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Stainless steel sculpture electro-polishing

2006

I am an artist blacksmith and I have been commissioned to forge a sculpture for a marina which must have a mirror like shine to it so I thought of stainless steel.
there will be forged and welded parts and all ( after some research) will be from 316L stainless steel since from my understanding is the best type of ss. to be electro-polished and rust resistant since the sculpture must have a mirror like reflection also to resist rust since it is outdoors and close to the water.
please advice on type of steel if any is preferred and if the forged and welded parts after electro-polishing would show any signs of rust down the road since it will be only bare metal with no top coat also if the idea of forging mild steel (which is easier ) then chroming it may be a better solution and cheaper but present similar qualities
thank you for your time

Mel Zanaty
artisan studio metal shop - Miss., Ontario, Canada

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Mel,
A good job of bright chrome on mild steel will beat the best electropolishing job on SS from the standpoint of brightness. Although, its durability may vary from two or three years for a lousy job to perhaps over 10 or 15 years for an outstanding one. This will depend on the experience, available cycle (automotive) and dedication of the plater. Size of the sculpture will be an important issue in both options. Another possibility (my personal choice) would be high phos electroless nickel (EN) either with or w/o a top coat of bright EN. To me, it just has a super attractive yellowish cast very appropiate and distinctive for an art piece.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2006

Try titanium-expensive, but best and it can be electropolished too. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2006

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2006

I happened to visit the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC last week and saw the sculpture in the photo, " Kiepenkerl" by Jeff Koons, 1955. There is a better photo at http://hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/print.asp?ID=98.21 (that we haven't reprinted here for copyright reasons).

It was identified as being "polished cast stainless steel". The figure is presently on the sidewalk at the entrance to the sculpture garden, rather than in the position illustrated. It's bigger than the photo implies, the cast figure itself being lifesize. It's worth at least a driveby look if you get to DC, Mel.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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2007

Happy new year everyone and I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and thanks for the input, I am in the process of finishing up the sketching part of the figure and trying to price the job according to my research (stainless or mild then chrome ?)i would like know if the 316L stainless can be cast though and would that get rid of the rust issue near the welded joints if it was to be forged and welded
again thanks for the interest.

Mel Zanaty
- Ontario, Canada

Weld with 316 rod,it could be mechanically polished,should give excellent results,good luck

Jeffrey Akin
- Buckeye, Arizona
2007

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2007

In addition to using 316 rods to weld with, I would suggest passivating the welds, treat the heat affect zone (HAZ) to prevent rust and corrosion. Good luck!

Michael Liu Taylor
specialty stainless steel distributor - Dallas, Texas

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If you use stainless for your sculpture, I would suggest 316L, also weld with 317L. This will give you the best results when polishing.

Stephen Kishel
- Bluffton, South Carolina
2007

316L is perfect for the application you have suggested concerning corrosion resistance. For the mirror finish and corrosion resistance you require I would suggest mechanical polishing followed by electropolishing. This combination produces a 90% to 95% mirror with added "brightness" of electropolishing that will last many many years.

Cliff Kusch
electropolishing shop - North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
September 16, 2009