Hammers and power chisels are needed to knock the investment off the freshly solidified metal, and skill and strength is required. 

A high intensity electric arc welder is used to remove the pour cup, along with the gates and sprues.

A sandblaster is used to remove any fine investment from the bronze, and then the "raw metal" goes to the welders and metal finishers.

METAL CHASING, WELDING AND FINISHING

Like wax chasing, bronze must also be chased or cleaned to address the slight imperfections that may result from the casting or shell building process.  

Chasing also is needed to gring down the weld line formed by the joining of two planes. There are also "plugs", cut out sections that were removed and cast seperately, that now have to be welded on, and the detail chased to match the texture and planes. 

This sculpture was created to be a working fountain, with water flowing as if she were pouring from the vase. 

This shows the inside of the bronze, where the copper tubing was designed to run up a leg and out to the opening of the vase. This was done in sections, as the sculpture was welded together.

 Metal chasing usually starts with large electric or pneumatic grinders to remove the bulk of the unwanted metal.

Working in finishing metal is an art in itself, which requires a great amount of skill and artistic talent to duplicate the artist's intended style.

A beautiful day in Loveland, Colorado, as we roll her outside and hook up the water to see if the fountain flows properly.

The completed bronze is sandblasted one last time, readying the surface to accept the patina, which is the next step.