Project 4 from KSmith. Category: Decorative Metal Art – Wall Sculpture

[KSmith]

Is that what they mean by gouging with a plasma cutter? I often see that mentioned in the spec sheets. I think there is even a special torch for doing that.

Goughing is a much more violent action than what I am doing. At 5amps, it is barely doing anything. Gouging does use different torches and nozzles, and is used to remove welds, as one example.

ken

[undercut]

At 5amps, it is barely doing anything

So I find this pretty incredible. I mean for me, this is kinda like owning a great sledge hammer that can also put in finishing nails in good fashion.

This is a machine designed to cut metal yet it can go down to 5 amps? Do all plasma cutters allow this much range to their power cycle?

[KSmith]

So I find this pretty incredible. I mean for me, this is kinda like owning a great sledge hammer that can also put in finishing nails in good fashion.

This is a machine designed to cut metal yet it can go down to 5 amps? Do all plasma cutters allow this much range to their power cycle?

I have one of those Chinese-built 3-in-1 units, not an Everlast unit, yet. It has a 50amp plasma cutter, with a digital display. Turned all the way down today, it displayed 2amps. On the metal, 2amps just made sparks. But set to 5amps, and I have no way to know if that is accurate, the machine makes the scratches seen in the photos. I expect most plasma cutters are similar +/- a bit.

ken

[undercut]

I have one of those Chinese-built 3-in-1 units, not an Everlast unit, yet.

Well then, can't talk to you then!

But set to 5amps, and I have no way to know if that is accurate, the machine makes the scratches seen in the photos. I expect most plasma cutters are similar +/- a bit.

Amazing you found and were able to exploit this "feature". Thanks for the clarification. Plasma is really new to me. So much to learn. Cheers!

[KSmith]

Well then, can't talk to you then!

Amazing you found and were able to exploit this "feature". Thanks for the clarification. Plasma is really new to me. So much to learn. Cheers!

To be true to your signature line, once you get a plasma cutter, you can practice cutting metal apart, then welding it back together, over and over and over.

ken

[undercut]

To be true to your signature line, once you get a plasma cutter, you can practice cutting metal apart, then welding it back together, over and over and over.

My dream come true. LOL I don't have any delusions, I'm not going to be able to afford a plasma for quite some time but once I get a welder, I'll be able to create stuff - albeit not as easily nor quickly as with the proper tools. But man, that would be nice .... cut, weld, cut, weld, cut , weld.

[CGCINC]

Thisis really nice work! Gives me some inspiration!

One thing I thought when looking at the cut edges of your leaf... Would the leaf look better if you cut the edge with the angles heading towards the point of the leaf? Basically like the pic below. Your looks great though, just thinking out loud

http://www.growingconsultant.com/sin...f-pictures.jpg

[KSmith]

Thisis really nice work! Gives me some inspiration!

One thing I thought when looking at the cut edges of your leaf... Would the leaf look better if you cut the edge with the angles heading towards the point of the leaf? Basically like the pic below. Your looks great though, just thinking out loud

Good catch. I didn't notice such a pronounced upward point to the serrations on the old leaf specimen example I used for the leaf. I found one that did look like your example, attached. I am not being totally botanically correct in this piece. It is pretty abstract, eg brass circles to represent apples.

ken

[KSmith]

Something I found interesting when welding up the branch. For the smaller twigs, I was using small pieces of welding rod, cutting and bending, then welding on with the mig. I had some pieces of copper wire, and thought what the heck. I guess I had never thought of mig welding copper to steel, but it worked. I guess the arc melts the copper into the molten steel and there it stays. The picture shows a copper piece. When I patina the branches, the copper pieces will take on a different look, which I think I will like.

Also, notice the thin wire piece. That is .023 E70S-6 mig wire. When I was attaching pieces, I sometimes missed the mark and the mig wire would come out into the air, then attach itself to the hot surface. I thought it looked good, so I left them when it happened.

ken

[MoparCar]

This is a really nice project. You've got a lot of different processes going that really work well. Thanks for posting!