Metalworking II: Super Condensed Science!

​So, what is metalworking and how is it done? Aside from the high risk, high reward aspect of the medium I touched on before, metal covers a far broader field and can even be broken down into sub-mediums. Heavy metals, such as iron, have different properties from light metals, such as titanium. Working each metal takes experience and understanding of the individual materials.

Without breaking out the whole periodic table, I'll just say that every element reacts in its own way. Each has different melting points, how they conduct heat and electricity, and what their appearance is after being manipulated. Each metal can also be turned into an alloy, a metal mixed with other materials to enhance their properties (stronger, more durable, more flexible, lighter, heavier, the list goes on!). How a metal reacts to other materials is also something that requires knowledge and experience.

The art, in my opinion, in metalworking is in applying all that knowledge to working complicated materials with finesse. Metals are malleable with the right tools but it takes a true artist to know how far to stretch something without compromising the integrity of the material. Aside from the risk of fracturing a piece from too much or too little heat while its being formed, mistakes have to be kept to a bare minimum; or better not to make mistakes at all! There is such a thing as metal fatigue, when the material develops weaknesses from strain.

The problem of metal fatigue is also why I find scrap art all the more fascinating. You're working with something already shaped, something that's already taken some strain, and coaxing that material into going just a little further.

My hats off to all metalworkers out there and I look forward to seeing all the metal magic at this year's art show!

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