torch sculpting with bronze

[terry ambrose]

Can anyone offer some assistance ? Have seen a couple of artists use this method but can not get one of them to reply to my basic questions.

I want to "melt" the bronze material ( wire, sheet, rod, etc.) into its form. Making one of a kind sculptures.

I have torch and oxygen/propane setup.....just need a little advise on materials, procedure, etc

can anyone help ???

Thanks

[fritchie]

I suspect this will be difficult, because of the high melting point of bronze and the relatively small size of the typical welding (or melting) flame. Many years ago, I saw here in New Orleans some “expressionistic” (for lack of a better term) sculptures in lead, which were made by melting modest quantities of lead and pouring it into containers of water.

I don’t know details, but the molten lead would spread on impact with the water and then quickly freeze into sheetlike or shrublike forms. You clearly won’t get that with a torch.

My suggestion, if you already have the torch, gas, and bronze, is just to get started. You surely have some idea of the type of thing you want. Bronze rod, and possibly sheet in small amounts, probably can be found in many hardware stores. Start with this, or even with aluminum, which also is available at these sources.

[warren01]

Terry, do you have a picture of what you want to do? Are you talking about "puddle" build up of the form?

warren