Saw a video on fused plastic bags by iron, will try to incorporate some steel mesh, the glue sticks sound good,,,,thought of wax but doesn't seem permanent. Also saw a video on microwavable kilns for glass fusing...lots of possibilities out there...still looking!

Hi. I have used wax on mild steel in the past(about 17 years ago) and it still looks pretty much like the day it was put on. The easiest way I found was use a colored wax crayon onto a cleaned and heated surface. It only has to be hot enough to melt the wax and you can draw as you would on paper but the crayon melts of course. It's very easy to obtain abstract images but controlling the molten wax to make a "picture" is much harder. Think of it like solder, you can add extra solder to a join but the previous stuff melts as well. There are other techniques as well and the experimentation is good fun. I was doubtful about permanence as well until reading of aboriginal cave paintings in Australia where the "paint" was found to contain wax and carbon dated to about 4000 years old!

Mike

Jan-

I like Rich's idea of the glue sticks. Lots of colors - not much heat needed.

If you want to try other "crafty" ideas, I recall some kits in the hobby shop that produced "stained glass like" window hangings that used colored resin that was placed into a metal art outline, and baked in a low temperature oven. You can probably get just the resin from the manufacturer. So I'd ask in a craft store.

I have done some work with acrylic and polycarbonate sheet, and they can be heated and bent with a heat gun. That might work for the glue sticks as well.

And you might want to try to "weld" some plastic. Harbor Freight has a couple of tools designed to weld thermoplastics. I've been meaning to get one of these just to play with it! Here's a link:
http://www.harborfreight.com/plastic-welding-kit-with-air-motor-and-temperature-adjustment-96712.html

Good luck, and HAVE FUN!!

Bob 2ran

I have one of the harbor freight plastic welders and they work very well. It uses super hot air to melt the plastic so there is no burning or noxious fumes. The model referenced above is much better than mine because it doesn't require a compressor. The unit I have needs a compressor.

Also, something I once did accidentally was to cut copper using a plasma cutter. The spray from the copper splattered on some scrap steel I had on the bench and looked pretty cool.

Good luck with the presentation.

Jim

A friend had one of those kilns and it did fuse small bits of glass. Unless they are changed, they are very small.
Glass enameling is basically melted glass on metal.

marilyn

Jan-

Below are some sources worth looking at. Most "craft" resin is a "thermoset" plastic, like epoxy, where you mix the base material with a catalyst, and then it cures into a hard plastic. You can get epoxy "gel goat", the stuff used in fiberglass auto repair (which is pourable), as well as two-part polyester body filler and hardner (which is very stiff) both at auto supply stores.

Here are some other resin links, The last one for boat building supplies:

http://www.resinobsession.com/resin-craft-supplies-c-81.html

http://www.allcraftsupplies.com/c-7240/casting-resin.html

http://www.misterart.com/sculpture/mold-making/casting-resins/environmental-tech-castin-craft-clear-casting-resin.html

http://www.jgreer.com/casting-resin.htm?gclid=CNX1sZHmkaYCFYHb4AodZ0K1ng

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Bob 2ran

You don`t really need anything to color or draw on metal except a torch.
Why not bring your OA torch set and some polished metal sheet and just "paint" with heat? The different sized tips will give you different width lines and you can stop the heat patina with a hose or wet rag.Don`t like it,hit it with a scotchbrite pad and start over.
Art folks think this stuff is magic and what`s more magic than fire,water and a sparking grinder?Plenty of heat,light,sparks and drama!
Go for it Jan!

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice there is.

Great idea!

marilyn

There are enamels meant to be used on steel . It's a matter of both the glass and the metal expanding the same. marilyn