More flowers

[chunkolini]

I have been asked to make a pair of large sunflowers as a memorial to a head teacher.
How large? I asked.
Oh 1.5m diameter large was the answer.
Large then.
So I set to work, petals cut out of 1.6mm mild steel sheet and the middle from 3mm plate with 'seeds' applied with dabs of Mig weld.
Cutting the petals out was hard work both for me and my Bosch Shears. 22 of them on each flower.
The first one was made today, No2 should be together tomorrow or Wednesday. Then there are the stems and leaves to make. Sorry no coffee cup for scale.
Chuffed to bits with it so far

 

[gordon stephenson]

Nice work and design Chunko, What length stems are they going to need?

 

[Powermyster]

Looks great mate. I'd say you were cutting for a while

 

[the snooper]

chunko, why didn't you make a wooden template then use it to cut out with the plasma cutter

 

[chunkolini]

I reckon faster with shears. i did think of plasma also I did not want them looking too uniform.
To deburr the edges I just run them across a wire wheel on a bench grinder. it did take a while to cut them out.
the stems about 900mm? made of 20m solid bar not sure of the exact length yet. They are going to sit on a flower bed. Keeping them short allows less leverage for scally youths.

 

[the snooper]

I reckon faster with shears. i did think of plasma also I did not want them looking too uniform.
To deburr the edges I just run them across a wire wheel on a bench grinder. it did take a while to cut them out.
the stems about 900mm? made of 20m solid bar not sure of the exact length yet. They are going to sit on a flower bed. Keeping them short allows less leverage for scally youths.

plasma could have done 3 or 4 at a time though

 

[chunkolini]

I've tried that and never had a decent result. Mine struggles to give a clean edge much above 3-4mm

 

[the snooper]

what will the finish be on them

 

[chunkolini]

They have asked for a natural rusty finish. Suits me.

 

[txargyll]

Look greet, cant wait to see them all done, what was their budget?

 

[chunkolini]

That's my business.
Not too bad, in fact realistic, which makes a change.

 

[optima21]

you are the new picasso

 

[chunkolini]

txargyll you have pm. Polite one.

 

[danman]

Excellent,looks very good,nice

 

[arther dailey]

be interesting to see in when its proper rusty and in situ, if possible. nice work. Arther

 

[steve t]

looking good

 

[chunkolini]

More progress. The second one is made and mounted.
The stem is 20mm sold bar and the top is fixed by a simple U bracket on the flower to allow the angle to be adjusted.
The stem will be fixed onto a simple bracket bolted to the floor. This shot was just to get an idea of scale.
Huge!

 

[fixerupper]

lovely .....and I admire your nice a spacious looking workshop .. jeff.....still trying to buy the bit of land next door ....

 

[Kent]

Very effective! I really like those and they will be even more effective rusted.
Large? Yeah like the whole size thing.

The only thing I worry about is all those petal ends at a dangerous height for eyes etc. Have you a plan?​

 

[chunkolini]

I have left nice burrs along the edges and am thinking of having it spin in the wind.
or perhaps have it a bit lower and they can have a surround of split logs knocked into the ground. it will be living in the middle of a flower bed as well