a short time ago:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=7337

and I hope he doesn't mind me quoting a portion of his write-up:

'The unpainted top is finished with Colron Finishing wax (It's superb, lubricating, non-oily, sticks like... I use it on all my tools to stop the rust.)'

Regards
Peter

 

[Drains]

Hey Chunko'

There are a few products designed to keep the rust off, but which are not paint. We use the likes of Shell Ensis fluid, and Castrol Rustilo. These are temporary films of different thickness, depending on the grade. Trouble is, the translucent ones don't give protection for long, and the ones that work for a while (6 months or more) are, well, brown and sticky... Possibly not much help to you, although for your posher clients, you could recommend they treat the sculptures in the same way as the Hepplewhite dining table, applying a coat of wax polish (or in this case, Shell Ensis fluid), every week, to ensure that quality finish. The implication being, if it goes rusty, it ain't your fault!

There are other things too - something called Rust Bullet (google it), which comes in a greyish colour, and a well known one - POR15 - various colours including clear. These two are more like lacquers I think, but I've not used them so can't vouch for them. Don't know about UV resistance, or how well they stick to clean steel. Maybe of use to you, maybe not.

Cheers!

Si

 

[Blackjack]

Plate it your self.

Electro plating can be applied with a "brush" technique.

Hot dip galvanising definitely isn't what you want for that, but you could use a passivated zinc electroplate.

There's a company in Bath called Spa Plating run by a guy called Richard that can supply everything you need.

There's a couple of peole also offering Caswell kits from the US, but I'd suggest you talk to Richard as he's a chenist and makes all his own stuff.

Copper, gold, hexavalent chrome, and assorted other stuff.

Interestingly, you can apparently apply masking fluid and plate different area in different materials.

 

[joe666]

how about nickel then clear lacquer
i did a fountain like this looked excellent
can supply my works contact details ill be happy to help

 

[chunkolini]

Joe666 I have just had a look at your profile. Love the old GSXR on there. I think the old uns look much better than the later beam framed versions. More thuggish somehow.

I have had a good look around and got nowhere with this one. So Joe, can you pass me on some details and I will get back to you. Where are you based? I might be able to skive of and come over. Are there any clear coatings that would survive out of doors? all the platers I have spoken say that the surface I am working with is not suited to plating. the problem of course is that I dont want my customer coming back to me 6 months down the line and beating ym brains out with my sculpture.

The other option I have used is to make the piece of work go rusty using Ammonium Chloride, usually about 24 hours to get a nice thin bloom, then wire brush it to get the loose stuff off and key the surface then varnish it for a deep chocolatey finish, that just needs touching up about once a year.

I will probably go with this option, but any info gratefully recieved.

Cheers all, Chunko'.

 

[dannyweld]

hi, looks really cool, make that three votes for lacqour (powder coated)

 

[chunkolini]

I had wondered about clear powder coating, is there such a thing?

I feel that something made of steel, or maybe wood has almost an identity, the minute you cant see the material it is spoiled.

I have a morbid fear of paint, The Devil's own invention. I see it as a way of hiding my work's identity. Evil stuff. I experimented once and regretted it. Do I sound like a poncy artist?

Chunko'.

At the moment I feel it has to be rust, rubbed down and lacquered. But that is a stressful process. The first time I did it I almost cried. My 10ft trout, lovely shiny steel. Then + ammonium chloride in solution, half an hour later it was horrid green ,then a dirty black colour, then a weird orange, then at the end of the day it looked beautiful.

Next time I do it I will photograph every stage of the process and post them on here.

Chunko'. Still in a state of chronic indecision.

 

[dannyweld]

yeah, i used to have a powder set up and it was for an artist guy like you that i got in the clear coating, 100%.

 

[simon718]

handy to know that danny

 

[dannyweld]

handy to know that danny

hiya, i was a bit of a henry ford man with my painting, black only, but this guy put me onto the clear. was cool stuff, he would mix in some different colours with the clear and get some really nice effects. you can also get semi transparent, which is like the paintjob you might see on the handle bars of a mountain bike for example. but for that fine looking destroyer of worlds i would stick to just clear.

 

[chunkolini]

Danyweld'
That sounds just like what I am looking for, the clear coating.
More info please, eith PM or via the forum.

Chunko'.

 

[dannyweld]

Danyweld'
That sounds just like what I am looking for, the clear coating.
More info please, eith PM or via the forum.

Chunko'.

hiya, i'll ring a guy to day..