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Finishing a large metal sculpture - Austin, Texas

I am building a large sculpture of a Griffin (half eagle, half lion) destined for placement outside a school in Austin, Texas. It is roughly six and one-half feet long, five feet high, three feet wide and made entirely of steel, constructed of round stock, sheet metal, square and round tubing, forged steel and water-jet cut feathers. I do not have a weight yet but expect 1,000+ pounds. It is hollow, and there is rust on various parts of the interior that cannot be removed prior to dipping/finishing.

What are my options for finishing?

James Thompson
Sculpture Student - Austin, Texas, USA
July 13, 2011

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Download free booklet on metals colouring and plating(including iron and steels): attachments.wetpaintserv.us/ZLSnLKosv0l3CnE9hGDi7w488720. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
July 15, 2011

Ed. note Jan 2017: Although wetpaintserv.us was a legitimate site when Goran posted this, it is currently a malware site. DON'T GO THERE!! Goran has been kind enough to upload his booklet to https://www.finishing.com/library/budija/budija.pdf.

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Get it hot dip galvanized.
You might worry about internal parts, and sure they might be a problem, but a good galvanizer can overcome many of this type of problems.

Geoff Crowley
Crithwood Ltd.
Westfield, Scotland, UK

July 18, 2011