Metal swans

[Thrashsmith]

Hi, can anyone have a guess at what metal these are made of and how much contact with water do you think they could tolerate? They're hollow, obviously. Thanks

 

[arther dailey]

they look like bronze ,but some of the stuff about is a muck metal ,acid finished to look like bronze , either way they are verynice , think they would go walk about very easily if not secured , only problem then is if some one tries they will possibly get broken in the attempt. Really like them not often you see swans , mostly stork.

 

[fixerupper]

They look very nice ...where did you get them? if you don't mind me asking

 

[jerrytug]

Very nice! Probably bronze.

 

[MoreWellie]

that colour of green/blue suggests aged copper to me but they can fake just about any finish these days so they could be plastic

 

[Rrobson]

Clean an area underneath with a light grade of emery paper or a polishing disc, will soon tell you what it is.

 

[4String.]

Maybe they were real swans that failed to avert their eyes:

 

[Hitch]

Clean an area underneath with a light grade of emery paper or a polishing disc, will soon tell you what it is.

Exactly that, it will narrow it down anyway.

 

[Shox Dr]

Made from whatever will melt and will electroplate to give a bronze patina look. A company in Birmingham Does it. Might have a linky somewhere

 

[tom2207]

are you sure they are actually metal , a lot of silicone moulded stuff is made in epoxy with a bronze powder added , its very convincing at a distance , but I think they call it cold cast bronze ,,, Im not really the artsy type so some one who knows better will no doubt be along to clarify.

 

[Shox Dr]

are you sure they are actually metal , a lot of silicone moulded stuff is made in epoxy with a bronze powder added , its very convincing at a distance , but I think they call it cold cast bronze ,,, Im not really the artsy type so some one who knows better will no doubt be along to clarify.

Now you mention it. I’vea skull that looks and feels like bronze but is resin

 

[oddbob]

are you sure they are actually metal , a lot of silicone moulded stuff is made in epoxy with a bronze powder added , its very convincing at a distance , but I think they call it cold cast bronze ,,, Im not really the artsy type so some one who knows better will no doubt be along to clarify.

The underside does look a lot like coldcast bronze ...not easy to tell from a pik though. A good give away is the 'feel'. Coldcast doesn't feel cold to the touch like proper bronze etc.

 

[outofthefire]

Can you cast a hollow metal shape with no hole to get what ever is filling the void out?

 

[arther dailey]

use a lighter, heat a nail holding it with pliers , jab it in under a foot pad , the smell and smoke will instantly tell you if its resin, if metal score hard under the foot again and colour tells you if its muck metal or bronze , a dealer I know was buying in storks, jaguars(cat) and all sorts from a trader , hewas getting it made in thialand(supposed) , even huge stuff the size of rhino s.all made in a modern type of bronze ,where as another trader was selling similar made from some sort of ali type muck metal , but the acid finishes were excellent , from the path way walking past in the garden nobody would know if they were one or the other. and thats the point why stick a £xxxx in the garden when you can get same effect for £xx. the resin ones though dont last long in the sun light , a few years and you go to move them and realise its just fell to bits in your hands

 

[4String.]

Now you mention it. I’vea skull that looks and feels like bronze but is resin

Are you related to this fellow??

 

[Thrashsmith]

Thanks all. They're definitely metal, not resin, as when you tap them they make a metallic sound.
They're not mine, they belong to a client who wants an adjustable stand for them so they can "float" at water level in their pond.

 

[Brad93]

Thanks all. They're definitely metal, not resin, as when you tap them they make a metallic sound.
They're not mine, they belong to a client who wants an adjustable stand for them so they can "float" at water level in their pond.

If they’re solid bronze, you’ll get decades out of them before they corrode away.

what you will get is a green line of corrosion at the water line and this is what will corrode fastest.

what you could do is use some sort of clear epoxy coating to keep the water off the lower parts of the Swan. No corrosion then.