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Finish for a sculpture near the ocean?

Q. What would you recommend as a finish for a 316 stainless exterior sculpture or gates that have been laser cut and welded. The surface has been abraded for decorative texture and the location is within 200 feet of the ocean. Is passivation enough? Is there some type of periodic maintenance that is recommended?

Marsh Scott
art studio - Laguna Beach, California
2001

A. Marsh:

316SS is one of the best grades to use for this application. However, you can still get rusting on the surface upon continued exposure to the salt spray from ocean, especially in any weld areas. I have not seen any coatings that you can put on it that will not cause more problems than it resolves (peeling, discoloration, etc.). Someone else may have an idea, however.

We have a number of customers who periodically remove any rust and discoloration and repassivate the surface with our products to bring back the original appearance. There are citric acid based products that are safe and easy to use for this process.

Regards,

Lee Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.

McHenry, Illinois

2001

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