How do they get those colors in steel sculpture?

[modela]

I have seen some metal art with brilliant colors. I would like to do some of this and wonder how it is done. Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Jim

[Broccoli1]

Can you post a Pic of what you have seen?

I'm assuming it is not a Paint/Powder coating you are talking about and what you are looking at is just effects from Heat on the steel:

On Mild Steel you just hit it with a Torch and watch for the desired color and it takes a few times doing it to know when to back off with the torch. You can use a little Map torch from Home Depot but the flame is pretty big where as a O/A torch can give you a little more pinpoint control of the Heat/Color area.

I haven't done any SS but have seen some pretty cool stuff with a Tig bead run on SS and definitely more Rainbow effects.

[modela]

I think that most of it is heat treating or chemical treating. There is a lot on outdoor art that I see and indoor sculpture as well.

Jim

[Broccoli1]

Take some Pics and post em' up