Artistic Metal Creations
Coloring light metals costs less per ounce of additive, and much less per square inch of surface imbued both in money and labor. Some will say that a heavy bodied metal will give a more dramatic effect, however it really all comes down to the artists' opinion.
It should be noted that different chemicals have different prices. For example, 32 ounces of sulfuric acid will cost around forty dollars, whereas hydrofluoric acid will cost around the same for 250ml. The comparison here is with the average percentages of pure chemical that are on the market. Different percentages will mix differently.
Metal art, metal wall décor (http://www.laserwallart.com), and outdoor wall décor is best fashioned out of wrought iron. Other types of metal can also be used, such as copper and zinc, but those are usually for smaller pieces or they are used in addition to iron or steel.
The metal does not necessarily need to be colored. Wrought iron is black, and that is usually good enough for wall art and sculptures, although too much of it can get boring. Copper is of course a beautiful color all by itself, and it would be a travesty to cover the natural essence of it with chemicals. There are many different types that can be used for unique metal wall art.
Cold rolled steel wall art (http://www.laserwallart.com/servlet/-strse-NIGHTLIGHTS/Categories) is usually chemically colored. Honey pinion steel wall art, for example, is a popular hue. Color is mostly used on steel art such as this because the metal's natural grey color is not particularly pleasing to the eye, and any added colors will show up much more vibrantly on this medium.
Some of the chemicals used to color metal are extremely acidic and dangerous, so it is not advisable for amateurs to start dabbling in this art. It is a useful skill to learn, however beginners must always have supervision by a professional. These chemicals should also be kept in a safe and separate place, and never mixed arbitrarily.
Metal sculpting opens up a whole new world of skills for artists. For any who wish to take their craft further than just a simple hobby for personal enjoyment, standard metal cutting processes should be learned. Laser cut metal (http://www.laserwallart.com) is the favored method. Water jet cutting is still prevalent; however it is not as practical.
Laser cutting makes acute detailing possible for any work. The laser is guided by a computer, so symmetry is more easily achieved. The artist can plot the points with a digital pen and tablet, which will tell the laser where to go, thereby carving the metal into the desired theme, for any sized canvas. The only limitation is the artists' own imagination and drawing ability.
Once you have shaped and colored the metal, it is important to remember to paint your creation with a nice coat of lacquer or a special wax. This will protect the metal and will keep the color from fading. If it is iron, this will help protect against natural oxidization (in other words, rust).
