Owl

[kingchristo]

My wife loves owls so I have made her this. Not sure if to paint it yet any ideas guys

 

[cumbriasteve]

I would not paint it, if for inside then wax it, if for outside let it rust then clear laquer

I always think steel should be seen for what it is, painting items similar to that removes it's patina.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Wax and time.
For inside and out. Good old fashion bee's wax.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have made quite a few horseshoe owls, I usually give the shoes a Quicks clean up with a flap disc first, then a couple of coats of Aldi/Lidl clear lacquer, Or as Steve suggests use wax, Owls seem to be very popular at the moment for some reason.
I also heat some of the features with a gas torch to obtain a nice bluefish colour,some areas are naturally blue from the welding heat,

 

[kingchristo]

thanks guys yes I'm going to keep it as it is it is for inside so ill clean it and then lacquer it. I just had a horse shoe from my sisters horse and thought I woul have a go. I need to get myself a blow torch but money doesn't allow at the moment.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Ready to be acid dipped (Citric acid) to remove rust scale and other rubbish. It will then get pressured washed.

Then using blocks of Bee's wax dissolved in White Spirit, a smidgen of brown boot polish to give a hint of colour.
Applied with a brush, worked well in and buffed with a cloth.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Instead of a blow torch you could run a hot bead on the backside to get the colour and then grind of the extra weld immediately to keep the blue on both sides of the metal.
Also you could mount the mesh diagonally to give the impression of feathers,
P.S. I always remove the "rust,scale and rubbish" before assembly and welding, it's far easier that way.