5 Metal Finishes You Must Try
For those of us who love everything Metal, it’s easy to become obsessive with all the different ways to finish your work. Here are M. Shively Design’s favorite ways to complete metal art and design.
[Warning: Proper Ventilation, Gloves, Masks, and Eye Protection are absolutely necessary as the chemicals and processes listed below can cause severe harm to the skin, eyes, and internal organs]
1. Mirror Finished Bronze
(The Archimedes LE by M. Shively Design)
We see bronze art everywhere. Among some of the most notable pieces being Rodin’s ‘The Thinker,’ but what you may have also noticed is that bronze work is almost always finished with a dark black or brown patina.
(Henry Moore, ‘Reclining Figure,’ 1969-1970)
There is a lot of beauty in bronze before it becomes oxidized. It’s bright, warm tones offer a rich and almost gilded quality when highly polished.
(Constantin Brancusi, ‘La Muse Endormi,’ 1923)
This is one of the harder finishes to accomplish on the list, but the work is well worth it.
To achieve this finish, first sand your work all the way up to a 500+ grit. The higher the grit, the better your final polish. Second, using a buffing machine and red rouge, polish using even pressure and direction across the piece. After buffing is complete the bronze is then very vulnerable to fingerprints and other stains, so it must be lacquered immediately or wrapped and brought to a professional for lacquering. Professional powder coaters often offer the best final coat. You’ll wow everyone with the results of what reflective bronze can do.
(The Archimedes in Black Steel by M. Shively Design)
If sleek and shiny isn’t your cup of tea, then Antique Blackened Steel is a great option with a lot of character. Metals like steel and iron come with their own natural texture which make the “antiquing” part of the job easy. All you need is a patina, a large brush you won’t miss, and a torch.
For purchasing patinas like “Antique Black”, Birchwood Casey, Jax Chemical Company, and Sculpt-Nouveau offer both acidic and non-acidic options. You can find them at Sculpt.com.
(The Decay Series Pendant by M. Shively Design)
To achieve this look apply a torch to the piece till it becomes a dark red, dip your brush into the well-mixed patina, and brush on according to your preference, using the torch to dry where you applied the chemicals.
(The Purse Stool by M. Shively Design)
If you want an antique look without going too dark, Antique Brass could be the winner for you. The warmth of brass mixed with a rustic finish offers an inviting charm that pairs well with wood and stone.
The process is almost exactly like blackening steel and the same chemical companies listed above also offer antiquing patinas for brass. The only difference is most brass sheet or rod purchased doesn’t come with it’s own unique texture the way steel does. To get the lighter and darker patterns use a scotch-brite pad to remove the patina to your taste. To mimic wear, use the pad along the outer most edges of your work, and working the pad in the middle of smaller details can also achieve a naturally antique feel.
(Image from Bonehead Performance)
Pick any color in the rainbow. Then pick an amount of gloss or matte. And if you feel so bold, pick a texture. The pros of Powder Coating metal (mostly steel) are that it’s one of the most protective and one of the most diverse ways to finish a piece. The con is that unless you’re a professional powder coater, you’ll need to outsource this job.
Powder-coating has been a popular choice for auto fabrication, furniture design, and sculpting for decades, and the amount of variety allows you to go from simple
(Strand II Table by M. Shively Design)
If you’re nit-picky about color, many powder coaters offer over 20 different types of the color “Black.” If you want a solid colored piece that can withstand the elements, Powder Coating is right for you.
(The Archimedes Side Table in Bronze Tiffany Green by M. Shively Design)
The patina color dubbed “Tiffany Green” for obvious reasons is all around us, and it’s nothing short of stunning. You can find it easily in copper piping and bronze sculptures which are naturally given the color due to acids in rain water, but doing it yourself is far quicker.
This finish can be used on Bronze, Brass, Copper, Iron, and Steel, and the hues of greens and blues will vary depending on which metal you’re working with. The color can be bought online from Sculpt.com , and is applied in the same way Antique Black is.
Tiffany green can take a dull metal to a bright show-stopper, making it an easy favorite amongst sculptors, designers, and architects alike.
Some metals work best raw and refined, others work better covered and coated. So whether you’re heading for modern and sleek, or aged and elegant, this list is sure to start you off with some options worth a try.
Tag #ArtLoveDesign to show off your metal finishes!