Posted by Chris Ray on November 13, 1997 at 10:39:52:

In Reply to: Re: forging stainless posted by Steven Bronstein on November 13, 1997 at 08:04:29:

Steve: The reason for choosing cor-ten steel over stainless steel for exterior work is very simple. Cost. Stainless steel is even more expensive than bronze so the material cost to begin with is very high. Stainless is more difficult to work with so that also adds to the cost in terms of time, effort and sometimes extreme wear on certain tools like cutting tools.

Secondly, with few exceptions, too many times folks prefer the stainless to be polished which can add a considerable amount to the overall cost of a piece. Even putting on a brushed finish is expensive, depending on the mill stock.

Stainless has some wonderful properties and one of them is the incredible warmth that can be achieved by forging the material, then using the inherent firescale as part of the final finish. It's rare that anyone wants work left in this state though and the brightness, gleam and the polish is what is usually sought out. For a rougher look, then the standard passing of a grinding wheel over the surface is thought to be desirable although I think it usually looks like an inept mess, unless the artist knows how to properly "paint" the surface with a grinder.

I'm no authority on the use of stainless steel since I've never had a client so far who is willing to adequately pay for work done with this material. I usually leave those projects for others to deal with and they are welcomed to whatever is left over after deducting the real cost to them by doing this kind of work. I am not a non profit foundation and have no intention of donating my time on a work in stainless unless I'm compensated as well as I am using other materials. I guess it's the fiscal thing that determines my final decision about which material I would use for exterior work.

There are some very serious side effects when working with stainless and one is the fumes given off by the burned metal when welded. Chromium and other alloys are highly carcinegous(sp?) and I am around way too many environmental hazards as it is to invite one more meanie pecking away at my lungs. This is another hidden cost when working with stainless.

Cor-ten? Well maybe it isn't an elegant material and frankly I'm not too crazy about it but it does the job when certain conditions need to be met for a particular project. For me the prince of all metals is still low carbon iron/steel since there are practically no limitations on the way it can be shaped and the ease of working the material is unmatched. Well, that's a personal opinion not an objective view.

Chris Ray

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