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METALS SUMMARY
Most of the metallic materials used in art founding and art fabrications are ALLOYS. Alloys are composed of two or more ELEMENTS, combined to offer an optimum balance between working characteristics and visual appearance.
The most important alloys used in art founding are COPPER based. Of the copper alloy group, the most common grades used in the foundry are LEADED GUNMETALS and SILICON BRONZES. Wrought sculptural constructions are usually fabricated either in PHOSPHOR BRONZE (also known as phosphor copper), or else copper/zinc (BRASS) alloys. Traditional BRONZES (copper/tin only), are not usually used for making fine art casts.
After copper alloys, the most important metal groups used for casting design works are the aluminium alloys, ductile irons, lead and pewters. Noble metals such as gold and silver are also occasionally used to produce fine artworks.
CARBON and STAINLESS STEELS, whilst capable of being cast into refractory moulds are not common in art founding. These materials are primarily used for the FABRICATION of support armatures, fixings and other ancillary constructions.
Some LOW MELTING POINT metals and alloys (lead and pewter for example) are suitable for direct casting into selected rubber (SILICONE) reproduction moulds, as well as full REFRACTORY (ceramic shell, plaster & grog, sand), moulds.
Artist’s do not normally need to specify a particular ALLOY GRADE to their founder. This is only necessary if the artist has a special alloy in mind for their sculpture. Simply asking for BRONZE or ALUMINIUM etc, will indicate to the founder that the use of a STANDARD CASTING ALLOY is acceptable.
Whilst offering exciting possibilities, unusual and EXOTIC foundry alloys should be requested with caution, preferably after prior research into any potential pro’s and con’s and under close consultation with the founder. Specifying the use of unusual metals may significantly increase production costs.
Metals should be selected on their own merits and qualities. Choosing an alloy on the basis that it is less expensive weight for weight than a more suitable material is nearly always a false economy. If a founder is required to purchase a small quantity of a metal stock, together with ancillaries like welding rods and then cast the design apart from the run of their general work, the eventual cost will almost always be higher than that of a cast produced in a standard alloy.
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