Torch Sculpture
bronze statues play an important role in our life
Bronze statues as works of art are often first formed in clay, or other material, wherearound a mold is formed to receive hot wax poured therein to form a wax casting. The wax casting is then used in a lost wax casting procedure to form a bronze casting having the shape of the original clay. This procedure has, of course, been long known, and such castings are found even in very early civilizations. In fact, in many respects such earlier bronze castings are not much different from those as are produced today. Nor, in fact, are the finishes and the finishing processes as are currently practiced very different from such earlier procedures. Writings from as early as the fifteenth century that describe processes for casting of bronze sculpture, polishing and buffing thereof, and application of finishes, such as patinas, and final waxing, are similar to processes as are practiced today. Where machines and their use, such as power grinders, sand blasters, and the like, have made the performance of steps in such polishing of a bronze surface to smooth it, and buffing of the smooth surface, much easier, the steps themselves and purposes of each are essentially the same. Also, such processes have further included an application of a coating or coatings of wax to the buffed surface to preserve that finish.
Both ancient and modern bronze polishing and buffing procedures have recognized the advisability of moisture and contaminant removal from the bronze surface before application of a final wax coating thereto to avoid discoloration of the metal surface over time. Accordingly, a work, during polishing and buffing, has been subjected to heating as in an oven, application of a flame thereto, as with a propane torch, or the like, to drive off water. Also, where a patina has been applied, the patina surface has often received an application of a flame directed thereagainst as a final step before waxing. Such heating, while effective to remove water and even burn off oils as have been present on the bronze surface, have often not fully removed such water and surface contaminants that, over time, have reacted with moisture and pollutants in the air to discolor the metal surface. The present invention, prior to application of a wax coating to seal and preserve the bronze finish, provides for more completely removing water as has collected in the pores of the metal surface and contaminants, such as skin oils on the metal surface. To effect this cleaning the invention performs the step of directing a broad stream of a dry grit material, such as an aluminum oxide fine grain sand, under low pressure, against the metal surface, thereby thoroughly dewatering and cleaning that surface, and providing also a final surface texturing. Further, as distinguished from earlier procedures, the invention provides for applying, as with a brush, a flexible plastic material, or the like, onto the sand blasted surface of the bronze to protect it while adjacent surfaces are being finished, as by painting, patinaing, or the like. The preferred applied coating is a flexible plastic material that is applied in a liquid state and, when dry, provides a flexible surface that will not be affected by a spraying of the adjacent areas with paint, water, or other liquid, and is resistive to an application of heat, even a flame as used in an application of a patina. The selected plastic coating can be removed as by pulling it in long and short strips off from the sand blasted surface, without contaminating it. Thereafter, as a final step, the work is waxed, sealing and protecting the surface that, when the work is maintained in a protected environment, will exhibit a consistent shine or luster over an extended period of time in years with little or no care required except for an occasional application of an appropriate wax to the sculpture surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention in a process for finishing a bronze statue to provide as final steps in the buffing of the bronze sculpture surface for directing a stream of a fine grit material over a section of the surface as a final buffing step to provide surface texturing, and to dewater and remove oils therefrom, prior to application of a wax coating to the surface to seal it.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for directing a broad stream of fine grit material, such as a fine grain aluminum oxide, at low pressure, against the bronze surface over a sufficient period of time to provide surface texturing, dewatering, and for removal of oils therefrom.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for coating areas of the sculpture surface as have been sand blasted to protect them from contamination from finishing, as by painting surfaces adjacent thereto, with a coating of a plastic material that is applied in a liquid state and will dry to a flexible impervious coating to protect the sand blasted surface from contamination, that is easily stripped away using a tool or tools to receive a wax coating.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide for a selection of a plastic material that is applied in a liquid state to any appropriate thickness that, when dry, forms a flexible coating that is impervious to liquids and seals the surface it is applied to against contamination as adjacent surfaces are finished, and that can easily be removed as by peeling it in strips off from the surface by an operator using a tool or tools.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide the process steps of the invention that are final buffing steps conducted prior to application of a wax coating to the bronze surface to preserve and protect the surface from reactions as would discolor it over time.
The invention is in steps of a process for polishing and buffing a surface of a bronze casting in finishing that casting to a finished bronze statue whereover wax or other sealant is applied. In the finishing process, polishing provides for a removal of unwanted materials from the surface of a bronze casting, with buffing to finish that surface to a surface to receive an application of a finish wax or other sealant applied thereover to seal and protect the surface. The invention adds, to the buffing process, the step of applying a flow of a grit material at low pressure and in a broad stream to the bronze surface to provide a final surface texturing and to dewater and clean off contaminants, such as skin oil, therefrom. The preferred grit material used in this step is a dry fine grain aluminum oxide that is applied to the surface as needed, until a desired surface texturing is obtained.
About the Author
Bronze statues as works of art are often first formed in clay, or other material, wherearound a mold is formed to receive hot wax poured therein to form a wax casting. The wax casting is then used in a lost wax casting procedure to form a bronze casting having the shape of the original clay.
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