Studio: Metal Frame Development

• Cutting, grinding and welding the metal tubing so they join together and make a perfect right angle for the rectangle frame. This worked really well to create a consistent frame which would hang on a wall. 

• Weld before grinding the metal back. Applying the mild steel sheet metal to the front of the frame. 

• After grinding it all back and making a smooth consistent surface. 

• Adding texture - adding hammer marks. This worked well after completing the whole frame (after welding it all together and grinding it) as it didn't warp the metal too much. 

• Finally adding cut outs to the mild steel. This was process led and I followed the patterns created by the hammer marks. 

Reflections

• Using midl steel worked a lot better than stainless steel in terms of welding and being able to create a 3D physical sculptural form. 

Further Development

• Putting the abstract painting that I did yesterday behind a larger version of this metal frame. If the painting was on a board and slotted just inside the back of the frame so that it could be seen through the cut outs on the metal. 
• Research mild steel - go to metals4u.com , buy 1.5ml thick mild steel tubing and mild steel sheet metal. 
• Get it powder coated or spray paint it afterwards. 

Further Testing / Ideas

• Here I have tested on a piece of mild steel what happens when you apply heat to the back of it (from welding). After speaking to rob he told me that you can create these colours and patterns by using heat on the metal, and can even turn the whole thing blue, but this would be dangerous on a larger scale. 
• I would like to try this on a larger scale but it wouldn't be safe to heat up a very large piece of metal so I am not sure about this idea. 

• Adding water and salt to mild steel creates this detailed texture. Because mild steel oxidises fast, it doesn't take long for the metal to rust like this. This creates details within the material, but it is definitely not the kind that I want to go any further with.

Further Designs for Final Piece

A large metal frame piece with a board painting behind.